From the OW to the GICW

Leaving Stuart and starting the OW (Okeechobee Waterway) was like entering another world.  From expensive waterfront homes and condos on the AICW we transitioned to more moderately priced homes and budget prices marinas (what few there are.)  The OW is used as a hurricane hole and summer storage area for many boat owners.  They come down to Florida for the winter, store their boats well inland for the summer hurricane season while they go home somewhere up north.

Last night in Stuart

I learned a new skill, one which requires more practice.  Before crossing Lake Okeechobee we needed one stop for the night.  The best (free & safe) option was to tie up to the dolphins (wooden pilings) just before the Port Mayaca Lock.  The advice I read was to tie a long line to your bow, then back down to an adjacent dolphin and attach a stern line to the dolphin.  It was not a pretty sight.  Next time I will tie on the stern first, using a thinner 1/2 inch line rather than the 5/8 inch dock line I used.  Then I can more easily maneuver the boat going forward.

Typical lock dolphins (borrowed picture)

Crossing Lake Okeechobee was a little beamy, we had 15-20 mph NE winds on our stern quarter all morning.  Good time for Roger to tell me he tends to get seasick.  But the crossing only took a few hours until we were back into the canal on the west side of Okeechobee.  We stopped at Moore Haven City Docks which were more than adequate, except for the restrooms.  As we tied up we heard Mexican music coming from the adjacent park.  A Quinceañera was in progress.  It wasn't as formal as some I've read about, but the young girl had a nice dress, flowers in her hair.  Family and friends were enjoying the music and the food.  The main course was grilled slabs of ribs, prepared in a large smoker.  I tried to buy some ribs from the cook, but he said they were for the party only.


The Moore Haven bonus for me was the new Nordic Tug 44 that pulled in behind us.  This was the first 44' built, and was on its way to the Ft. Myers Boat Show.  The major change from the 42' was the extra 2' at the stern cockpit.

New Nordic Tug 44

Arriving in Cape Coral we headed for the AGLCA Harbor Host's canal side home.  Kitty has a dock behind her home where Loopers are welcome to spend the night.  We first met Kitty 2 years ago when she hosted a Loopers party, again at her home.  Leaving from Kitty's and heading for Ft Myers Beach we were concerned about tides.  It seemed we couldn't get above mid tide at both our starting point and our ending point.  So we opted to leave on a low tide knowing we got in the channel near low tide the day before, we should be able to get out.  Arriving at Snook Bight we had plenty of water, love it when plans work out.  We wanted to get to Snook Bight for their cheap diesel fuel and access to Publix.  Snook Bight's fuel prices are among the lowest in Florida right now, and we had not purchased fuel since Brunswick GA.  Our average diesel cost this year is only $2.38/gallon.  Last year our average cost was $3.57.  I don’t want to write about 2013, OK it was $4.90.

Roger & Kitty

We are on the home stretch now, heading north on the GICW (Gulf Intra Coastal Waterway.)  Last night we anchored at Cayo Costa State Park.  Roger cooked up the last of our R.E. Mayo scallops, our freezer is about empty.  Beautiful, quite anchorage, room for couple of dozen boats.  Today we stopped for the night in Venice, met up with Ken & Ann Shanley on Charis.  We cruised with Ken & Ann over parts of the last 3 years.  Last year we crossed our wake in Traverse Bay with Charis right behind us.  This year we were with them from Norfolk to Jacksonville.