Wednesday, December 20 shortly after we left Vero Beach Municipal Marina we saw a manatee rocking back and forth just outside the ICW channel; it was the first one we spotted since entering Florida with all the signs stating "slow speed, manatee zone"! By mid afternoon we were tied up at Soverel Harbor Marina in Palm Beach Gardens. We were drawn to Carmine's Market for dinner, the first of many. I arranged for a rental car so it would be easy to visit with my sister and parents who flew down from the cold weather in St. Louis. Enterprise informed me that the only car available was a pickup truck -- a brand new Dodge Ram 4-door truck. I found out quickly that cars move out of the way of a big truck!! We had a lovely Christmas at Jane's with too much food, drink, and sweets.

Friday, December 29, Jim informed me the Coast Guard and Sheriff's Bomb Squad would be conducting practice diving exercises in the marina. We thought nothing of that. Later several jet skiis came through manned by very untanned men. We thought nothing of that. When we returned from dinner, the chef aboard a sportsfishing boat apologized for the serving dishes on the dock and said the Prime Minister had just left. Well, it appears that Tony and Cherie Blair and 2 kids had been out on that boat and then stayed for dinner. We then realized that the Coast Guard was not practicing but conducting a real search and the guys on the jet skiis were bodyguards!!!

My Christmas present from Jim! I searched in several animal shelters before I found this male tabby on December 30. He weighed all of 3 pounds 11 ounces and had spent three weeks in a cage at PetSmart and two months in a cage at Safe Harbor Animal Rescue in Jupiter. I told Paula, the adoption manager, that he would live on a boat and she had to see his new home. After she saw the forward cabin which has a lower and upper berth and is similar to kitty condos, she said "you hit the kitty jackpot". Jim calls him Kittypuss; however, his name is Alex short for Alexander because he lives on an Ocean Alexander Classicco.

As you can see, Alex was not excited about his first shopping trip! This life jacket is an extra small, the smallest size they make, and he can still slide out the back!

Thursday, January 4, we cruised down to Delray Beach stayed two days and visited with my friends, Joanne and then Ray and Celeste. Saturday, January 6 we continued down the ICW and up the New River in Ft. Lauderdale. As you can see it is narrow, has boats docked on both sides, and is busy! We docked at Sailboat Bend in the same spot as last year. It is convenient to the Downtowner for Sunday brunch and 2-for-1 appetizers on Wednesday evenings. Bob and Lynn on Legrace came up and spent two nights. It was great as Lynn and I shopped on Los Olas while the guys did or talked boat stuff. Sunday, January14, we moved the boat further up the New River to Marina Bay Resort. Jim's friends, Steve and Betty and their two sons and my sister joined us for the cruise.