Lock me down Scotty

Day #14: At dawn we're treated to a rare sight, the Port Mayaca Lock with both it's gates wide open. The level of Lake Okeechobee is the same as the canal that brought us here. The lock master clears us straight through then coyly adds "But you can tie up if you need the practice." How'd he know?  It only took one lock to get us from the Atlantic up to Lake Okeechobee but it'll take three locks to get us down to the Gulf of Mexico.

Safely moored between the dolphins on the northeast side of the Franklin Lock. 71nm today and 357nm so far. DBH.

To Lake Okeechobee

Day #13: After breakfast aboard Liberty this morning we said our goodbyes to Dave and Bobbi Foresman. It has been a fun trip up the coast with them.

Before heading out of Manatee Pocket we took on 95 gallons of diesel at Mariner Cay Marina. Their advertised price was $2.85/gallon. How then did we end up paying $2.99/gallon? Sales tax; it wasn't included. I can't say I'm a fan of the trend, most notable in airlines, to bait-and-switch prices. "Yes sir, that flight to Rome is only $100 but would you like the $300 upgrade that includes a pilot, a pressurized cabin, oxygen and heat?" Caveat emptor.

In today's picture Bicki is keeping the St. Lucie lock at bay.

Tonight we find ourselves moored between two huge Port Mayaca Lock dolphins on the east side of Lake Okeechobee. We made 35nm today bring the trip total to 286nm. DBH.

No Room at the Inn

Day #12: After all of yesterday's excitement it was nice to have a quiet day just chugging along. Today's unsettled conditions motivated us to bypass Palm Beach and to head toward Stewart. Unfortunately our favorite moorings were full for the evening and so we diverted to Manatee Pocket. I'm happy to report that we didn't hit a single boat today extending that streak to ... one day!

At anchor in Manatee Pocket. 54nm today upping the total to 251nm. DBH.

Oops...

Day #11: A drawbridge, a fast current, a narrow waterway, and three boats all trying to occupy the same space can lead to trouble. That's what happened to us today while up Ft. Lauderdale's New River. The short story is we put a scratch on a docked boat--our rubrail was way tougher than their gelcoat. You meet all sorts of nice people while out cruising. Today was no different. It's the manner in which we met that I don't care to repeat. I've got a feeling the repair will cost more than the $1 I'm using to show the size of the damage. The folks we hit were gracious. He told me he had once holed a boat with the bowsprit of his Hans Christian 43. Ouch.

We're at anchor this evening in Lake Boca Raton. 23nm today and 197nm total.  DBH.

Brave New Crew

Day #10: We sat in the Greyhound station for a hour today being greatly entertained by both the Weather Channel and the folks around us. This winter has been a boon for weather reporters. They seemed giddy while relating the misery. Snow in DC, snow in Philadelphia, and snow in NY where a jet had slid off the end of Laguardia's runway. Oscar worthy reporting came from Dallas where rain had frozen on the roads and then been covered with snow. To heighten the drama the reporter zoomed his camera in on some ice coating an overpass guardrail. It was hard to rip our attention away from the Weather Channel but our immediate surroundings demanded it.

A nicely dressed, middle aged woman, who'd been sitting next to us, walked over to the main passenger door and laid down on the dirty, carpet-less floor for a nap. Waking up a few minutes later she tried to rise. Resisting her efforts were her skirt and the big plastic ficus whose shade she been recently enjoying. On her hands and knees she swayed forward and butted the ficus. The big plastic tree retaliated by falling on top of her. Worthy of WWF the match went back and forth. A young man to our right was making book so I put two bucks on the ficus. Meanwhile a guy with a steamer trunk was trying to convince the clerk that the mammoth thing should be considered a carry-on and thus not subject to the $15 checked bag fee. All the while a jolly, bald, red cheeked and nattily dressed man stood before us calling out the routes of the arriving busses. "Washington, DC", he'd sing out and then add, "If you're going to Miami don't get on this bus." On he went calling out the bus routes all the while seemingly unaware of the craziness going on around him. I have a theory that Alice in Wonderland was written after a visit to a Greyhound Station.

We were in the Greyhound bus station to fetch our new crew member, and Maryland winter refugee, Bob Allnutt. Bob survived 24 hours on a Greyhound bus getting to Ft. Lauderdale. Can PTSD be far off for him?

Still on mooring #1 in the Las Olas field. 0nm today, although it was a 6 mile walk to the Greyhound bus station and back, and 174nm for the trip. DBH.

Bridges

Day #9: This morning, with mixed feelings, we raised anchor and said goodbye to Miami Beach. It's a short trip to Ft. Lauderdale but it's a trip littered with bridges. With a 14' air draft (mast down), Nellie fit under all if them. The same can't be said for a lot of the boats on the ICW today. At low bridges these boats would be backed up waiting for an opening. We'd merrily go around the boats, slip under the bridge and continue on our way. It was a guilty pleasure.

In the Las Olas mooring field right off Ft. Lauderdale Beach. 23nm today and 174nm thus far. DBH.

South Beach Redux

Day #8: No miles on Nellie today but 7 miles on our sneakers. Here's our 'little' walk.

0nm today and 145nm for the trip. DBH.

South Beach

Day #8: It's often hard for me to acknowledge, much less do, but staying in one place is also part of cruising. This is our third day in Miami and it was all about shore excursions: a walk on the beach; through South Beach's malecon; and, of course to the grocery store. Today's picture is of Dave and Bobbi Foresman, off M/V Liberty, and Bicki heavily ladened with their purchases. It doesn't seem fair, we all pour money into our boats and then must walk most places we go...

Still well anchored between Miami and Miami Beach. 0 miles today and 145nm for the trip. DBH.

Abandon Ship

Day #7: Allan and Sally Seymour, Nellie's crew since Key West, jumped ship in Miami today. We did manage to tour the Miami River first though.

Allan got me thinking about bilge pumps--exciting stuff I know. We calculated that a 1" hole in the hull, two feet below the waterline, would let in more than 20 gallons per minute, or roughly 1300 gph. Time to look seriously at Nellie's current configuration.

On the hook off Star Island, Miami Beach, Florida. 10nm today and 145nm total. DBH