Crossing Okeechobee and Beyond.

We pulled away from the dock at just on  8 am, this morning, in unpleasant drizzle. Of course it started about the time we got underway. Just as we took the last of the ropes off, we heard the horn for the Rail Bridge, which meant it was closing. Bah! We had already called the Moore Haven lock to ask for an opening along with our neighbors, who left the dock just ahead of us, but the rail bridge closing held us up for another 20 mins or so. We missed out on locking through with our neighbors, but, no stress!

Leaving the dock had been a bit rushed, as it was. Not a good thing, and we felt we were playing catch up, half the morning...with ourselves! I made seemingly endless trips up and down the stairs to retrieve items that would all normally be on the fly deck before starting the engines, but we left the dock before doing all the prep. Why? So that we could lock through with the neighbors, of course!:(
It was not meant to be!

Here we are after going under the vehicular bridge, and waiting for the rail bridge to open. We then needed to wait to go into the Moore Haven Lock.  Waiting, waiting!!!
After such a hot day yesterday, we welcomed the cool and putting on our sweatshirts!

 The train took it's time, and almost stopped on the bridge, which had us groaning. We had a train stop on a bridge going into New Orleans, and it was stopped there for an hour!!!! so we groaned, alright! lol

 Bridge closed, on the left with what looks like scaffolding. We had to go through the small passage between the land and the rest of the bridge. Seems we have done so much of that skinny stuff, today.

As you can see, it is now 8.27am, and we are still waiting. At least the depth is good, at 14.5 ft!
At the bottom of the center of the chart, you can see the key hole...we went down the right hand side of that and turned right into the canal that runs alongside of Lake Okeechobee, on the left (blue).

 There is a channel to go out into the lake, right there....here!....but we decided to follow the Yellow Brick Road, as it were.
This, looking back at the Moore Haven Lock, having successfully locked through. One down, many more to follow, today.

 ...and the right turn into the canal taking us to the outer canal into Lake Okeechobee.

Another source of frustration this morning, was the many fisher folk whom we had to pass with no wake. We were already behind our schedule...and I lied when I said it was to lock through with our dock neighbors....The weather forecast was for strong winds and 2-4ft waves on the Lake, and we wanted to get out there earlier than later, when the stronger winds would come up.
We are a big boat, so waves are not much problem for us, and we are used to larger waves in NZ, however, the Lake is shallow! The average depth of the Lake is only 13 feet!. For most of the trip we were in 10 feet of water. I did relax about the depth...getting better!!!:)

 It cracks me up how dedicated these fisher folks are....

 Can we see where we are going, yet?   I did have to get up on the front dash and dry the outside of the windows, so that Waz could steer straight:)...and we are still in the canal alongside the lake.

 There was much construction going on, along the banks of the canal...someone had the pleasure of dynamiting these rocks!

 Vegetation on one side of the canal, and lawn on the other, in places.
Marshes were also everywhere, and the chart showed that this was actually Lake...just covered in marsh!

The birdlife in the Marshes, this morning, was delightful. I took so many pictures...mostly with Waz's camera.

 

 Lots of wading birds, and red-winged black birds, grackles, hawks and Herons. This is a great Egret.

Then....we had been called by our dock neighbors to say that there were some red buoys in the water that we should be aware of....here they are. One rogue one in the middle of the channel, was what the neighbors were warning us about. They opted to take the left (port) route, but Waz managed the starb'd route, no problems, but it was quite close. Needless to say, we didn't take it at great speed, though we had to maintain enough to avoid the high wind pushing us into the Steel sheet piles.

..not THAT close:)

 Lots of rocks going into this place!

 All clear!

 I guess they are shoring up the levee.

 Marshes, and these little black/blue Teal we knocked off their rocks by our wake.

Here is the boat on the canal, going for the second outlet into the lake. We decided not to take the one on the left. Travelling at this (7.7 knots) speed is perfect for us.  Saves lots of diesel which is pricey, right now! Prices vary from $3.90 plus tax, to about $4.90 tax incl. Tax is about 7%, here in Florida.

These are flood control gates along the starb'd side of the canal...land vs lake, side.

The dead forest was interesting...I had to take a photo, of course!

...and you can see the evidence of higher water, along the concrete levee.

 

The cormorant is waiting for the Black Vulture to finish with the Red Eared Turtle...which we couldn't ascertain was dead or alive...

..and it was very much a 'wait and see' line-up for these Black Vultures, while the bottom one ate it's fill of the fish.

 

At the crossroads, as it were, where we turned into the channel to go out into the Lake, is a park with  lovely trees, bar-b-q, tables, etc. There were boat ramps, and this was as we came into Clewiston, right at the cross-roads.

 More fisher folks at Clewiston, and you can see the Water Hyacinths that populate the fresh water- ways all across the south.  See how lush it all is!

 

 ...and here we are at the opening to the Lake Channel, on the right. I loved these little boats...quite unique.

We turned left, and the wind picked up. We got our first taste of the conditions out on the lake.

 Going out through the marshes to the lake.


Looking back to the entry to Clewiston, at the head of the Lake Channel. I cant imagine having to lock through there every time, to go out! But it is for their protection.

 

Finally!!! out into the lake. 7.6ft under us.

 We are the second boat (green triangle) going out the channel into the lake. Our dock neighbors are ahead of us, at this stage, but going only 6.2knots to our 7.8. We soon closed the gap...

