Vero Beach, Florida
March 16, 2024
We’ve pried ourselves free of the grip of “Velcro Beach”, so-called because a number of cruisers have gotten “stuck” there and ended up making it their home. It’s definitely an easy place to live on a boat. The people are friendly and generous. Public transit is free to ride and makes a stop right at the city marina, which is relatively affordable (especially if you tie to a mooring ball.)
In Vero, we serviced both of our motors, washed the boat for the first time in 1,250 miles, loaded up on water and other supplies, got a bunch of packages delivered, and found some great affordable happy hour hangouts. The botanical gardens were an incredible visit with lots of history.
The Publix and West Marine are only a few stops away. We rode our bikes to the beach, bought local produce at the farmer’s market, and went to a movie theater for the first time on the trip thanks to $5 admission Tuesdays. The weather was spectacular our entire stay. We also met a couple other new Looper boats and enjoyed a social hour with them, exchanging stories of our favorite stops and things gone wrong.
Our last packages arrived just in time to shove off and head north again. We made our way to Melbourne where dolphins were conducting aggressive mating rituals right next to our boat. Then we were thrilled to catch a SpaceX rocket launch that evening, which was an incredible sight. Long after the burners had extinguished, the sound waves thundered across our anchorage.
Next up, we hop to Titusville, New Smyrna, and the much anticipated St. Augustine.
Daily Travel Log | The Great Loop
Day 97 • made it to “velcro beach”, showers are in order, starting with the boat
Jensen Beach anchorage to Vero Beach City Marina, Florida
Day 98 • finally, friday - delicious, low-key, a warm breeze
Vero Beach, Florida
Day 99 • inchworm invasion, farmers market, the garden that refused to die
Vero Beach, Florida
Day 100 • downtown bike ride, fancy art festival, said hi to the Atlantic
Vero Beach, Florida
Day 101 • boat work, work work, and squirting barnacles
Vero Beach, Florida
Day 102 • multiple oil changes, dinner and a movie, a long walk home
Vero Beach, Florida
Day 103 • paddle board delivery, restocked the root cellar, final happy hour at our special (cheap) place
Vero Beach, Florida
Day 104 • back in dolphin waters, scrubbed Novi (inside and out), made the best boat meal to date
Vero Beach City Marina to Hog Point Cove anchorage, Florida
Day 105 • an eventful day - aggressive dolphin mating and a rocket launch
Hog Point Cove anchorage to an anchorage outside of Melbourne, Florida
Day 106 • vintage space, craft brews and Irish nachos
An anchorage outside Melbourne to Titusville anchorage, Florida