Cool!

We decided to leave the New Smyrna Beach anchorage early so we could get to Palm Harbor Marina and start getting prepared for our refrigerator swap.  It was a pleasant day of travel with lots of wildlife including dolphin, some manatee herds as large as seven, and even an alligator.  It didn't help much by leaving early as the tide was ripping against us all morning.  We got to Palm Harbor Maina at about 2:00 p.m.  They put us on the face dock, which was not our preference, but after looking at the narrow piers in the slips, there was no sence in wrestling refrigerators in those conditions, plus down a step.
The refrigerator prepping never did happen on Wednesday, but some much needed laundry got done while we had access to water.  We also determined that it takes about 24 gallons of water to do a large load.
Bill and Patty pulled in behind us about an hour later although they left New Smyrna Beach three hours after we did.  They have good friends from way back that now live in Palm Harbor.  They came over once Sue got off work, her own quilt shop.  We had a little happy hour on "Conched Out Too", then half of us walked and half of them rode over to the European Village.  This was a great concept of a complex.  It was in a triangular shape with access to establishments from inside the triangle at ground level, then two stories of condominiums on top of that with balconies overlooking the atrium.  In the center of the atrium was a stage/pavillion in which there was live music playing.  We had a choice of most restaurant cuisines you could want, but decided on the Irish Pub.  Once we were done eating, Tom and Sue drove home, while the rest of us walked the rest of the village, then back to the marina.
Thursday started with immediate tracking of our new refrigerator.  It was being shipped by Southeastern Freight Lines, whom we were familiar with through ours and family careers in Orlando.  Once we saw that it left Jacksonville, we figured we had plenty of time to get other chores done before its arrival. All four of us rode our bicycles about two and a half miles to find the things we needed; a notary, UPS, groceries and batteries. When we were done with everything except getting some batteries from Walgreens, and had decided not to get any parishable items at the grocery store because we were going to ride some other bike paths, the truck driver called to say he was at the marina and needed a signature.  Thankfully Debbie, the dockmaster, said she would sign for it and the driver said he would bring it right down to the boat.  How awesome!  So a quick battery run to get our Spot tracker to work again and we headed back to the marina.
Sure enough, the refrigerator was sitting right next to the boat. We gobbled down some lunch and got to work on the swap. Once we took the cabin entry door off to make them fit, Bill and one of the dock hands were gracious enough to help once it was time to heave them in and out and back and forth over the rail.  Tom was so hospitable in taking our old refrigerator to dispose of it too. Of course although it was the same model refrigerator, this new version was slightly different, but we made everything work out ok.
Once we got everything buttoned up we had time to go ride those bike trails before our dinner engagement at Tom and Sue's house.  We probably didn't do a quarter of the bike paths that must wander all over this town according to the signs.  If ever you find yourself in Palm Coast, I would recommend them.
Sue picked the four of us up after work and our dinner party of just the six of us was such a hoot.  We do a lot of laughing, but between the people and the dogs I don't remember laughing so hard in quite a while.  Thank you Tom and Sue for the fabulously funny time.  For everyone's safety, we took a cab back to the marina.