Florida, Fort Pierce – Town centre, not exactly a tourist trap

Hurricane Arthur is spinning away out at sea off the coast of Florida, so we are not going anywhere for another day. Despite the ‘local weather station’s’ promise of fair weather in Fort Pierce, things were still a bit windy inland, so we decided to let ‘the sea’ settle before heading back out and up the Florida coast.

Note note the rain jacket as the humans inflate the 'incredible de-flatible'. Dorothy, we are no longer in Kansis! — Note note the rain jacket as the humans inflate the ‘incredible de-flatible’. Dorothy, we are no longer in Kansas!

We decided to go and see the town centre of Fort Pierce. We checked a few sources and found out there is a marina there, called City Marina, and they allow you to tie up your dingy there for free. That is very kind of them, and makes getting there easy. But you can not get any where fast in the interior waterways, as boat propellers are a real hazard to the local manatee population.

There are lots of signs warning you to drive slowly

The incredible deflatable tied up in the centre of town at City Marina
The marina was in the centre of town, so it was no distance to walk, but no one seems to walk anywhere in the States. The car is king. It is the down fall of many town centres. People get onto their cars and drive to self-contained, air-conditioned shopping malls usually on the out skirts of town where they can build big parking lots.

So many ‘original’ town centres fall into decline with little more than administrative buildings and serves for them remaining. Fort Pierce is another town centre that has fallen prey to the ‘shopping malls’. But it is still worth a visit as they have preserved a few original structures and there are some fun eccentric shops.

The town centre may have celebrated its centennial, but the car is king here in the States

Sprucing up the downtown with some art work. This sculpture in front of the new city hall is called 'leap of faith' — Sprucing up the downtown with some art work. This sculpture in front of the new city hall is called ‘leap of faith’

Some great art work, but no one about enjoying it.

Some nice preserved historical structures trapped among modern buildings

The old Cobb building had some fun shops to visit

Our favourite was this General Store that tried to sell....well....generally every thing — Our favourite was this General Store that tried to sell….well….generally every thing

It was a restaurant, grocery store, department store, post office and beer store

We discovered that the American market is flooded with a huge selection of micro breweries

Every corner of this shop was filled with just a sampling of what is on the market

It would take a life time to sample all of these

Just to make sure they 'generally sell everything' they provide a 'dog menu' on the porch. Now that is eccentric! — Just to make sure they ‘generally sell everything’ they provide a ‘dog menu’ on the porch. Now that is eccentric!

When you are sick of walking around town, on the south side of the Marina, you can find refreshments at the Original Tiki Bar.

Want to learn a bit more? On the north side of the marina you will find the Manatee Information Centre and the Tourist Office for the area.

The $1 entre fee helps volunteers keep the centre running.

They do love Manitee around here — They do love Manatee around here

Guides and free maps aside, it is worth stopping at the tourist office just to learn about the history of the building it self.

Sight seeing over, it was back to the boat to get the dingy up and things put away for the couple of days trip sailing further up the coast of Florida.

We are hoping the Gulf Stream will carry us right up to St.Johns River and Jacksonville. It will be a ‘home coming’ for the boat as this is where the humans bought her 12 years, and a circumnavigation around the Atlantic, ago. Suppose we are going to have to waste some champagne on her decks.

We will miss 4th of July celebrations heading off tomorrow, but one thing we have learned sailing is, take the weather windows when they become available. Maybe we will see the shoreline fireworks from sea tomorrow night.

Wish us luck!