Our cocktail companions!

The tree behind us was full of birds, this Cardinal.

And a blue heron.

Looking down the canal in the AM and the waterway is in fog.

Alyse and Nathan, these are orange trees.

You call the lock keeper and he tells you when to enter and to go to either the port or starboard side.

The ropes are hanging down and you hang on to them going up or down. 

You can see the water rushing out at this lock.

Our trip across Lake Okeechobee was a new experience.  There are two locks before you get to the lake.  The first one takes you up 13 to 15 feet.  The wind came across the lake from the Northwest; building 1 to 2 foot waves. We took the route across the lake virus the South rim route. The water is the color of coffee with a drop of cream, nasty!
FYI,  Lake Okeechobee is the second largest fresh water lake in the USA.
We had lunch at the Tiki Bar in  Clewiston on the South central side of the lake. ( Three years ago on a  road trip from Marathon to Tampa we had stopped here to see what was on the other side of the dikes.  Now we were in a different mode of travel.)  Food was good, fish and chops and coconut shrimp, yummy!
On to our anchorage in a pastoral setting, there was cattle on both sides,  in a canal that lead to an old sand quarry that was 38 feet deep. We relaxed with a glass of wine and were joined by friends, see picture.  The moon was full and the quiet was something we have not experienced in some time.  The temperature overnight was 54 degrees and no heat inside the boat.
Friday we got underway and did the three locks on the West side of the lake and into the Caloosahathee River and into Fort Myers and the Fort Myers Yacht Basin by 1:30 P.M.
It was nice to shower and relax in the sunshine, 80 degrees, and a warmer night.

We have been busy since leaving Daytona.  Our first night heading South was in a rocky anchorage off the Titusville bridge.  The next morning we found that the TV antenna had taken a dive into the water.  It is still under repair (disconnected wires).
On to Vero Beach, a slow go with many slow areas for the protected manatees.  We got our slip assignment, our neighbors on a Nauticat are from Mobjack Bay, VA.  We renewed our acquaintance with Dave and Beth on board Elizabeth and then went for a walk to stretch our legs.
Monday of course was laundry day and then the bikes came out and we rode to the ACE Hardware and the beach.  We explored the high priced shops and checked lunch prices and rode back to the boat.  Next a dinghy exploration of the waterfront. The bikes came out again and we explored the back streets and the Florida foliage in the neighborhood.  We got back before the downpour.  A good night for dinner in and a DVD.
Tuesday dawned sunny and we took the free bus across the bridge to the McKee Botanical Garden and marveled at the variety of native fauna.  The exhibit or the Frabel glass was magnificant.  Google www. mckeegarden.org and www.frabel.com for more information.  The wind was now blowing about 25 mph and no more sun.  The bus took us to Publics and of course West Marine.  that evening we met Dave and Beth provided cocktails and took us to a Southern Comfort restaurant and then to a blue grass jam.  a fun evening.
It is Wednesday (58 degrees and sunny, but windy again) and at breakfast we got a call from the marina office, the slip holders had returned and wanted back in the slip by noon.  Pack up...there was time to meet some fun folks on an Express Cruiser.  Penny and Mike it was fun to go down the river with you.  Don thanks for the help getting out of the slip this AM.A note of interest to other cruisers,  Active Captain's DeFever was in the Vero Harbor.  1 to 2 foot waves behind us most of the day.
In a place called the Manatee Pocket (Stuart, FL) we fueled and headed up the St Lucie River toward Lake Okeecobee.  No problems in the lock with one other boat and arrived at Terry and Lisa Locatis dock ar 4 PM.  They came by and had us join their Sunset Cocktail group, thanks everyone, the local knowledge is appreciated and so is the power for our heater Terry.

Halifax River, Theresa Nilles waving from her porch

Abstract Frabel  butterfly

Blue Calla Flare, each flare is worth $6,500

Mixed foliage in McKee Botanical Garden

Now that is not a bad dinghy!

Exit of the 1st lock

Tomorrow we head across the lake. 

Dave can now boast the "Chris Craft"

We now have storage and no duffel bags

This covers some holes and makes us feel more like "CROSS-OVER"

We arrived January 16th after an enjoyable night with our friends, the Dorsey's, in St Augustine.
The temperature was 84 but that all changed yesterday at noon.  It is now blowing about 25 K and 60 degrees with spitting rain. We hope that changes by morning.
We finished provisioning today and searched for a fan, just incase....
Tonight we meet the Ballards and the Nilles for dinner.
It has been great having the Ballard's car.
Departure is after a trip to the farmer's market.
WE plan to be in Lake Okeechobee early next week.

Part two of Florida Cruise