Through the Okeechobee Waterway to Clewiston, FL -- June 1

We finally started our cruise today, though we got a late start because we chose to reload the boat this morning rather than last evening. It's a 45-minute drive to the marina, and it was one trip up with our stuff, a trip back to leave the car in the garage, and a third and final trip up via Uber (in a very spiffy Tesla 3 that drove itself on I-75). We didn't get underway until 11:40, with our target being Roland Martin's Marina & Resort in Clewiston on the south shore of Lake Okeechobee. This is a very popular stop for cruising boats, but we weren't sure if we could make it because we had to cover 60 miles and go through three locks, with the locks closing at 4:30 and the timing of lock passage being quite variable depending on traffic. It was 45 miles to the last lock, so we thought we had a chance (figuring we'd be cruising along at 15 mph), but it would depend on how many slow zones we encountered and how lock timing worked out. When we traveled this stretch two years ago to start our first big cruise we were seriously delayed at the second lock so that we couldn't make the last lock in time and had to stay at a beat up old campground that the First Mate didn't like (rather than Roland Martin's).

This time we did make it to the third lock in time, but it was very close, as we entered that last lock at 4:24. Fortunately, it was open and ready to go and we were through in 10 minutes. This made both Captain and First Mate very happy. In contrast, the first lock took 30 minutes and the second took 45 minutes, including waiting time. We tied up at Roland Martin's just after 5:30 and were the last one in for the day at one of their last docks. We didn't make a reservation because we weren't sure if we would make it, and they have a 24-hour cancelation policy. So besides worrying about getting there in the first place, we also had to worry about whether we could get a dock. Such are the penalties one pays for a late start. But we lucked out on both counts and are happy to be cruising again!

Here is the entrance to the first lock, just a few miles into our trip. We didn't think we were going to have to deal with locks and the Okeechobee Waterway again on this trip, but events dictated otherwise. And despite our complaining, the Okeechobee Waterway is kind of fun. 

Here are some boaters cooling off at a little beach near Alva, Florida...

And some cows cooling off near Citrus Center...


Here's a very handsome offshore fishing yacht running westbound...

This is a view of the waterway running along the southern edge of Lake Okeechobee. The big dam that circles the entire lake is on the right.

And then finally, here are  the dock and the tiki bar at Roland Martin's. Lots of big boats passing through. Food at the tiki bar was marginal as usual. 




Comments

  1. AshleyJune 3, 2024 at 5:47 PM

    Keeping the First Mate (& chef) happy is of prime importance. Glad it all worked out!

    ReplyDelete

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