Exploring

We have been getting out and about and doing a bit of exploring in the area the past couple of days. We have always liked Manatee Pocket in Stuart and anchored New Horizon there several times, coming and going from the Bahamas. Around the perimeter are lots of boatyards, marinas, and restaurants. Plus the crowning glory is the Sandsprit Park and launch ramp at the convergence of the mouth of Manatee Pocket, the St. Lucie Inlet to the ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the St. Lucie River. We will probably spend quite a bit of time there when we get a boat to sail around. More about that in another post, but the entrance road to the park is gorgeous...

We have also been checking out the ocean beaches on Hutchinson Island and the nearest one is only 4 miles away. We were pleasantly surprised to see that the ocean was almost the same color blue/green as the Abacos! We kept heading south as far we could drive and ended up at Bathtub Beach.

There are lots of rocks here, but Dave talked to the lifeguard who told him not to bother to try snorkeling because there isn't much to see. Still a pretty spot.

Take a close look at these houses though. With the high tide, they were in the water! 

We are really looking forward to a different, but fun winter of more explorations like this. What a treat to see all the bird life that doesn't venture over to the Bahamas, including pelicans, whose antics I have missed. Even near our house we have sandhill cranes, ibis, and then there was this stork at the very top of the neighbor's tree...

Hope he wasn't making a delivery in our 55+ community! 😉