This gentleman has a cat that he can walk. I asked how long did it take to train this cat? Not long at all was his answer.
Al Gjerde invited me for breakfast. Had scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, orange juice, and coffee. It was great. Al lives on his boat and has it all fixed up inside, really nice. It was a great breakfast. Wish Al the best of everything in the coming years.
My last night in Fort Myers I was invited to a cocktail hour on a shrimp boat named Sundancer owned by Ray and Delia West. It weighs 38 tons, has two refrigerators, one freezer, stove, piano, among other things. Ray and Delia are the couple standing in the doorway in these pictures. Ray and Delia have remodeled the boat and it looks great inside and out. Thanks Delia and Ray for inviting me into your home.
Left Fort Myers around 8 am on February 2, 2010. Traveling on the Okeechobee Waterway also called the Caloosahatchee River. Went through one lock and now back in fresh water. Lock height of raise only 3’. Did get to Labelle Municipal Marina about 4:30 pm.
This is Gary Lee. He lives aboard his sail boat and travels between Annapolis, Md. and here at La Belle, Fl. each year. Gary Lee is a character. He knows where the deals are all over. When I pulled in to this city dock, he was right there. The 1st night we went to his favorite Bar and Grill. Well he knew numerous people at the bar and the BS that got started after a couple of beers, about boats, snakes, and alligators. It got to the point where snakes stealing boats, alligators water skiing, it was incredible. He knows boating and which marinas and where to anchor. The next night he took me to a restaurant where they served free fried chicken, onion rings and fried mushrooms. Just pay for your drinks. Had a great time with Gary Lee. This cat gets off his boat and will walk right on any boat in the marina.
The couple Tim and Jill Argie are from Woolford MD. They have a very nice cat boat. They came with Gary Lee and myself for the chicken dinner. I was glad they came along and enjoyed my time with them.
The man waving at me is in the sailboat right beside mine. Gary arrived a day after me and came down the East Coast. He has friends on a boat across the river.
These are pictures of the marina city park 1 1/2 blocks away, and parts of the town of LaBelle. The LaBelle city marina is no charge to tie up and includes electrical. The bathroom is in the city park approx 2 blocks away. In the city park there is a place for shows and there are very interesting trees called Living Oak, Swamp Oak. Downtown there is one Kentucky Fried Chicken that shares the front with a Taco Bell. They have a massage parlor, a small prison, (needed if someone throws a fit in the massage parlor I guess ), and is home to Swamp Cabbage Festival every year. There are mosquitoes here also and I am using the mosquito net.
The bathrooms for the marina are in the park about 2 blocks away and are open 24 hours to everyone. This free dock with electricity is nice and ok I can walk 2 blocks. Gove this bathroom, no showers a pelican rating of 3.
Left LaBelle at approx 8 am down the intercoastal heading to Moore Heaven. Moore Haven is right before Lake Okeechobee. Perfect day today. Pictures are taken along the waterway.
Had to go through Ortana lock today. This lock was operated different than any I had been through. I was the only boat in there. I called the lockmaster and he said come on in but tie up on west side at second position. It won’t be so rough. I did as he said. Then I looked forward and the doors started to open and there was 4 foot wall of water behind those doors. I thought what is this, someone is screwing up. Here comes the water, the doors opened up about 2 foot and stopped. That is how they fill and empty this lock. It was a ride against the dock wall.
Anyone out there want to go 50/50 on a reasonably priced houseboat with a water view? Guys, before you try and sell this to your wife or girlfriend let me put some garbage bags over the windows so it looks lived in. Let me know.
What is a cactus doing in Florida along the waterway?
This is how they keep the rain off the outdoor patio furniture in Moore Haven.
The bathroom at Moore Haven city dock is large. Everything is wet, ceiling, walls, floor. Looks like they clean it with a garden hose. But everything worked. This gets a pelican rating of 5.
Arrived at Roland Martins Marina in Clewistown, Florida. To get into the inlet to Roland Martins Marina you have to go through a set of hurricane locks. I never heard of hurricane locks until I turned into the canal. It’s like what is this? The green light was on meaning proceed on through. They are used to control the water surge during a hurricane. No problem, just different.
THese are pictures around the Roland Martins Marina in Clewistown Florida. Just had to take a picture of the sign. Buzz is on a small homemade pontoon boat with a bicycle hooked up to a small paddle wheel under deck. Did not leave the dock as its left rear pontoon is missing. There are pictures of the Tiki Bar and the showroom at the marina. It’s amazing how many boats are under water at the marinas. The air boat was fun to watch around the docks.
This is the courtesy car at Rolands Marina has for boaters. It’s name was Gloria and it is an older limo. This is the 1st time I got a limo as a courtesy car.
This iguana just crawled up at the very end of the dock at Roland’s Marina. Looks like he eats well.
I saw a sailboat come along the dock at the marina. The home port on thee boat said Delevan, Illinois. I walked down and had the pleasure of meeting Ted and Kitty Yontz. From Delevean Illinois on their boat, “Prairie Schooner”. I hope to see them again someday.
Bathroom report for Roland’s Marina. Large area with washers and dryers. Guess what. The lint screens in the dryers were clean. Buzz did not have to roll up someone else’s lint. Two showers and sinks and open 24 hours. It was nice. The lint thing moved them up a extra point on the pelican scale. Pelican rating of 7.
