Exhale on the Water

The Port Mayaca Railway lift bridge was one of my favorite on the Florida water ways, until Almost8 pointed out it resembles a guillotine ….  you decide.

We docked for the night in Indiantown, a well known safe haven. For a very small fee, boats and RVs of all types and sizes reserve a spot every year, in case there is a storm. During Hurricane Irma hundreds of boaters found refuge in the little village – no one was turned away – and none of the boats were damaged by the storm! We were thrilled to find Namaste, a well-loved sailboat previously owned by fellow looper, JoAnn McFall.

It was our first truly restful night of sleep, the perfect temperature with a gentle breeze flowing through the cabin all night.

Some of the boats have been there for a very very very long time; yep, that’s black mold.  Note the irony of this boat’s name “Git ‘R Done”

… this is why we have to wash the boat all the time, darn it.

Next stop – Stuart Florida.

If you are headed to the Trawler Fest, look for us at the Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort & Marina, Stuart, FL – Tuesday, March 6 through Saturday, March 10.

If you enjoy a fresh and juicy hamburger, the kind that is really messy – filled with grilled onions, ‘shrooms, and bacon – we recommend you visit one of our VERY favorite burger stops in Clewiston, FL; Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Marina.

On Friday and Saturday nights the place is rocking – live music and dancing.  The beer is served really, really cold – so join the fun – or bring earplugs!

DAY 3 – A Nor’easter, 20 to 25 knots, blew all night long.  Early Saturday morning we pondered, “should I stay, or should I go?” If we stayed, would it be another sleepless night? If we left, would it be a miserable ride?  The Clewiston dockmaster, salty Captain Sam, cautioned us, “Stay off the lake or you might run aground between the swells – take the rim route, just take it slow.”   Take it Slow?  Well, that’s our only speed!

Lake Okeechobee is a massive body of water.  Most boats opt to traverse the middle of the lake, since it’s a direct route.  The second option is a perimeter route, an extra 11 miles or about 2 hours for a slow going trawler.  The center route can be a little overwhelming for novice boaters – especially when there is no land in sight. In good weather, the Lake can be up to 14 feet deep, but when it hasn’t rained for a while in spots it’s extremely shallow. Bottom line, getting stuck can cause tremendous damage to your boat, and it’s no fun, especially in nasty weather.

Heading Capt Sam’s advice, we followed a cherry red trawler from Queenstown, Maryland. Wye Tug bears a gold looper flag, that means they successfully finished the loop, some sections multiple times.  Exhale is a white looper, for now.  If you ever see a platinum colored flag, the boat has finished the loop multiple times!

Together we waited for the swinging bridge at Slim’s Fishing Camp to open. Thanks to Dick and Phyllis Radlinski, Wye Tug, who spotted an eagle along the way!

March 1, 2018 – Ceremonial raising of the America’s Great Looper flag.  Thanks everyone for the great sendoff, including Tyler and Jamie who joined us via FaceTime! Special  thanks to our dear friend and Future Looper, Dale Morgan, for the launch video.