Moorehaven to Stuart– Lake Okeechobee!

We rose before the sun to get an early start as the day was going to be a long one.  The marina we planned to stay the night is booked but we found another Corp of Engineers park for $15 a night just before the last lock thanks to a tip from some fellow Loopers!  It made the day longer but much cheaper!

Sunrise on the canal.  The 116 ft. boat in front of us was lit all night with hundreds of LED’s.

As we pull away from the wall, the canal behind us in the morning mist.

Two early morning fishermen.  Hard to see, but they are both bundled up in the chill morning air.

Other fishermen watching for their breakfast

The canal can’t get much straighter or flatter landscape!

We made it to Lake Okeechobee – the 2nd largest fresh water lake totally in the United States (several of the Great Lakes are partially in Canada).  Only Lake Michigan is larger.  The strangest part of the lake is the depth – it is an average of 10 feet compared to Lake Michigan’s 283 ft average depth).

It is a popular fishing spot with it’s many grassy areas.

The pelicans seem to love it too.

It took us several hours to cross the lake.  Because it is so shallow, any wind can kick up some good sized waves quite quickly.  We had done our homework and chose a day of little wind . 

As we approached the lock leaving the Lake, Renaissance (the 116 ft boat) caught up and passed us.

As most of the locks on the rivers were about 120 ft long, we expected to have to wait until Renaissance cleared the lock.  We were pleasantly surprised when the lock master had us AND another trawler enter behind this beauty, WITH room to spare!  What an incredibly long lock!

As we approach the lock we think there is no way!!! Doesn't the lock look full of boat to you??

Leaving the lake, we enter the Okeechobee Canal once more.  These cuties congratulated us on our safe crossing.

We felt like we’d returned to the rivers below Chicago with all the work boats around us!

Barges…

Dredgers…

And a tow called “Big John” – quick – can you sing it??

We pulled into St. Lucie Lock Park and were promptly met by our new friends, Janice and Steve, who had told us about this lovely park.  Between them and the other boaters docked here, we were quickly secured.  Both this park and Franklin Lock Park are for both boaters and RV'ers.  Several people spend part of their year on land and part on the water.  Janice and Steve are two such split personalities.  They are known as “Land and Sea Nomads”.

After a long day the lights of our last lock on the Loop were a special treat.

We enjoyed two beautiful days at the park so Bob could take care of a problem with engine.  There were two new Loopers there but they both had tons more boating experiences than we do and we picked each others brains.  There were also several other boaters there – mostly coming to Florida from the frozen north.  Wonderful people that we enjoyed sharing the cherished “docktails” with.  We gleaned so much information from them on places not to miss in Florida. 

“Docktails” in the park.  (Parktails?)

Janice was the Docktail queen with her brie cheese with pepper jelly wrapped in croissant roll dough.  YUM!

We parted ways the next morning with the hope of reuniting soon.

Docked at St. Lucie Lock Park – 2/8-2/9/18 – Docktails with “Janice AndSteve”