Update ..Week 1..5/14 - 5/21/2011

Great Loop Boat Log

Week #1 May 14-21, 2011

At 0830 on May 14, 2011, Jean and I hook up the trailer for the last time and made our way to the Ft Myers city boat launch.  When we arrived, there were a dozen of our friends there to send us off.  What a wonderful feeling.  Mike brought the News Press reporter who took plenty of statements and photos of the launch.  At 0930, the Patriot with a crew of four, Jean, Zippy, Chase and I were headed east for Lake Okeechobee, some six hours away. 

We arrived at the Franklin Lock at 1030 and had to wait until 1300 to pass through. We used this time to clean up the boat and hang the side curtains of the Pilot House.  A great move that would pay off later in the evening.  Our first lock though was an interesting experience and I was glad to have Jean helping with the ropes.  We passed through the Ortona and Morehaven locks like pro’s and headed for Clewiston.  Along the way on the banks of the lake we must have seen a dozen gators or more. We arrived at Clewiston, Fl at 1900 hrs, tied up at the Roman and Martian Marina.  Yes, we were tired and after a quick meal and a few drinks off to bed. 

At 2100, we realized that the marina was also a night club and the music, dancing and parting went on just above our heads until 0130.  At 0230 the rain came down and thank God for the side curtains.  However the floor became very wet and the dogs need other sleeping arrangements.  Chase climbed up into my cot and Zippy got up with Jean.  After an hour of this, I put down a sleeping bag for both dogs and I got up with Jean.  Cozy to say the least! 

At 0530 on May 15, 2011 the about twenty Bass Boats started arriving and that ended our nights sleep.  We got up, walked the dogs, made coffee and sat on the deck talking to the fishermen.  Martha called around 0730 to advise us that a huge thunder storm was head our way.  With all the Bass boats gone, we went up the Tiki Hut bar and waited for the storm and man did the storm arrive! Just as Martha stated, the storm came in hard and fast and right on time.  I would have hated to be a bass fisherman out there in that storm.

At 0930 Rodger and Gin arrived to pick up Jean and Roger and I went to Wal-Mart to get gas, fenders and Ice.  We were back at the boat ramp at 0945 and I shipped off at 1015 for Myakka Locks the other side of Lake Okeechobee.

What a challenging 30 mile cruse was I about to have!  When I got half way through the trip, the channel markers went away.  I then followed another large boat until they turned away on another course.  I then kept my heading and about 10 minutes later I went aground and I mean stuck hard in about a foot of sand and coral reef.  The water had small white caps but not rough!  I got on the radio and called Boat US and got no reply.  I then called the 800 number and gave the operator my coordinates.  They called back within 15 minutes and told me a tow was on the way.  In the meantime I started to modify my rear lattice wall and gas tank hold down bars so I could raise the engine out of the water.  This took me an hour and a half and still no tow boat.  The waves were starting to pick up but I couldn’t push myself off the reef.  I next adjusted my antenna cable and started getting better radio.  I called back Boat US and asked about the tow and the operator stated it was on the way but the Captain couldn’t locate me.  I gave my coordinates again and within the next 45 minutes the tow boat arrived.  After hooking up 50 yards of rope, this is as close as he could come to me; he pulled me off the reef into open water only 20 yards away. 

After hitting open water we unhooked and I followed him to another marked channel.  All this time, the waves and wind were picking up and I was cruising in 2 to 3 foot following waves and had to go another 10 miles to the Myakka Locks.  It was like being out on Cayuga Lake in a wind storm and I have been there and done that.  Now this was an experience to remember and a tall tale to tell later on.  As I approached the Myakka Locks, I radioed the lock master and he was surprised to see me coming and had the doors already starting to open when I entered the head of the lock.  Wow, what a relief to see calm water on the other side. 

After passing through the lock a beautiful sight or happening occurred.  A huge Bald Eagle swooped out of it’s stand and dove at the boat headed for my dog Chase.  When the Eagle was 10 feet of the deck, it saw me and a large dog and realized that some other time.  What a beautiful sight as he pulled away. 

I cruised east down the Okeechobee canal to the Indian Town Marina and pulled in at 1730 hours, tied up and had a beer.  Low and behold, a 10 foot gator came up along side my boat and was sizing up Chase.  Neighbors were just great and I had dinner with John and Beth a couple who sold out and are now cursing.

Up at 0630 on 16 May 2011 and started getting the boat ready to shove off around 1130 hours because the St Lucie locks wouldn’t open until 1300. I met more cursing folks in the marina, talked to the manager of the marina and got free tie up for the night.  The gator came back early in the am as big as ever and I got the pics to show off. 

I shoved off on time and made it to the St Lucie locks with a half hour to spare.  However, the lockmaster opened the west bound doors first and one hour and a half later we got to lock in.  It was nice to have Manatees, who got caught between the doors, swimming around the boat.  Looked like a couple of Mama’s with calves.  Once through the locks I made good time and was in Stuart, Fl by 1300.  I topped off the gas tanks and only used 3 gal on the four hour cruse to Stuart. 

Manatees and Dolphin were the theme of the day and I can’t count all of the dolphins I saw today.  Many came up next to the boat for a look see

After filling up, I headed out the Stuart channel and to the ICW.  Wow, what a sight and to realize that I was on the Atlantic side of the ICW.  I headed north and set a location of Ft Pierce and made the city marina at 1730 hours.  Trip was awesome and I have never seen such beautiful and expensive homes on the water way.  The marina attendant gave me the keys to the front gate and told me to settle up in the morning.  Slip charges are $1.85 a foot per night and I told him what I was doing and he stated that the city marina manager will probably help out in the morning. 

