Oliver Sails South: Vero Beach 2

Our days here in Vero at the Loggerhead marina are into a pattern. It is hot and humid here, so I try to get Oliver up and moving early so he can get some exercise (me too).

We went to a nice vet here for his shots and heart med prescription. He still loves going to vets. Vets down here are basic vets, so to deal with Oliver's pericardial effusion we need a specialist. All we wanted was an ultrasound of his heart to look for fluid and they called back that the traveling radiologist would be in and we could have it done for $425. I went cold and explained that was crazy as the specialist in Ft. Lauderdale charges less or not at all. We had been taken to the cleaners by a vet in Ft Lauderdale before we got to the specialist, so we were not going to fall for that again. They tried to explain a cardiologist would look at the echo cardio gram and write a report. I coolly explained we do not need that, just an ultrasound. Needless to say, I may have burned a bridge there. Anyway, I called the specialist in Ft Lauderdale and they remembered Oliver and said come on down. Luckily we have a car, so we took a road trip 115 miles to see his internist. It took them 5 minutes to check his heart and NO fluid was noted. We went to pay and there was nothing at the desk for charges, so the receptionist went back to check and they did not charge us a penny. So, for the price of gas, we ended up way ahead. I think in my discussion with the vet here I used the "scam" word, but that is what it is here, especially when I have tons of medical paperwork on Oliver from Cascade Animal Hospital and subsequent vets on our trip. We do have a weight issue with him, that we are working on (oops, 7 pounds from all those treats). I have also gained a few, so Oliver and I are trying to get back in shape. Unfortunately it is so hot here, you run a mile and are so sweat slimy you only want a shower.

Oliver is known around the docks as the "manatee hunter". He can hear a snort from across the lagoon. We wander the docks and boardwalk everyday in search of the beasts. Lately we have seen them mating, which is not something I enjoy. Oliver, on the other hand, thinks all the rolling and snorting is for his benefit and he stares at them and sometimes barks. Needless to say, anyone that is walking by is alerted to the fact that these manatees must take Viagra.

On to better things. A woman, Jackie who lives at Grand Harbor in a condo took me on a tour and to lunch. It was great hearing the history of Vero and places to go during our time here. Then we had a dinner with our new ICW friends, Skip and Harriet from Baltimore that relocated to a beautiful home down here. We met fellow cruisers, some that have given up there cruising life and settled here. This was our second dinner at their home and they are having fun decorating in a Florida style.

After our first time at their house they emailed us wondering if we would like to house sit for them while they go on vacation for a month. Well, thinking of space, toilets that flush, not pump, a pool, kitchen, not a galley and laundry, we said "yes". We moved into their house a week ago Monday and will be here until Labor Day.