LAND HO! ~ The Doors

Tes McIlvride sent me this suggestion. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it myself because I love The Doors! Great song to start out the day.

BALLAST AND THE NAVIGATOR

Ballast is a Seal Point Siamese who belongs to a wonderful couple in St. Augustine, Florida. This cat was abused by a neighbor and had to undergo surgery that left the cat with a scar on the mouth. The mouse in this picture is a Navigator and will navigate Ballast to a cottage in the country where she won’t be subject to the anger of animal haters anymore.

The last leg….

We left Indiantown Marina much richer for the experience and the friends we made. It was an experience we will never forget, and as we settle back into the humdrum routine of our daily land lives, easing back into our mundane work schedules, our souls will ache to be back on the water.

The media center including free WiFi in the kitchen at Indiantown Marina. WiFi was free, strong, had it in the boat as well! Cool!

The k!itchen at Indiantown Marina, use is complimentary for all guests

Paul prepares the boat for our departure.

Scooting around Indiantown in the skiff.

Dave and Elizabeth’s boat card! This is a good idea, has name of boat, names of people, email, address, and phone. I want one too!

Our new friends Bob and Laurel head out on the Sunburst. Bob custom built this cat! How cool is that?!!

Our neighbors in Indiantown Marina, all cool people!

RR bridge in Indiantown

RR bridge close up, Indiantown

Heading out of town, Melbourne-bound.

Electric clouds, Stuart at the mooring field.

Peaceful ladies lounging in the Stuart anchorage.

The Roosevelt bridge in Stuart at dusk.

Sunset in Stuart at the mooring field. Picture perfect.

Approaching the Stuart mooring field.

Breakfast for two out on the water.

A beautiful Cat in the mist approaching the Melbourne causeway.

Passed the Svea, a 1939 ketch from Canada

Our skiff dances on the wake behind New Beginning.

A light and airy trimaran flies by us like a sleek water bird.

This is how we put a cold compress on a boo-boo knee on the boat!

Home Sweet Home

Indiantown Marina and the Neighbors

She is such a pretty vessel.

Sunset at Indiantown Marina

The Big Yellow Cat! 40 feet long and 25 feet wide! Holy Cat!

Peace and Tranquility

Indiantown, sleepy, and nice.

Derelict vessel on the river, probably a victim of a hurricane.

A cool tug at the marina in Indiantown.

Our boat, New Beginning, at the dock. She looks good!

New Beginning.

Chris watches Paul work on the skiff.

Paul takes the skiff for a test ride.

The neighbors at Indiantown Marina

Paul is priming the motor on the skiff.

The skiff is running, yaaaaayyyyyyy!

An Insight Into New Beginnings

Chris Hanging out topside.

A nice place to chat.

The Head

The Galley

The Closet

The Dresser

Provisions and manuals

The V-berth

Hanging fruit basket.

Landscape Photography

Swamp Christmas Tree

Misty morning on the ditch.

Mirrored image on the water.

The Tree Stump People.

Alligator haven along the ditch to Lake Okeechobee.

The Clewiston dam

Smoke in the distance.

The lock at Roland's Marina at Lake Okeechobee.

Lake Okeechobee, a whole lot of nothing.

The Lake and the Monster

On March 12, 2009 we departed the Riverside Motel slip in Labelle around 12:45 in the afternoon. We cleared the bridge there, and then the Ortona Lock, all without a hitch. We arrived in Moore Haven around 5:30 pm and decided to overnight there. We had a Heineken and Burger King feast while we deliberated over  the task we had laid before us for the following day, which was to cross Lake Okeechobee, pass through Port Mayaca lock,  and heel our boat with a 50′ 5″ mast, with one foot of gear on top, under the RR lift bridge with a height of only 49 feet.  The lake was a piece of cake. All of our fears regarding our 4’11” keel and the water level quickly dissipated once we got into the channel, and it was smooth motoring for about 4 hours. The lock in Port Mayaca was open and we motored on through with no need to lock there. Once we passed the fenders at the lock our attention was turned towards the RR lift bridge. There it loomed over the river like a giant iron leviathan waiting to challenge us for ownership of our mast. We circled over and over again in the channel, preparing our only defense, which was to heel the boat over as far as we could and attempt to glide through as slow as possible.  We swung the boom out and hung the dinghy on it, placed large containers of water on the deck and moved everything in the boat to the starboard side. We expected the deck to drop to the water level with all the weight, but it did not happen.  At the most we managed to push her over about 6 inches, which was just enough, so we allowed her to drift toward the bridge. We cleared the first part of the bridge with a very narrow margin. Just as we were passing the midway point a strong wind gust came from the south and lifted us ever so slightly, and a piece of the wind vane came crashing down to the deck. At this point our hearts were in our throat and we did not know what to expect, so we leaned hard over the side and continued to glide through the opening, finally making it to the other side, mast unscathed. YAHOO!!!  The monster did not get us, and while we have no desire to face it again, our souls feel richer for having been given the challenge, and emerging victorious. We are resting comfortably in Indiantown for now, and will depart in a couple of days on the next leg of our journey to the ICW.

The ditch that leads to the lake. You can walk on alligator heads here, yikes!

Misty morning landscape along the ditch.

Chris is sedated by the tranquility of gliding through the ditch.

Welcoming committee at green marker #5.

Entering the lock at Port Mayaca

The Monster looms in the distance.

Preparation for tipping begins.

Weight in place, she is starting to lean over.

Disembarkation in Indiantowan, it has been a trying day at the RR bridge, and we are relieved, happy, and tired!

Victory is a good feeling!

The sentry at the entrance of Indiantown Marina. Don't fall in the water!

The sun sets on another chapter in the adventures of New Beginnings.

Friends

Lady Slipper, soon to be called Orleanian, Steve and Jen's boat

Steve in his new hammock chair.

The Beauty Salon Houseboat at Ft Meyers Yacht Basin

FOR SALE: New AC, new door guards, no maintenance required.

The Annabelle and Don and Deana's boat.

Limited dock space, but really nice, laid back owner. Highly recommend it.

Mike and Beowulf cruising the river.

Another shot of Beowulf. Love the lines on this vessel!

The Labelle Leg

We finally pushed off from the Ft. Meyers Yacht Basin on Saturday, March 7, 2009 around 11:30 am. Once we adjusted the gears, New Beginnings traversed the Caloosahatchee River like a hot knife in warm butter. We arrived in Labelle about 6 pm that evening, making our final landing at the Riverside Motel for 50 cents a foot. It was a really good day.

The Captain of the boat

The Power Plant or Gotham City

Paul at the helm.

Robin enjoying the river journey.

Opening our first bridge.

Approaching the Franklin Lock (piece of cake)

The lock passing went well and Paul is a happy man!

Approaching our second bridge.

Paul takes it easy at the helm.

Chris keeps an eye on things (like cookies) down below.

New Beginnings from the bow.

Paul calls the Labelle bridge, they do not answer.

Approaching the swing bridge.

We spot an old friend on the river!

Paul pulling into the slip at the Riverside Motel just as the sun sets.

The Steering Project

The second launch the chain slipped off the sprocket, and it was discovered the steering cable needed some adjustments.

HEY! There's the emergency tiller!!!

Chain slipped off the sprocket.

Unfamiliar territory

The steering cable