Ft Myers, FL

Ft Myers Yacht Basin

   After a long cruise yesterday, we had a relaxing morning today at the nice Calusa Jack's Marina.  The couple who run it are very nice and are also homesteading.  Last night, they showed the kids the livestock, including the chicken/duck/turkey coop, and they gave us some fresh eggs.  After eating the eggs for breakfast, we walked over to tell the "ladies" thank you!  Then, we cast off the lines for the 11 nautical miles down river to downtown Ft Myers.  We have not stopped at the city marina before, right in the heart of downtown, so it will be nice spending a little time here.

Total miles today:  11nm

Total miles traveled:  2,027 nm

Total cruising days: 32

"Chicken" Coop (& roosters & turkeys & mallard ducks!) 

We found the sushi restaurant in downtown Ft Myers

Okeechobee Waterway

Seagulls following our wake

   Lake Okeechobee is the largest lake in Florida, the 2nd largest lake completely in the US, and the 7th largest lake in America.  It is 35.7 miles long & 27 miles wide.  Therefore, when the wind kicks up, it is a large enough body of water to feel like the ocean.  Last night, we tied up just outside the Lake on the east side of the lock leading into the lake.  We were at the lock when it opened at 7am after a nice quiet night tied to the dolphins.  We checked the weather report for today and knew the lake would be choppy, but when the doors to the lock opened up to the lake side, we were still kinda shocked.  We cruised out into the very choppy lake water.  We've cruised in choppy waters before, but we found these waves were hitting us on the beam (side of the boat).  Not fun.  So, we changed our plans to go the 25 miles across the lake to the 35 miles around the rim of the lake.  The first 1.5 hrs were still a little choppy, but then it settled down as we reached protected waters on the southern portion.  It was here, we encountered an interesting bridge - the Torrey Island bridge.  It is a swing bridge which is manually operated.  You call the bridge master, he walks out to the middle and uses a long pole to turn the lever to open the bridge. Fascinating!

This route ended up adding 2 hours to today's journey, but it was beautiful.  Soon we were going through Moore Haven Lock (the first of 4 today), and cruising down the Caloosahatchee  River toward the west coast of Florida.  We had hoped to make it to downtown Ft Myers today, but it was just too far with the sun setting by 5:30p.  Therefore, we stopped east of Ft Myers in Olga and a marina for the night  Shawna & Joe, the owners, are so nice.  The also have a farm here, so they showed the kids some of the animals & gave us a few fresh eggs.

Total miles today:  84nm

Total miles traveled:  2,016 nm

Total cruising days: 31

Torrey Island Swing Bridge
(picture by Mike Farrell)

Happy Thanksgiving!! (Lake Okeechobee, FL)

Sunset at Port Mayaca Lock (tied to dolphins)

   The weather was supposed to be sunny and in the 60's today.  David & I were up early, so we cast off our lines from Old Port Cove Marina by 6:30am and cruised back onto the ICW.  After 25 miles (no bridges needed to open!), we turned west onto the St Lucie River, part of the Okeechobee Waterway.  With just one lock today and not many bridges to wait on, we had a beautiful cruising day.  A little glitch that almost got us stuck 16 miles from our destination, though.  We got to Indiantown Railroad swing bridge and could not hail anyone to open it (only 7' clearance)!  Then we saw someone on shore mowing the grass.  Guess the operator thought no one would be coming through and would get some chores done!  After blowing the horn a number of times, he finally saw us, and we were on our way.  We've never had THAT happen before!  Ah!  Each day is a new adventure.  Tonight we are tied up to dolphins (see pic above) just outside the lock to take us onto Lake Okeechobee first thing tomorrow morning.

  We didn't forget Thanksgiving!  Jill cooked most of the food yesterday, Thomas made a cheesecake, so tonight we simply heated everything, David fixed gravy, and with "Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" on TV, we enjoyed a nice meal.  Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We have a lot to be thankful for!

Total miles today:  57nm

Total miles traveled:  1,932 nm

Total cruising days: 30

Indiantown Railroad bridge 

Thanksgiving dinner 

Thomas' cheesecake (new recipe)

Navy Seal Museum, Ft Pierce, FL

2014 & 2009 at US Navy Seal Museum

   In 2009, on our last boat trip, we spent some time in Ft Pierce, FL,  While there, we visited the US Navy Seal Museum.  The guys loved it, so we drove up there Sunday to see it again.  They love looking at all the guns & ammo and military items.  They have the rescue boat from "Captain Philips" movie, as well as a Black Hawk helicopter which just arrived.  The boys also enjoyed the obstacle course outside.

2009 & 2014 Ft Pierce City Marina

Guys & guns! 

