Trawler trip with the Mars Family

Vacation time – July 9. Got a late start Saturday morning and had to take a detour due to excessive flooding in South Georgia. Part of I-75 near Macon was closed due to flooding, so we took a round about way out I-20 then south to I-16 to I-95. On I-95 we got stopped by a bad wreck and sat dead stopped for about 45 minutes while the wreck was cleared.

Got to North Palm Beach around 11pm Saturday night – woke up the Mars’ who said Let’s Go. But everyone was tired and burned out so we just went to bed. Josh, Lisa and Garrett stayed on the trawler for a while, snuck out and went to the park about 1am then went swimming about 4am. They got some sleep, but not much.

Bill & Julie

Headed out Sunday morning after breakfast. Jacklyn was sick the night before and as we were going out the inlet, she continued to feel sick. Josh was not feeling too good and neither was I. So, we decided that instead of rolling for 10 hours toward the Bahamas, we turned north and came in Jupiter Inlet and motored up the Intracoastal. Sunday night we docked at Indian River Plantation and stayed for a couple of days. The Plantation was in its off season and did not have many people there. Julie taught Jacklyn how to swim – mostly life saving techniques. She can now use her arms and legs and swim underwater to people and back to the edge in case she fell in. She was real excited about learning how to “swim.” 

From there we went to Ft. Pierce and docked there for one night. The city seems pretty dead; a lot of stores are closing down but some of the store owners have hopes for the city. It has a nice city dock and a good inlet, so some day the city will probably turn around. We stayed at Indian River again Wednesday night and motored home on Thursday. Stopped and watched four manatee play for a while, which we all enjoyed. Motored past the old home of TMT, which is all gone and over grown. Cannot even tell what it used to be. 

Woody & Jacklyn

Bill & Julie

Jacklyn, Woody & Josh

Friday we went to the south side of Peanut Island when the tide was coming in to do some snorkling. There was a nice little beach for the kids and some rocks for snorkling. The water was fairly shallow and crystal blue. The snorkling was great – this is how I enjoy snorkling. We had a wonderful day. The water was beautiful.

Julie in the kitchen

Bill with Jacklyn (and Snickers)

Saturday we packed up the van then headed off to lunch at the Crab Pot with Bill & Julie. Sunday night Jacklyn lying in bed “Mommy, mommy, I want to go back to Florida and move in with Bill & Julie.” “Ok, we will.” “Really??” “Yes, someday.” “Oh….”