Leg #8 Moore Haven to Clewiston

Bitter sweets days. The sweet is we went through our first two locks of the journey. There are hundreds of locks along the ICW. The first Lock was Franklin Lock but we don't have many pictures because all three of us where handling the boat. The second lock was the Ortona Lock with a few more pictures because we had Ant stand down from this one so Glen and I would know we could do it ourselves. We can do it but, it was more fun with Ant. Here's a few photos:

Now for the bitter. Last night was Ant's last night (for now) crewing with us. This morning Douglas picked him up around 9:00 a.m. for his flight to Pensacola. It was sad to have him

wonder why he flew back to Pensacola? Well, that's where Glen and I left the truck. Yep! Antanas will be picking up our truck and driving it 18 hours back to Michigan. We will miss having him aboard. Not only for what he did for us but for who he is. Thank you Ant and thank you Kateri who selflessly allowed Ant to crew with us while she was home with their daughter. We will miss him.

Todays trip to Clewiston was short and sweet. After our goodbyes, Douglas and Antanas helped us to cast off for our first solo trip. The canal from Moore Haven to Clewiston is a manmade canal, managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. It is a narrow and shallow passing that takes you into Okeechobee Lake. This is the second largest last in the US (solely in the US on all boarders). But the majority of it is only a couple of feet deep so it is very important to stay on track. But that's for tomorrows trip. Today's leg was only about 13 miles long. We arrived here at Roland and Mary Ann Martin's Marina. What a charming little place. The harbor master "Captain Sam" lives on a sail boat here and is the spunkiest little old man. If you had a bad day, he would make it better. We were warned to not let the girls in the water. there is a 7' gator that is in the water right beside the boat. Also manatee, which I've yet to see any of them.

There are about 7 Looper boats here and several of us are getting together for dinner are the Tiki Bar. At least four of us will be crossing the lake together in the early morning.

Here's just a few photos from today:

Tata for now.