I met two more beautiful people in a slip next to me and we shared several drinks and stories.  They even provided me with an extension cord so I could charge up my cell phone and computer. 

0630 on 5/17/2011, I was up and getting ready to shove off.  Eddie came over with fresh coffee and helped me get ready.  I went to the Marina office to pay my bill and discuss my mission with the manager and wouldn’t you know it, he wasn’t there to make a decision and I left paying slip fees!  Bummer!  

The trip up to Titusville, Fl was uneventful but the scenery along the way especially all the huge expensive homes along the water way.  The Titusville Lake as I will call it became very choppy and I fought the west winds for over 10 miles.  The Titusville City Marina folks have been very helpful and gave me free slip space.  However, gas was $4.66 per gal and I took 31 gal.  The boat is getting about 1.8 to 2.5 gal per hr which is very good.  Tomorrow it’s off to Daytona some 45 miles north. 

0715 on 5/18/2011;  After a great nights sleep I very cool 57 degree weather with clear skies and a huge full moon, I was off and headed for Daytona.  The crossing of Titusville Lake as I call it was smooth but over five miles and I could imagine what it would be like in rough seas.  I was very cool the whole day and had to put long pants and a jacket on.

The first part of the trip to Daytona I followed a large cruiser and we passed a huge barge coming our way.  When we left the wide portion of Titusville Lake we entered the ICW narrows.  The wind calmed down and cursing was at a very peaceful rate.  I don’t know where I went wrong but the houses on the ICW are this area is something else. 

As I entered New Smyrna Beach my GPS graphics came back on and what a difference navigating through the water way.  In a short four hours, I was in Daytona Beach and the ICW opened up again and become very choppy.  The water way is about a mile wide in this area.

About 5 miles up the ICW the channel narrows and I entered into the Ormond Beach area.  The choppy water ended and we had the smoothest water all the way into Palm Coast.

It was about 3 pm and I needed to pull into the next marina to fix a few things on the boat and get ready for the evening.  Ready for this, I pulled into the Hammock Beach/ Yacht Harbor Resort Marina, a 5 Star hotel and boat resort.  I asked a few deck hands if I could stay the evening and explained what the Patriot was all about.  They in turn called the Marina Manager and he came down and gave me free slip space and the run of the resort.  He is an ex Marine and the others are army guys who know all about the SOWF and have even gone on bike rides in support of the fund. 

                      

Well I fixed the gas tank blocking the motor coming up by rising it to the top of the motor well and it work perfectly.  I lost my bunk space but set up the army cot for my sleeping area. 

St Augustine is only 17 miles north and I may sleep in and do a few more things on the boat.  The weather for the rest of the week looks great.  I got to take a hot tub and swim in the morning and we were off by 0900.  I went across the canal to the other marina and got gas, $5.10 per gal. 

At 0900 I was off to St Augustine and in a short very scenic 3 hr trip I arrived.  I took some video shots and kept going on to Jacksonville.  We got back into canal water after some large choppy waters and the trip was uneventful except for more dolphins and mantes. 

I arrived in Jacksonville around 1500 and didn’t even know it because the sky line is so far from the ICW.  I crossed the James River and headed north and almost made a wrong turn but thank goodness for corpuses and the GPS.  After crossing the James River I headed north to Georgia and would stop at the next marina.

I didn’t get to the next marina that was located at Amelia Island, Fl for three more hours.  Yes, I had to stop along the way and put in more gas. But the total trip today only used 18 gal of gas;

I was taking pictures of the paper mills, the smell reminded me of a pay check, if you ever have worked or been around a refinery town.  As I was looking through the camera, I saw the marina. I pulled into the Fernandina Harbor marina and went to the manager’s office where I met Joe Springer, a Rotarian, who invited me to breakfast in the morning and to speak about my mission.  He also gave me free slip rental, a $35 savings, but gas is $4.95 per gal.  This marina is also awesome and I look forward to tomorrows Rotary meeting and getting out of Florida and into Georgia.

We had a very good Rotary meeting and I spent about 10 minutes explaining my mission for the SOWF.  I was very well received and handed out several filers and they said copies would be made.  I also received two checks but advised the persons to mail them to me.

I was off on the water again by 0930 and headed for the St Mary’s river.  The river was very large mouth but the weather has been spectacular.  I got into the ICW and headed for Jekyll Island and arrived two and a half hours later.  You can’t imagine the scenery and how the water way meanders back and forth.  I entered the St Andrews sound, some three miles across to Jekyll Island and if the weather hadn’t been so beautiful with slight winds, current and waves I couldn’t have gotten across.  The Creator and Mother Nature have been very good to me.

I passed around Jekyll Island and headed for St Simons Island.  My GPS showed three routes and I took the main one hoping to find a marine but no luck. I preceded on up the ICW, once again more sea grass and swamp along with the meandering channel.  I hailed down two fast boats and they were Home Land Security out on a training mission.  We had a nice chat and they directed me to a marina off the ICW about three miles called the Two Way Marina.  I would never have found it if it wasn’t for them.  When I got to the marina, there must have been 12 fast boats and the class of agents, fireman, sheriffs, and other law officers going through fast boat training.  I had a great time with all of them and they took several of my fliers.  I will be off early in the am if the weather holds as is today.