Underway Day 100:

We may have set a new record today, having crossed Florida, from Franklin Lock to Stuart, in only 7 hours. It was as if all the locks and bridges were waiting for us with green lights. We woke up, broke camp, paid for slip, and were underway by 0930. The Denaud Swing Bridge opened right away.

We fueled up in LaBelle. This was the same marina where we stayed the first day I ever took to the helm on Mombo. I had purchased her in Naples in 2015, and my buddies Chuck, Justin and Jason helped me delivered her across Florida and up to St. Augustine. I’ll always remember how they had jumped off a 40’ tuna tower, doing flips and gainers into this Alligator infested marina. We all slept out in the open and got attacked by mosquitoes. Good times!

We continued to run east, away from Hurricane Michael. We locked up eight feet at Ortona Lock, and about three feet at Moore Haven. The locks here on the Okechobee are different than all the other locks on the loop. Rather than open sluice gates or windows to raise the water, they actually crack the gates open.

We traversed the Clewiston passage, carefully passing a very wide car carrier in the narrow channel. We went by the newly remodeled Herbert Hoover Dyke, which, unlike the famous Dam, nobody has ever heard of. Crossing Lake Okechobee was uneventful. There was some light chop, and I knew the way. There was one exposed wreck just outside the channel and a few hazards to navigate in the channel as we approached Mayaca Lock.

I had been concerned about the Blue/Green algae issues, which have become a major issue on this waterway, but we saw no sign of them on this trip. Once again, we had no wait at Indian Town Swing Bridge. We then locked down one foot at St Lucie Lock. The waterfront houses along this stretch are also beautiful. We ran towards Stuart through some larger water and heavy chop, but we made quick work of it.

We pulled into Stuart Florida, and I had officially completed the loop, having crossed my own wake from February. Since Mary didn’t join the crew until St. Augustine, however, I won’t consider the trip complete until we return to our house, where we started this journey together.

Either way, after another long day, it was a heartwarming and special feeling to pull up to Justin and Angeline McLane’s Dock. People who have read the whole blog will recall them from the Bahamas shakedown cruise. They had an ice cold bottle of Champagne waiting for us! It was a pleasant, unexpected, and very thoughtful surprise. I had only just finished tying the dock lines, when Justin popped the cork right over my head and filled the flutted glasses.

We raised our glasses for a toast. It was just a fantastic and heart warming feeling to be welcomed by such gracious hosts. I actually teared up a bit. We settled into their guest house, drank some cocktails, cooled off in the pool, and enjoyed a delicious home cooked meal. The conversation was intelligent and intellectually stimulating. Justin and Angeline are first class people. I’m grateful for their hospitality and friendship.