Rescue boat from Captain Philips 

Black Hawk helicopter 

Obstacle course

Cousins - North Palm Beach

Cousins picture with Santa

   We are enjoying being back at a regular marina and out of the boatyard.  The people there were nice, but everything is dirty and not too many amenities there (like laundry or shower house).  The marina we are at north of West Palm Beach has a wonderful boater's lounge, great laundry room, and very nice showers.  The floating docks are a nice bonus (not often found in Florida).  This area also has a lot to offer (shopping & restaurants).  It is also not very far from our cousins in Loxahatchee!  So the boys & I have gotten to see Dina & her boys again!  One of the best parts of hanging out in this part of Florida is visiting with Jill's family.  Thomas & Matthew enjoy seeing their cousins, too (see pictures on Family & Friends page of the website:  http://www.family4afloat.com/family---friends.html).  We will probably be here until Thanksgiving, then cruise across Florida to the west coast.  The weather got a little colder Tuesday, so we got a small taste of what our northern friends are feeling.

Eddie & Thomas - teenagers 

Matthew & Raymond - 4th grade buddies

Bridges! Bridges! Bridges! (North Palm Beach)

The Captain is very happy to be cruising again!!

   After 4 long weeks in the boat yard, we finally pulled out today and started our journey north.  Now, cruising on the ICW, especially on the east coat of Florida means bridges - and lots of them!!  We started early, because we knew about 1/3 had to be opened for us.  As we cruised the 4 miles up the New River, we were able to pass under the 4 bridges without them opening for us, and with very little traffic (we seemed to be the only ones up at 630am!).  Then we made our turn north up the Atlantic ICW.  This began the last 45 miles with 21 bridges, 9 of which we needed to wait for an  opening, as we were too tall to go under.   We can clear a bridge only 19' high, but anything lower - no way!  Timing with the bridges is key - they only open at certain times if the day, usually 2x/hour.  Fortunately, we did very well today and were able to time our arrivals close to the openings. The weather was gorgeous (cool, but sunny).  We made it to our new home for a couple weeks in 9 hours.

Total miles today:  75nm

Total miles traveled:  1,875 nm

Total cruising days: 29

Sunrise on the New River

Ft Lauderdale: Sushi, yard work, & new pants

Matthew's dinner at sushi bar

  The past week has been somewhat boring, but busy.   While we didn't do anything really exciting, it has been a very busy week.  The mechanics have been busy putting things back together in the engine room, & now they are cleaning up the mess.  Kids have been keeping up with schoolwork.  David replaced his dying laptop.  The water leak was found (behind washer) and with it, we finally got an electrical outlet in the Lego room (Matthew is very happy).  Also, as last weekend a cold blast came through the south, we thought the kids should try on long pants they haven't worn in 7 months.  With Thomas seeming to grow a few centimeters every time he goes to sleep, it was no surprise he had outgrown all his pants.  Matthew had as well.  So, off to the store to buy pants for both!  By Wednesday, we were all ready for a break, so we found a sushi restaurant and had a yummy dinner!  One more week in Ft Lauderdale, and we should be able to move north.

Sushi Boat!!

Notice new outlet in play room

Thomas outgrew all his pants!!! (barely worn)

Happy Halloween & Ft Lauderdale Boat Show

Checking out 72' Marquis Yacht at Boat Show

   The past week has been a busy one.  As we sit in the boat yard watching them move boats all day long, we manage the various contractors to complete some work being done on our boat.  The problem with the hydraulics is fixed.  The water leak we've had for a couple months was resolved (hose connection at the washing machine), which also led to an outlet being added to that room (there was none).  Bottom is clean and fresh zincs have been put on the shafts.  Meanwhile, school work is continuing, kids got haircuts (by a professional this time!), Jill's eye infection started healing, and lots of general errands were completed.  While we are sorry to be stuck with boat repairs, the timing could not have been better.  The Ft Lauderdale International Boat Show is this weekend.  So, after years of going by ourselves, David & I took the kids to the show.  They were thrilled, overwhelmed, and then exhausted (we wore them out after only 5 hours).  We checked out some boats, had some yummy lunch, and just basically dreamed about the next boat to buy (with lots of fun toys!).

   Happy Halloween!   We hope everyone had a fun, scary night.  We did't want Matthew to miss this fun holiday, so we took his wet suit and turned him into Nightwing and the kids & Mom went to the Museum of Science in Ft Lauderdale for their Halloween event.  Interesting place to spend Halloween!  Bunch of kids and adults dressed up in various costumes, candy being handed out, and the cool museum to boot.  Good fun!

Night Wing (Matthew)

Checking out fish on Halloween

Night Wing learns to fly! 

Thomas learns about gravity