The anchor was dug in well and when it came up the chain was coated in a muck that smelled as though we had anchored next to a treatment plant. Thankfully Tourist is equipped with a wash-down hose at the bow.
We motored past Jupiter looking out at the Atlantic through an angry Jupiter Inlet as we turned North on the calm ICW. Ana was gaining strength and had things churned up in the deep water.
Above Jupiter the landscape along the ICW transitions back into its' natural state with fewer homes and more vegetation. I must say that I think both Pam & I found this to be a welcome sight after days of being surrounded by concrete as we travelled.
Ever since we left Ft. Myers we had been pondering where to go this summer. We had been into the rivers last year and we have been up the East Coast a couple of times. It was a discussion that kept coming up but with neither of us getting that warm fuzzy feeling of knowing it's the right decision for this time. After our stop in Boynton Beach I think it was when we both had the light turn on as to what we should do. And so the decision was made to make a left turn at Stuart and head inland to River Forest and store the boat for hurricane season.
That quick decision left us with a lot to do in just a few days. Like make sure they had space. Notify our insurance company of the changed cruising plans. Get our car out of storage in Ft. Myers. And eat as much of the food that Pam had onboard thinking that we would be going up the coast as well as get Tourist ready to sit idle for several months.
Remember also that there is a storm front predicted to come through the area. And with that in mind we made arrangements to stay at the Loggerhead Marina in Stuart for 4 nights. Not the best protection from East winds but otherwise a top notch marina. They are currently in the process of building a sea wall to help deflect the waves from the river.
Of course while we were there Pam did laundry and started to organize things to take off the boat. We also rented a car for 2 days and drove to Ft. Myers to get our car and drop it off at River Forest as well as doing some errand running.
The front did come through and provide us with some strong winds and plenty of rain but once past the weather was beautiful with cooler temps and diminished winds. Before leaving Loggerhead we topped off the fuel tanks and relieved Tourist one more time.
From Stuart we made our way along the St. Lucie River and through the St. Lucie and Port Mayaca Locks, the latter of which we drove right through and into Lake Okeechobee.
For days we had been running in minimum wake zones and needed to unleash Tourist's horses. Lake O provided just the right setting to accomplish that task. So once outside the marked channel leading away from the lock I throttled up and ran across the lake at around 22 mph. It was just the right place since we could cruise at speed without upsetting anyone or thing with our wake. In no time at all we were closing in on the marsh lined channel leading into Clewiston.
Originally our intent was to overnight tied to the dolphins just outside Moorehaven Lock but with the threat of strong evening thunderstorms and the 90 degree temps which had returned we decided to pass through the lock and take advantage of the Moorehaven city docks and the power they provide for our a/c units. All for $1.00 a foot!
At one point along the rim route we were attacked by what the girl at city hall called horseflies. Much different and much larger than what we in the Midwest refer to as horseflies.
We were the last boat through the lock before their 5 pm closing making for a calm night at the dock. The thunderstorms went around us but provided a threatening sky throughout the evening.
The next morning I dropped the dinghy in the water and took a little cruise to run some fresh water through it before storage. Once reloaded we moved on across the Caloosahatchie for our final cruise of the Spring.
It wasn't long before we were turning into the canal leading to River Forest. Now the work begins!
We docked at the one floating dock right in front of the office and convenient to the parking lot.
The next couple of days we had the place to ourselves except for a couple of freeloaders who came in one evening when they couldn't make the last lockage at the Ortona Lock. I'm pretty sure they used the power and secure docking without paying since the place is closed on the week-end. Although I could be wrong.
Pam and I worked inside and out gathering clothes and shoes and other items we wanted to take home with us and moving them into the car. In the process Tourist rose in the water and the car settled on it's springs.
Tourist also got a bath from the top to the waterline. After all you gotta look good tucked in with all those other boats.
We did find time to take a dinghy ride over to Turkey Creek to check on boats that belong to our friends.
We also were entertained by the resident alligator who leisurely swam around the lagoon at River Forest like he owned it. Who's going to argue?
There was one casualty during our preparation work and that was my flip flop which flipped then flopped.
Monday morning came and it was time for the haul out. We off loaded the last of the items that needed to go home and stuffed them into the car then it was time to move over to the travel lift.
All looked good underneath although there was a rope hanging off the port side prop. It wasn't wrapped around the shaft so I must have kicked it up in the lagoon. This is better than the last haul out when a snake was laying on the trim tab!
While they cleaned the bottom Pam & I snooped in the massive buildings and found our friends boat Broulee tucked in nice and tight.
They moved Tourist onto a wireless remote trailer making her into a motorhome for the trip into the building.
Why did we go back to River Forest? A number of reasons. Buildings that are rated to withstand 140 mph sustained winds. Circulation fans in the buildings that keep the air moving to help prevent condensation build up. (One of the buildings is sold as air conditioned). Probably the cleanest boat yard/storage facility I've seen. In the center of the state so no storm surge. And one more is that to get there you have to run through miles of fresh water which allows you to flush out all of the salt water from the generator, engines and a/c units. It's not cheap but for storage in the hurricane zone it gives us peace of mind.
Knowing and seeing that Tourist was tucked in safe and sound we hit the road a little after 10. I hope the car doesn't burst!
Are you friggin kidding me - a pulpit up Broulees "aft"??? Thanks for the pic. Have a great summer.
ReplyDeleteI thought you'd like that one. I'll bet they're charging both of you for occupying the same space! lol
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