Harbourage Marina, Stuart

27 12.630N

80 15.442W

Our friends on Full Circle, Tim & Jan, were returning from the Abacos and we met up with them in the marina.  We also met their friends Tony & Renee on Breakaway.

Burning the sugar cane--typical scene going across the Okeechobee

Just trying to get things cleaned up

Sunrise in Clewiston at the dolphins

Dolphins at Clewiston on Lake Okeechobee

What a beautiful sunset we were treated to

It was such a calm night that we decided to tie up to the dolphins near Clewiston on Lake Okeechobee

Our month was up in Ft Myers and we started making our way across to the East Coast of Florida along the Okeechobee waterway

Legacy Marina, Fort Myers, FL for a month

Mumford Cove friends, Marie, Art and Harry, Marie's Dad, Linda, Randy, Fran and Ed.  Is anyone watching Mumford Cove?

Friends from Mumford Cove enjoying our sundeck - Their hats are tilted to keep the sun out of their eyes and has nothing to do with the drinks in their hands - or so they claim!!

Ed, Linda, Duncan, Lolly, Fran and Randy on the beach in Marco Island

Sand sculpture at the Marriott in Marco Island

Andy and Mary, Good News, Patti Salvage, Salvage Crew, looper friends

Lolly and Duncan, our nextdoor neighbors from Mumford Cove, picked us up and brought us to their new condo in Naples near Marco Island

Over 250 venders at the Art Show

Art Show in downtown Ft. Myers

Linda and John, Slainte, former loopers.  They took us to the local flea market and out to dinner in the area of Ft. Myers.

Sisters

Barbara and Jim, Golden Lilly, did the loop with us last year.  They were kind enough to pick us up at Legacy and bring us to this wonderful Juice store.

Edison - big guy huh!

Henry Ford's winter home next to Edison's home

Dock where they kept their boats

Edison winter home in Ft. Myers

We visited the Edision and Ford winter homes, an easy walk from the marina.  This is Henry Ford that Ed is introducing himself to

Looking east towards Ft. Myers Yacht Basin Marina

Shore Thing waiting to be cleaned and polished

Dock C, many of the boats in this marina are for sale

Joe's Crab Shack right in the marina--we will have to try it soon

Tiki Hut where boaters gather--pot luck Thurs. night

 Heated swimming Pool for the boaters but it has been too cool to think about getting out of the pool!

Back on the boat

Legacy Marina, Fort Myers, FL

26 38.527N

81 52.548W

Still in The Villages having a marathon game of dominoes with Lew, Judy, Chris and Vic

Back in The Villages with Lew and Judy visiting with Kerry, Kathy and Erin

Lew and Judy--our wonderful guests going from Stuart to Ft. Myers, paybacks are hell!

Sportfishermen coming up on our boat--took pictures of them so they would give us a slow pass

Orange trees along the banks of the canal

Sometimes she is tending her garden and is difficult to raise on the VHF

Here is our bridge tender

Got Beef?

Paddlewheeler waiting for customers

Scenes along the way--heartland of Fl

River Forest Marina, near Ortona Lock, La Belle, FL

26 47.756N

81 17.649W

Rim Route

Marshland as we approched the rim route of the lake at Clewiston

Port Mayaca Lock--gates are open to Lake Okeechobee--the water level is the same on both sides of the lock

Indiantown Marina, Indiantown

27 00.557N

80 28.027W

We are finally docked and the help can rest!

Another deckhand, Judy,  just relaxing

You can see the water pouring in through the gates

It always helps to have a deckhand, Lew, on board going though the locks

The way they raise and lower the lock is by opening the front gates and letting some water in.  The St. Lucie lock goes up about 12 feet and is turbulant if you are near the gates.

We left Stuart this morning and this is the first lock, St. Lucie Lock, on the Okeechobee Water Way.