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Trip's Log
Date: Apr 6 to Apr 13
Total Distance: 206 nms
Destination:
Point Blanco, N. Captiva, LaBelle, Stuart, Fort Pierce
Route: Charlotte Harbor, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf ICW, Okeechobee
Waterway, Atlantic ICW
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| Apr 5 We left Punta Gorda around 09:00 with lunch at Cabbage
Key in mind, but when we got there, the winds picked up considerably,
and the docking area was already inundated with boats. We gave up and went
into nearby Point Blanco, a cozy anchorage, while Island Time
took off for Fort Myers. Determined to have lunch at the Cabbage
Key Inn, the former home of the son of Mary Roberts Rinehart, the famous
mystery novelist (whose novels we haven't yet read, we have to admit), we raced over with our
dinghy the next morning. We walked around the
nature trails, learning a lot about the different palms and trees, then
just hung out at the docks waiting for the restaurant to open for lunch.
It quickly filled up when a ferry arrived from, of all places, Punta
Gorda! A
rustic inn with a commanding view of Pine Island Sound on one end, of
nature on the other, its walls and ceiling were uniquely decorated with
genuine one dollar bills, evidently hung up by the tourists. Unfortunately, the food
was not something to brag about. |
With a full stomach, we explored the surrounding areas and
wandered into Cayo Costa. Seeing some small boats anchored off, we too tied
our dinghy to the mangroves and walked about 1/4
mile to the white sandy beach where
we picked up some freshly awash sand dollars and other nice shells.
Back on the boat, we stayed at the same anchorage for another day, and watched
ospreys feeding their young in their nests and herons/egrets fishing for
food.
Apr 7 We left cozy Point Blanco to anchor off Cayo Costa for more
shelling. As we were setting the anchor, schools of dolphins
frolicked by. We were directly facing the East wind that was
blowing at 20 knots. Mai Thai was being pounded constantly. After shelling, we decided to
look for a more sheltered area.We tip toed out to uncharted waters on the Gulf side of
N. Captiva, a secluded island that is only accessible by boat. It was a
good call - the waters here were calm and peaceful and we were only about 15 feet
away from the pristine white sandy beach. Other than a few people here
and there shelling or fishing, it was just us and the birds - American
Oystercatcher, dowitcher, ibises and herons. Again, we
took the dinghy out to shore in search of shells, then came back, swam
around the boat, to the beach and back! The ads of cruises that you see in travel magazines - that was us and we were
in
paradise!
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Apr 8-10 Enough sun and fun. Time to head
for Caloosahatchee River for our crossing to the Atlantic side
via Lake Okeechobee. The water level in Lake Okeechobee is
higher than anywhere on the ICW, so you have to ascend through
the locks heading towards the lake and descend leaving it. A
little past Fort Myers, we went into Franklin Locks with a small
boat. The lock master threw us a bow line and we cleat it down
and held on tight as the winds, again at 20-25 knots, were wicked
and it kept blowing us away from the seawall. After the locks,
we continue on to La Belle, where we stayed for 3 days, not
because it's beautiful, but because the town dock is free with
water and electricity as well! We had to Med moor, which is to
set the anchor off the bow, then back in to be tied up at the stern, another first for us. A catamaran
and two sailboats were already there, and they came to help us.
A library is right there by the town dock, but it costs $5 to surf the net. This is
truly citrus country; we saw a lot of migrant workers, and the supermarket was loaded with Mexican
goods. We loved it.
Apr 11 On the water again... As we approached Ortona Lock, we spotted an alligator.
Its bulbous eyes stared into ours, as if wondering what we were doing
in its territory. In the locks, we went up at least 8
feet. We were behind two trawlers, and on our
starboard side was a gorgeous yacht, 70-80 foot SS Sophie.
Some young captain and his crew were delivering the boat. After
we left the locks, dark clouds rolled in, and it rained on and
off. The winds died down a little. |
Locking
through at Ortona Lock
See you
later, alligator
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| Later, we locked
through Moore Haven alone, after which we decided to
kick up the throttle so we could get to Stuart for dinner on Island
Time. We flew by Lake Okeechobee at 14 knots. The only
wildlife we saw on the lake were anhingas and white and brown pelicans. Port Mayaca Lock was opened on both sides,
so no locking was necessary, but at the St Lucie Lock, we descended
about 13 feet, and it seemed to take forever to lock through. We
got to Stuart around 17:30, but took another hour to get to
Northside Marina due to a much delayed bridge opening. Apr 13 Arrived at Fort Pierce City Marina, our
home for the next 2 months.
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