Just before we passed Classic Cyn, the dock neighbors. They seemed to struggle with the waves and wind, and often strayed off the straight and narrow. We felt somewhat concerned about this, but they reassured us that they would be fine.

This photo was taken through the plastic. The closest shore we saw, not long after starting out into the lake. You can see the white caps on the water.

We did a 90 degree turn around this 'pole' on the port side, and this meant we were 1/3 the way across the lake. Nothing to see, and we didn't take any other photos after this! There are no land marks, anywhere.

  We dont stop for lunch, ever, but have it on the go. Today, I didn't want to start the Genset to even boil the kettle, so we continued to drink bottled water and we snacked on nuts, apples and finally guacamole, made with the last of our Avo's. We did have a scrambled eggs with sausage pieces and spinach, for breakfast, which lasted us most of the morning.

You can see the shore on the right side of the screen, and this signals the end in sight! yay!

Still not very deep, if you can read the numbers on the blue. It might SAY 8ft, but our depth sounder will say 6.5ft.

YAY! We have now crossed the Lake! This is the Port Myaka Lock, straight off the Lake. We called ahead, as you do, and were assured that the gates were open, and to come right on through! We did! This was the first time a lock had been open and waiting for us:) We were MOST grateful.

 

 Ahead lay another 24 miles of canals.

Bye Bye, Lake Okeechobee...we are now officially on the East Coast of Florida!

Anatomy of a lock!

See the ropes hanging down the concrete walls??

The gates (yellow) swing in and out to close and open. You can see the large hinges on the left hand side.

The birdlife was amazing...here a tricolored Heron about to take off. They are truly stunning birds, but sound like fingernails over a chalk board, when they screech. How can something so beautiful sound so horrid??

...and lo....just ahead of the lock is a rail bridge to go through. Just another skinny space!

 

I am always amazed that these decrepit structures actually work!

See the counter weight?

We are now in the St Lucie Canal.

 ...and wouldn't ya know it?? Two cowboys came up behind us, faaaast!

Well, you can see, right?:)

 Nice boats tho!!...but....there is always a price to pay, no? YES! We took our time getting to the swing bridge...and ...oh dear! Did they get held up??:) The left hand boat could barely wait for the bridge to open, before zooming away again...outside the no wake zone. Its a bit like the fella in the fast car passing you at great speed, only to find himself next to you at the traffic lights! We are always amazed at how these fellas (very few wimmin driving these boats) appear to not consider the amount of fuel they are using, especially with three x 250hp or more on the back...gas guzzlers!

 

The rail bridge ...going through at slow speed.

 

 

And under the bridge next door....

Lots of new bridges being built!

 

 This boat is for sale....if you are interested! Poor thing. Lots of boats like this, along the way!

She would have been a beauty in her day!

The vegetation kept changing. It was relatively lush here, along the beginning of the St Lucie Canal.

....and a real FIRST!! Seeing an Alligator sunning itself on the bank! We have seen them in the water, but never like this....Waz took these pics!

We was a bit disturbed by our wake, and made for the water, as we passed.

Pretty excited to see this!! We cant believe we have come all this way and not seen an Alligator in full body!

These folks had a sense of humor!:)

...and we admired this Sea Ray, along the way. She is a big girl! 40 + ft

 Yes, ANOTHER lock. This one is the St Lucie Lock, and our last for the day. This one took us DOWN 13 feet into the next part of the canal. We are leaving, in this photo.

 

You can sure tell you are on the East Coast...by the size of the boats, and the custom 'jobs'. This one is gorgeous, isn't she? We didn't think we would like to take care of all the teak, though. I think when you own a boat like this, you probably have someone else to take care of that!

 

 7.7 feet...but this was the deepest we found. Some of this waterway, coming into Stuart, was just plain scary..4.5ft! That's us, the bottom green triangle...and going slowly! Not long to go...and we are anchoring at around 5.40pm.

Only 9.5 miles from the Atlantic Intra-Coastal Waterway junction.

 The marina below is the one we originally came over to in Feb. 2013, to survey the boat we originally wanted to buy. Interesting to come back by water. It is FULL as you can see, and this is only the mooring field!

One of the lovely private homes on the water, here in Stuart.

Our anchorage for the night in 7.5 ft of water, just off the coast...and out of the wind, somewhat. We decided that our original choice of anchorage was just too exposed and Waz wouldn't sleep well because of it. So we moved on further and into this secluded bay.

Not big enough for dinner....I found this baby on the duck board when I went to put up the curtains. He 'fished' himself, poor baby! Probably came out of the Lake...which, By the way, has the Best Bass Fishing in the World!..or so they say!

It was a bit 'stiff'...doesn't Waz look thrilled??:)

 

We are tired tonight. All the bridges, waiting, locking, holding ropes, negotiating shallow waters and guessing where the next pole is, takes it's toll. Not to mention the endless straight canals with nothing much to see, but you have to pay attention to the depths, all the way.

 

We ate some Salmon, broccoli and sweet potato, for dinner...and I made a large cole slaw which should feed us for lunch tomorrow.

 

We are getting low on some food items...mostly fresh fruit and veg, but we can sit out the bad weather, for the most part, without having to go ashore.  The bad weather is supposed to clear by Saturday afternoon...wow..today is Wednesday! Four days on the go, already!