On Friday, March 2, our props were delivered to Palmetto Moon as promised. They looked brand new, and since the prop shop had taken the time to engrave our name and their name and phone number we took numerous photos. It will be interesting to see if this info is still on them when we are hauled in Oriental. The diver returned the next day and installed the props. After he left, Jim and I attended a wine education session with the boater's association at Black Point Marina. We tried all that was offered -- two white wines and four red wines combined with cheeses, crackers, and fruit. A very friendly group of boaters! Unbeknownst at the time, it was 90 degrees, a record for that day.

The view of Black Point Marina from Palmetto Moon's flybridge. Jim decided that we would not leave our slip unless it was high tide as we didn't want to chance any skinny water in the channel. The March winds kicked up early and did not lessen. So, then we needed low winds and high tide to occur in the morning.....of course, this was not possible. We stayed the month of March and spent many evenings at the Black Point Ocean Grill which is the building to the far left. The food was very good, the staff was extremely friendly, and we met many wonderful boaters.

On Thursday, March 15, we enjoyed watching the release of two manatees. They had been taken in by the Miami Seaquarium as ophans about two years ago and are now ready to rejoin the manatee community. Black Point was chosen as it has plenty of manatee grass in the basin, and they will meet other manatees who will guide them out into Biscayne Bay. Sparky, pictured here, came in weighing 150 pounds and now weighs 835 pounds. The collar around Sparky's neck is a safe-release if he gets caught on something; however, a satellite transmitter is attached to the collar. The staff at Seaquarium tracks their movements and then catches them at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months to give them physical exams! For several days, we spotted their floats attached to the collars, then they were gone out into the big water.

Alex spent the month relaxing. Jim and I spent the month reading books and doing boat chores; his outside and mine inside. Jim attended the Dania Marine flea market held in the parking lot of Dolphin Stadium. There were around 300 booths, Jim's list of wants was long, but he came home emptyhanded.