Dinghy in Fort Pierce FL

Dinghy rides – with Michael and Judy, then to Bunny and Evan’s house

We were tired of sitting around. On a sunny day in January we unloaded the dinghy for the first time in over a month to look around with Michael and Judy from One September. It took a while to get the dinghy down and out. Our stern in tie in a dock just big enough for us made it tough.

Yup, we slipped our dinghy between
Good Karma and those posts on the right

We launched the boat well enough then squeaked our way between the dock posts and our neighbors to freedom in the fairway. Thank goodness the neighbors were gone while we bounced between boats in that narrow space!

We were looking for a cut into the mangrove forest that led to a local bar. It was a beautiful day so we headed down the channel towards the inlet. The current is pretty fast as the tide goes out. It can get up to 3 to 5 mph current. We flew down the channel, past the bars and marinas waving at boats and enjoying the sunshine.

We found a shallow cut. Several small boats were sunning themselves in the shallows. Another boat ahead of us turned around – water too shallow – but we persevered. Unfortunately it was a dead-end. 

Mike and Judy getting a talking to from the Coast Guard!

Or rather a circle route. That took us back to the beginning of the channel. We didn’t find the bar but we did find one of our favorite restaurants right on the water. We docked the boat in a hellacious current and enjoyed dinner and cocktails with Michael and Judy.

The little bar we wanted to find

Afterwards we tried again to find that little bar. We went further down the ICW past the bridge to Hutchinson Island North, turned right (east) and down a ways that there it was! A little local bar next to a boat ramp. We haven’t stopped there yet but we know where it is.

That little  bar we wanted to find

On the way back to our marina zipping along at full speed doing a little racing to prove our little 20 hp 2 stroke engine is tops, we noticed a police boat. Sure enough it was Coast Guard. They stopped Michael and Judy while we sped ahead! Our dinghy is faster. The Coast Guard sent a message that WE needed to slow down too. No tickets, just a warning this time!!

We’ve taken the dinghy out a few other times. We toured the channel to Hutchinson Island North one time and a couple of times we went back to wave at Bunny and Evan in the Colonnades. It is nice to get off the boat and go do something different.

Bunny and Evan's place, 3rd floor center
We used to have the place on the 3rd floor far left

These are the docks in front of Bunny and Evan's place;
We had the condo 3rd floor on the right, sold in 2008,
part of our Good Karma