Depart: Howard Creek Anchorage 8:30
Arrive: Roland & Mary Ann Martins Marina, Clewiston, FL 4:30
Distance: 53 NM
Locks: 2 (St. Lucie Lock, Port Mayaca Lock)
Our planned route for today took us through the St. Lucie lock and Port Mayaca lock and across Lake Okeechobee. We got lucky on weather and conditions and Clark said, "Lake Okeechobee was like a lake" it was so calm.
Scenes along the Okeechobee Waterway ...
 |
| Large Mooring Field of Sailboats |
 |
| St. Lucie Lock |
 |
| Okeechobee Waterway |
 |
| "Honey Fitz" - Washington, DC |
 |
| "Honey Fitz" |
 |
| Spanish Moss hanging from trees |
 |
| Tree "decorated" with white birds |
 |
| Guard Gate up ahead |
 |
| Port Mayaca Lock |
 |
| "Dolphin" at Lock |
I always forget, but every time we cross Lake Okeechobee, we smell smoke and then a while later, we start to see ash collecting on the boat decks. Some always manages to drift into the pilot house from the stairs to the upper helm. The ash is difficult to remove because it turns to soot when wiped creating black lines. I wonder what it is like for people who live in this area breathing the air filled with ash from the controlled burns of the sugar cane. It cannot be healthy.
 |
| Ash on cockpit decking |
Another feature of crossing Lake Okeechobee is being chased by hordes of sea gulls. Looking out the back of the boat, I felt like I was on the set of the Hitchcock movie, "The Birds". Scary to be chased by so many of them!
We saw no other boats crossing Lake O. Normally, there is not much entertainment while crossing the lake other than staying on course. Today, however, we had a spectacular "light and cloud" show.
As we approached Clewiston, we saw some interesting objects in the water including the platform below covered in birds.
Beams of light from the sky pointed us to the channel leading to Clewiston - our stop for tonight.
We finally reached our destination around 4:30. They must have been getting ready to close up the marina office because shortly after we checked in, I noticed that the place had gone dark. Outside the office, we found an up-to-the-minute weather station.
 |
| Take note of the rock hanging by the weather report. |
I had not planned on it, but when I saw the wash room with a number of empty washers and dryers, I decided to take advantage and run through a load of clothes. Walking across the parking lot to the wash room, I noticed interesting markings on the pavement.
 |
| Not-the-traditional parking space markings These are special for vehicles pulling boats on trailers. |
As I crossed the parking lot, I also saw the sun going down.
 |
| Sunset in Clewiston, FL |
No comments:
Post a Comment