December 15, 2024 - December 21, 2024
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Sunday, December 15, 2024
I was up and out early this morning- Sabina had to get set up for the Sunday Market she runs and I had several stops I wanted to make on my way back to Fort Pierce.
We exchanged a warm hug and promised to get together soon, and I hit the road, making the poor decision to stop at McDonalds for breakfast.
.
After a few hours, I made my first labyrinth stop at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Live Oak, FL, where I spent about 45 minute enjoying the peace of the labyrinth.
When I got back on the road, I made a stop for gas about an hour later in Gainesville, then headed to Ocala, where I stopped to visit Shalom Park. While I only spent about an hour there and saw only a small portion of the park, it was a really beautiful space. I started my visit with time in the Zen Garden.
The Zen Garden had the standard elements, all beautiful in their simplicity. It had the typical giant rocks (ishi) which often symbolize mountains or embody the ideas of strength and power.
I also took a moment to pause and appreciate that serenity of the karesansui, which is the area with raked pebbles or sand. Karesansui literally translates to “dry landscape.” Of course the Zen Garden also had meandering paths for quiet contemplation and a beautiful pagoda to represent peace, harmony, and balance. Tthe flowing water of the mini fountain represents the continuity of life. It was a peaceful (dare I say) zen-like place to pause and reflect.
Every Zen garden has something to offer. We only need to take the time to be still while there.
The original reason I stopped at Shalom Park was for their labyrinth (of course), however this labyrinth wasn’t any of the usual patterns.
it was a long winding, unicursal path with a series of markers and viewpoints, but didn’t model the classical, Chartres, or Santa Rosa paths I usually walk.
However, the trail markers were all of thoughtful questions and ideas to reflect on.
I’ve shared some of them here in case you want to take the time to peruse through the pictures and consider how they speak to you.
After I left Shalom Park in Ocala, I got back on the road, stopping in Summerfield at Hope Lutheran Church (Lake Weir) to walk their labyrinth. The church property backs right up to Lake Weir, with a memorial garden that included landscaped walkways, a pergola, gazebo, Grand Oak trees and a small labyrinth.
After enjoying my labyrinth walks, I headed back towards Fort Pierce, stopping at the Turkey Lake Service Plaza in Orlando to grab something to eat. It was still early in the evening, and I toyed with stopping for the night, but I decided to drive just a little bit longer.
And when I say little bit, I mean just a little bit. An hour later, I decided that, early or not, I was done for the day, so I stopped at the Canoe Creek Service Plaza in St. Cloud, FL.
Yes, I was less than 2 hours from the boat, and yes, it wasn’t even 6:30 p.m. in the evening, but the flexibility of my life means that I can stop when I want and where I want (within reason).
So I chilled for the rest of night, listening to my audiobook and letting my thoughts run wild until I fell asleep.
Monday, December 16, 2024
3:30 a.m.? Seriously?! Well, that’s the downside of deciding to go to sleep extra early. It was still too early for most of the rest of the world to be awake but I wasn’t in any hurry, so I made the leisurely drive from that rest area to the next one at the Fort Drum Service Plaza in Okeechobee, where I stopped again for a three-hour power nap. When I woke, I covered the last hour of drive time quickly, arriving back just before 8:30 a.m.
Paul was already up and into his day, and we quickly fell back into everyday marina boat life.
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
I decided that today was as good a day as any other to torture Paul, so I made a grocery store run to pick up lots of healthy food ingredients because I am making Coconut Thai Quinoa Salad with Lime and Basil for dinner.
I’ll update after dinner and let you know if Paul survived.
*Update: Paul survived. He said he liked it and even had a small second helping. I also absolutely recognize that it could have been a pity helping. 🤷🏽♀️😂
I’m making a different quinoa dish later this week, so we’ll see if he actually likes quinoa or if he just opted to suffer in silence and pretend he liked it.
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Today was a quiet, non-eventful day. I spent the entire day on the boat, met via Zoom with Jon, and walked over to Common Ground Vineyard Church for the Wednesday night bible study, which was thought-provoking and insightful.
Thursday, December 19, 2024
I went for a morning walk today, moving slowing and capturing some pictures of the things I really like about being in Fort Pierce.
I think I will forever associate painted electrical boxes and decorated park benches with Fort Pierce, even though I have seen them in other places since I have begun my travels.
