Movin On Movin On

Well the time has come for us to move on. What day could be more appropriate to start/continue our journey of the Great Loop than April Fools day! So that's just what we did.
With the Franklin Lock on a limited opening schedule we departed Legacy Harbour at 7am before most of our dock mates were up. Traveling in our Sea Ray Trawler we meandered our way to the lock arriving in time for the 9am opening.

Caloosahatchie morning.

We traveled past citrus groves and beautiful homes. Under bridges and through three locks the first day.

Fort Denaud swing bridge. The operator has to walk to the center of the bridge to operate it.

Upon exiting the Moore Haven lock you are faced with what looks like a dead end. Push on and you find the channel turning to the south to take you along the rim of Lake Okeechobee to Clewiston, Fl.

Not much wiggle room when meeting oncoming traffic between Moore Haven and Clewiston.

No place for boat trouble. Gators all along the route just waiting for a snack!

It wasn't long and we found ourselves arriving at Roland Martin's Marina, Fish Camp, Bar & Grill. Our home for the night.

Camo is the design of choice at Roland Martins.

Friday night means entertainment. Yep. The band played at the Tiki Hut til 1am and guess where the transient dock is. I thought Travis Tritt was coming right through the hull!

To get in and out of RM's you must pass through a lock like structure built in the man made dike that surrounds Lake Okeechobee.

Looking back down the transient dock towards the gates to the lake. The band was right above the 2nd boat.

Day two we were underway again at 7am. Heading out onto the lake through some narrow and shallow channels.

The run across from Clewiston to Port Mayaca is 25 miles of open water. Once on the east side you enter the St. Lucie Canal for the remainder of the way to Stuart where we dropped the hook in the Manatee Pocket.

All ready for Shrimpers, but first I have to dry my nails!

Chapman's School of Seamanship. My alma mater.

Smells like fish!

We stayed two nights in the Pocket and will point our bow north on Monday.