Back In The Water

Hooray!
At approximately 0915 Hours on March the 3rd    


We left Stuart, Florida this morning, pulling out of the Manatee Inlet, and starting west on the St. Lucie River,  also known as the Lake Okeechobee Water Way (pronounced Oka-cho-be).

Bye to the pelican. I could have sworn I saw him snicker.

The lake is sort of interesting.  It is the largest lake in the state of Florida and the second largest lake in the lower forty-eight states.  It has a water area half the size of the state of Rhode Island.  But it is so shallow that you could practically walk across it.  It holds one trillion gallons of water. Before researching this trip, I had no idea that there was a navigable water way across this part of Florida.

It wasn't long before we arrived at the St. Lucie Lock and because of the low water levels in Florida, we had to wait about an hour for the lock to open again.  We adults had a little lunch and the boys starting pulling out fishing line so fast that the whine was deafening.  Before you could say "fish sandwich", Mitchell had one on the line followed about one minute later by Jeff.  Nice big cats.

Gary says a couple more scores like that and we've got dinner.

Darn the luck... that hour went fast! We quickly put down our poles and sandwiches when they called us into our first lock through.  The Lucie Lock is 250 feet long and fifty feet wide, but we were the only boat locking through. As we pulled in,  the lock master dropped ropes to each of the boys. They held the boat this way, without tying up, until the water rose so that we were even with the river above.  Then they opened the gates at the other end and we pulled on through...to the cheers and shouts of a gathering throng of people! (wink-wink!) The crowd pointed,  clapped and said things like, "Look honey, that boat's home port is clear up in Tennessee. I wonder if they'll make it?"  Of course, we waved back and not wanting to make a spectacle, acted as nonchalantly as possible.  I think Wayne gave 'em one little nod and a polite Tennessee wave.

Entering the lock

Mitchell held the stern ropes 

 

Jeff held the bow line

We interrupt this post with a trip ashore for dinner. We're happy to put our feet on solid ground after a day of wrestling the Sea Me Smile through 3-4 foot waves! More about that later...