The Okeechobee Waterway

Last year we weren't able to cross Lake Okeechobee because there was no water and to go the long way around Florida's coast didn't prove fruitful either because of high winds.
We left Fort Lauderdale on March 13,2009 our repairs were complete and we were ready! Our first night we anchored out at Lake Worth. Our experience there this time was much different, there were only a few boats anchored with us.
Early the next morning we left for Stuart. Many people recommended trying the Sunset Bay Marina and we had, it was a wonderful experience. The marina has moorings and sometime later this year they will have slips available. Our first day we dinghied into shore and it was just a short walk to the center of old downtown. There are several wonderful quaint shops, restaurants and of course great ice cream! The next day we met our friends Eileen and E.Don, they picked us up and we went to lunch. Later that day they gave us a tour at the Harborage Yacht Club they were staying at, and truly it was a great spot to spend some time. We had a great time with our friends at Stuart.
So, now we begin our journey cutting through Florida through the OWW,known as the Okeechobee waterway along the St. Lucie canal into Lake Okeechobee and then out the Caloosahatchee River. The OWW is approximately 150 miles long, has 5 locks to go through, so we decided to make the crossing in 2 stops.The next morning we left for Indiantown which is about 10 miles short of Lake Okeechobee. Decided to stay there for a night since the lake crossing is another 30 miles and another 15 miles to Moore Haven our next stop.We came across our first alligator, and we were grateful that he didn't know how to climb steps to come aboard the boat. From Indiantown we went through the Port Mayaca Lock and out into Lake Okeechobee.Right now Florida is having red flag warnings which means dry season and high risk of fire. Although there are several controlled burns of the sugar cane, we had spotted several fires while crossing the lake.Upon reaching Clewiston, the other side of Lake Okeechobee, we had to traverse the canal, along the lake's rim. This area we were amazed at the number of alligators and bird life we had spotted.The eeriness of the dead forest was totally different than the serenest of the canal the day before. One of things we had learned was that last year Lake O had made the newspapers for being on fire.There were several areas where all that remained were stumps of dead trees. That evening we pulled up to Moore Haven town dock. It's runs along the canal and you pay at city hall, which is just across the street.
The final day of crossing the OWW we reached Fort Myers and stayed at the City Marina which is an easy walk into town. Paul and Joanne Zucker picked us up for lunch the next day and cousin Nancy and Joe picked us up for a lushes dinner.
More to follow.