And Back to the Chesapeake – Day 2

Today we got a little later start than I had wanted because, well, we overslept. We didn’t actually get underway until after 8:00, not much after, but still after.  We made our tea and started getting things together, disconnecting the power cord etc.  We drank our tea after we left the dock.  Today was expected to be a long day, and it was.  The goal was to cross Lake Okeechobee, but the problem is there isn’t any place to stop except for Indiantown Marina between Lake Okeechobee and almost to Stuart.  After we were well on our way I called Indiantown Marina to get a reservation for tonight.  There was no room at the inn.  They told me they were booked solid.  Crap!!  Now what.  I pulled up my maps with Active Captain and started looking ahead.  I knew there was nothing between Lake Okeechobee and Indiantown.  We could stop before crossing the lake in Clewiston, but then we wouldn’t have gone very far for the day.  The best place I could find was a campground/RV park.  When I looked into the facility, they have 8 slips, 4 are reservable and 4 are first come first serve.  It is also similar to the campground/RV park we stayed at W.P. Franklin lock.  This is at Port St. Lucie Lock.  It has electric, water and only costs $15 per night with my Govt. park pass.  So I called and asked for a reservation and was able to get slip B6.   The only issue now, was getting there by dark if possible.  It is about 10 to 15 miles farther than Indiantown.

When we pulled up to the park all the slips were taken except B6.  We pulled in, got tied up, hooked up the electric and water.  Both of us were sticky and sweaty from the day so showers were in order.  Since we had electricity we decided that air conditioning was also in order.  So now here we sit, with air conditioning and showers.  Not bad for $15. 

It is supposed to really start to blow later tonight and all the way through Saturday possibly.  35+ mph wind gusts, so we might just stay put since we are set up pretty good.

Today we traveled 86.7 miles for a total of 139.7 miles so far.  Travel time today was 11 hrs. 12mins.

We’ll see what happens tomorrow.  Until then…..

Almost dead calm on Lake Okeechobee.  Hard to see where the water ends and the sky begins