Mike and Patty's Great Loop Adventure 2018-2019

Fort Pierce City Marina, Fort Pierce, FL

THE TREASURE COAST

Day #278: From last evening Mike beat me at cribbage (skunk!). The two of us were up at 6:45 A.M. after a very restful night (usually get a good nights rest when you know that you are not moving the next day). Mike and I reviewed weather sites and watched the local news. The decision was made to leave on Monday for Suntex Marina in Vero Beach ahead of storms that are moving in for the next few days. At 8:15 A.M. I made reservations at Suntex Marina in Vero Beach for Monday, April 8th with departure on Thursday, April 11th. I also called Cocoa Village Marina to make a reservation for Thursday, April 11th with departure on Monday, April 15th. The two of us worked on boat jobs. We worked on trying to find a grocery store for a few items but there is no close grocery store. At 12:00 P.M. I called for a Lyft that took the two of us to the Navy UDT - SEAL Museum here in Fort Pierce. The museum was excellent. We found out that the museum "exhibits are to inform and educate on the role of Navy Underwater Demolition Teams and Sea, Air, Land (SEAL teams). The museum also preserves the history of the SEAL's (the original Navy frogman first trained outside of Fort Pierce)." When it was time for the two of us to return to the marina I couldn't load the Lyft to get their return ride so she talked to Johnathan (a young kid) at the front desk who got the Lyft on his phone and ordering a ride to get the two of us back to the marina. When we returned to the marina we walked 0.3 miles to the Manatee Center Fort Pierce and Vanishing Mermaid Gift Shop. Unfortunately, there were no manatee in the viewing area but Mike and I did watch a short video about manatee. At 3:30 P.M. we headed back to the "Parrot Bay" to have happy hour on the flying bridge. It was a beautiful day 82 degrees, sunny and breezy but very warm in the sun but up on the flying bridge it was very comfortable. While Mike and I were having happy hour Sue from "Bella" stopped over. We had not seen her and her husband since Grand Harbor in Counce, TN. We talked to Sue for a bit than we met Mac who is also a looper on the dock. After happy hour Mike and I had dinner onboard. It was then time for Sunday night phone calls and blogging.

Mike and I had heard how great this museum is so they decided to visit as part of their adventure.

"Medal of Honor Statue although the statue reconstructs the actions of Medal of Honor recipient, Michael Thornton, carrying the wounded Medal of Honor recipient Tom Norris, off the battlefield, the statue encompasses the ultimate importance of a "swim buddy" and these words are indelibly carved on the base of the statue. Swim buddy is a deeply rooted SEAL term which means each being responsible for the other's safety."

"The Maersk Alabama hijacking was a series of maritime events that began on April 8, 2009 with four pirates in the Indian Ocean seizing the cargo ship MV Maersk Alabama 240 nautical miles southeast of Eyl, Somalia."

"The siege ended after a rescue effort by the U.S. Navy on April 12, 2009. "Who starred in the movie???

Tom Hanks was Captain Phillips. The movie was playing in the lifeboat.

Desert Patrol Vehicle

"This Black Hawk was used during the rescue of Jessica Buchanan and Paul Hagen Thirsted on January 25, 2012. Navy SEALs conducted a High Altitude High Opening parachute insertions 12 miles north of the Somali town of Adow which resulted in the deaths of nine Somali pirates and rescue of the hostages.