Peacocks now have a dual association – initially from a vacation I took to Maui years ago, and now I think of Fort Pierce, too. Sometimes, I feel like I’ll never escape the memories and associations of the past.
We had dinner at Chuck’s Seafood Restaurant with our friends Jon & Peggy last night. The restaurant is only 1.5 miles away across the bridge in Hutchison Bay, so I suggested that we walk the short distance over, but Paul wasn’t interested in walking. He said I could walk over and meet them there, paused for a moment, then suggested that I take the scooter. Side note: I think Paul might be trying to bump me off. I know that it doesn’t sound like attempted homicide, so I’ll explain.
First, he offers me the scooter. (I pointed out that taking the scooter would defeat the purpose since I wanted to walk for the exercise.)
Then, he casually added that it has no brakes since the brake cable snapped. 😮. He also mentioned that he didn’t think his scooter had enough charge in it to make it there and back. 🤷🏽♀️
I goggled at him in disbelief and told him I was documenting it all in case something happens to me. We both enjoyed a good laugh, then drove over.
Dinner at Chuck’s Seafood Restaurant was less than mediocre (and frankly overpriced), but that seems to be the standard for dining out at most places these days. (I had the chicken Parmesan; it was bland and mediocre at best– Lorenzo’s Chicken Parm beats it hands down). The only upside was that it was a very large portion, so I have leftovers for later this weekend.
Ater dinner, I decided to get in the rest of my daily walking time and opted to walk back to the boat (Paul took my purse and leftovers, so I was hands-free (minus my phone)).
It was a lovely night– warm without being hot, and just enough breeze to be comfortable without getting cold. As I was crossing the Fort Pierce South Bridge (see Jon, I’m getting in my one hour of walking each day!) It wasn’t until I returned to the boat and getting read for bed that I realized I had left my favorite Area 51 hat behind. 😭
I called them right away and they still had my hat, but don’t open again until late in the afternoon (and I am not going out again tonight!), so I let them know that I will pick it up tomorrow.
Friday, December 20, 2024
I worked quietly on the boat this morning, then drove the short distance over to St. Lucie Battery and Tire to drop off my Sequoia.
Somehow, (shockingly?), I was due for another oil change.
I did a quick calculation and looked up the starting mileage from when I bought my Sequoia in early June.
When I bought it, it had 76,284 miles on it.
Since I bought it, we (my Sequoia and I) have driven through 25 states (Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.)
Today, the odometer reading is 96,635, meaning I have put another 5,000 miles on it since the beginning of November, and over 20,000 miles since I bought it less than six months ago. I love my road trips (and my Sequoia!)
The friendly staff said they would get my oil change done as quickly as possible and when I considered how much I had driven in the last five months, I asked if they could also fit in a tire rotation. They said the tire rotation would be complimentary and that they would get the Sequoia moved through their queue as quickly as possible. Since it was only a short walk to the Marina Boater’s Lounge from their shop, I walked over there and worked for about 90 minutes until they let me know my vehicle was ready. I walked back over to pick it up, crossed the bridge to Chuck’s to retrieve my hat (it took 4 people about 5 minutes to find it under the hostess stand 🤷🏽♀️) and then returned back to the boat. If I hadn’t mentioned it sooner, we’re on L dock, which is at the far north end of the arena.
Saturday, December 21, 2024
The weather was cool today- at least by Paul’s standards. To be fair (and honest), I put on my super comfy (long) pants, socks AND slippers to pad around the boat. I spent the majority of the day on the boat until early evening, when Paul and I walked over to 12A Buoy to join some friends, Leo & Terri, for dinner.
12A Buoy is a self-proclaimed ‘Rustic Dive’ with ‘Exceptional Eats’. It got the first part right- it was. a rustic dive (but honestly, barely a dive, just a slightly older building) however the food was hardly exceptional. We all agreed share a couple appetizers- Shrimp Cocktail and Smoked Fish Dip, and I ordered the Grilled Chicken sandwich. None of it was remarkable, so I’m done talking about it.
After dinner, the rest of the gang wanted to head out to the bars to drink, so we walked over to the Thirty Turtle Seagrill. It was a short walk, but just as we arrived, I decided that I wasn’t up for drinking and carousing, so I bowed out, telling Paul that I was heading back to the boat for the night- and that’s where I went.
I spent the rest of the evening working quietly until I retired early.
How’s that for an exciting Saturday night!?
