Day 224-225- November 27 & 28 Cape Coral to Rolan Martin Marina, Okeechobee, FL to Stuart, FL

 

As is becoming a habit, an early start.  This time at 0600, well before light, to get into the Caloosahatchee waterway to Lake Okeechobee.  The goal for the day is Sugar Town, Clewiston, FL on the lake.  Three locks and a swing bridge to traverse and we need to get to the last lock before they shut down at 4:30PM.

We can't quite figure out how these folks managed to get themselves high and dry in a benign area like this.

Tow-Boat was pulling, but they weren't moving, at least while we could see them. 
 I think they missed the high tide.

We saw these signs, but could seldom see the cord.  This one was on the right;

There are five locks on the Okeechobee waterway. Three that lift you up to the lake from the Gulf of Mexico and two that bring you down to the Atlantic Ocean

Homes along the river, but not mansions here.


The trees are looking different.


These folks live on a Florida "mountain". The highest ground we have seen.

Paul spotted a couple of turtles. Can you see them?

They are under the deck.

Wildlife.  Skeeter, Cletus and their other brothers Skeeter and Cletus.

The river is pretty narrow leading to Lake Okeechobee.

The Okeechobee locks are unique.  There are no sluice gates or channels under the lock chamber.  Here, they just open the doors a crack and let 'er rip.

Get a better idea of the water flowing into the lock by watching this video.

"I have a second leg, but I like to rest it once in awhile."

Don't fall in...

The "artsy fartsy' picture of the day.

Roland Martin Marina in Clewiston.

A less frantic, quite leisurely departure at nearly 8 for a short day to Stuart across the lake.  In addition to the 5 locks on the Okeechobee waterway, there is a lock to get into Clewiston. We did the Clewiston lock twice, once to get in and once to get out.  There was no rush to get to the Clewiston Lock as it is operated by the county.  We got there by 4, no problem. When do they open in the morning?  Try 5:30AM!  Yup. Gotta let those bass fishermen out!

Lake Okeechobee has looked liked a ditch. Well, actually the only place deep enough for boat traffic has been a cut channel around the outside of it.
This is the first "lake" we have seen.

We think they built this for the birds.

Now you see why?


It's a big lake.  You can see it from space. 
The  marked track across is a diagonal, but still 25 miles long.  But it only 12 feet deep.


Sugar cane fields being burned off before harvest.  A common sight around here.

All of the bridges on this waterway are 55 feet high.  Except this one, at 49 feet.

My old sailboat was 51.5 feet tall.  Could I cross the lake?  Why, sure!

The nice fellow from a boatyard down the way would come out, put barrels on the side of your boat and fill them with lake water.  This would tip you over enough to sneak under the bridge.  It cost $100 for the "Okeechobee Limbo".  I did it three times over the years!


Indiantown Marina.  Where the tip guy was from.  Tiny marina with a huge yard. 
Many snowbirds leave their boats here for the summer.
It helps to speak French, because so many are from Quebec.



A new, big boatyard on the river servicing big boats,  The white things are temporary tents built over boats being painted,  The steel contraption just beyond is a trave lift, used to pull the boats out of the water.  This one is rated at 250 Tons!


The St Lucie Lock.  This lock puts us back into the Atlantic Ocean.

This is the 186th(!) and last lock of our Great Loop journey!

I promise "no more lock pictures."


Mangrove Forest. If you haven't learned much about mangrove trees
click here. Very interesting species of trees.


You can tell we are getting closer to the Atlantic. Back in mansion land.


We can't get through the blue draw bridge until the train crosses the ugly, rusty bridge...

Can you see the train cars? Look for wheels under the blue bridge.

Train!!


What do you do when you have to wait? Take more pictures!

The Blog Mistress at work.

There was a marina next to where we waited, and waited, and waited...

Both bridges are finally open.

Here you can see how low the railroad tracks are to the water. 

Looking back after freedom from the bridges!!
After 8 hours on the water yesterday and 7 1/2 hours today, 

we were ready to tie up and put our feet up.

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