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The Waterway meanders from Ft. Myers to Stuart amid cattle and horse farms, orange groves and sugar plantations
and is interrupted only by Lake Okeechobee which is the second largest, fresh water lake in the U.S. The scenery is beautiful
and during our trip the orange blossoms were blooming casting a fragrance reminescent of the magnolias back home.
LaBelle: Our First Stop
The River Edge Motel has room for four boats to tie up to their dock, where the rent was $15 for the night, and that included
water, electricity and a pool. It was adjacent to a busy highway and the sounds reminded us of "My Cousin Vinnie" and the
railroad. A friendly place, conveniently located and home of the Swamp Cabbage Festival each February.
Clewiston: Home Of Uncle David
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| Attitude Meets Uncle David |
The second night was spent at Rowland Martin's Fish Camp in Clewiston, just inside a lock at the southernmost end of the
Lake. Uncle David, my dad's younger brother, had just retired and we thought it would be a treat to sail our "yacht" into
Clewiston to visit. A rare site in Clewiston as most come by Bass boat.
We enjoyed the family time, had some good food, and we amazed at how busy the marina was. Great gift shop too!
The Infamous Railroad Bridge
On the eastern side of Lake Okeechobee the last of the Locks operated by the Corp of Engineers allows vessels to be lowered
fourteen feet into the St. Lucie River. The Locks are well managed and everything is well supervised making them a non-concern
for boaters. The nearby railroad bridge is a different story.
U.S. Sugar Corporation has a private railroad to transport their products from the sugar fields. The track crosses the
waterway just east of the Port Mayaca Lock a mere 49 feet above the water. The mast on Gypsy Common is 53 feet.
An enteprising young Billy Owens has been assisting sailboats by "tipping" their boats with large barrels of water affixed
to the decks. We required 13 barrels and were just able to tip the boat sufficiently to make the clearance. Owens is a true
professional and having him get us under the bridge saved us about 200 miles and at least a weeks travel time. We are believers!
Let's Go! We are Heading Home
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