Left Roland’s Marina early morning of 2/9/2010 and heading to Slim’s Fish Camp. Well, Slim’s is a 30” dock and boat shop. I don’t even know if there is a town close. Charged me $5 for the right to tie up to the dock. I am the only boat here except Slim’s runabout. Services here are none. The bathroom report is short. The reason there is no picture, Buzz could not make up his mind which bathroom to take a picture of. One was a tree, and the other was the water. There is no bathroom. Pelican rating of 0.
Left Slim’s Fish Camp on 2/11/2010 heading to Loggerhead Marina by the town of Pahokee, Florida. These pictures are of large rocks that will be used along the dike. Arrived at Loggerhead Marina about 2:00 pm Thursday.
This is the entrance into the marina. Going between the seawall was rough and bounced me all over.
This is Loggerhead Marina- nice place but no people, too cold, along with the economy. Nice clean place, swimming pool, lounge for boaters and campers, nice sales area. They have small cottages for rent that face Lake Okeechobee.
Few years ago this alligator came in the marina and did become a problem.
Across the dock was an older fiberglass boat. Bob lives on the boat and is in the process of fixing up the inside. He works part time at a nearby power plant as a welder. He plans to retire on the boat in the next two years. Had me over to watch tv one evening.
Bathroom rating for Loggerhead Marina. Laundry room nice and equipment like new. The bathroom and and shower are all tile and nice. The only thing is there are no hangers for clothes. Gets a pelican rating of 8.5.
Prior to leaving Loggerhead Marina I went to the grocery store and found some health food. These are double decker moon pies. Got 4 and they lasted until I got to Indiantown Marina.
I left Loggerhead Marina at Pahokee the morning of 2/15/2010 heading to Indiantown Marina in Indiantown Florida. Good Bye Lake Okeechobee, had one lock to go through. Arrived at Indiantown Marina mid afternoon. This marina appears small but it is really large with docks all around the back side in the canal. Nice set up, but nearest place to eat or get any supplies is about 3 miles. No courtesy car.
Gilles Girard is from France. He sailed this boat across the Atlantic to Washington DC in 1992/1993. He lives there with his wife and still works, but takes 4 months off each year to travel on the boat.
Right after I took the picture of Gilles Girard, he saw an alligator on the bank across from us in the marina. Gilles said lets go get a picture. Buzz said ok and was ready to walk around the dock and up on the bank. Gilles said, come on we will take the dinghy. Ok, that was fine with Buzz. Gilles pulls his dinghy around his boat and it is a fold-a-boat 10"’ long. He jumps in and Buzz thinks holy crap, this fold a boat is missing one side support and is flexing all over the place. But Buzz got in the boat and did get within 20 ft of the alligator. Buzz was sure of the boat did sink and the alligator was hungry it would go for the French treat prior to the American treat. The turtle just appeared beside my boat one hour after the alligator swam past.
Bathroom report for Indiana River Marina- Not bad, everything worked and had washer/dryer. Pelican rating of 7.0.
Left Indian River Marina on the morning of 2/16/2010 trying to make it to Stuart Fl. Pictures on the Intercoastal on way to Stuart Florida.
Arrived in Stuart Florida mid afternoon. Stayed at Harbor Inn Marina with a restaurant about 2 miles over a bridge into town. Ruthie is a hostess at the restaurant and the food was very good there. May be here a couple of days as a front is coming in with 20+ mph winds.
Bathroom rating for Harbor Inn Marina. One bathroom and no washer or dryer. There are very few people living on their boats so one bathroom was not a problem. Clean and everything worked fine. Pelican rating of 7.0.
Left Stuart Florida heading to Melbourne, Florida Waterline Marina. Did get a picture of a dolphin swimming alongside of the boat, along with a crab pot tied up to the dock.
The gentleman in the picture is Steve Cordell II. He is the owner of Waterline Marina and runs a first class operation. He is very involved with the needs of the live aboard and transients. He went out of his way to make me feel welcome.
Bathroom rating at Waterline Marina. Restrooms clean, plenty of hot water and lights. Had washer and dryer. This bathroom gets a pelican rating of 9.
Made it to Ft. Pierce City Marina, Florida. Staying tonight only. Next two days look good. Hope to move both days.
Arrived at Stuart, Florida today. Staying at Harbor Marina. Got a slip with the smaller boats. High winds forecast for the next two days. May be Friday before I can move again. We will see.
Left Pahokee this morning and got across/around Lake Okeechobee. Back in the intercoastal waterway. Am at Indiantown Marina in Indiantown. There is a large gator in this marina and I finally got pictures of one. Then a turtle comes up along side my boat. Plan on moving to Stuart, Florida tomorrow.
This gentleman is Bob and lives on a boat directly across the slip from me. He told me an amazing story which I do believe. Three or four years ago a friend of his came down to visit. His friend brought his dog along. They would walk along the dike beside this marina. The grass is cut short right down to the water, just like it is today. The dog is running along, back and forth. There are some people fishing, all of a sudden there there is a alligator about 4 feet from the bank watching the dog. The guys fishing start throwing rocks at the alligator, trying to drive it away. The dog thinks it is a game of go get what they are throwing. In the water the dog goes. The alligator grabbed the dog and is gone, never saw alligator or dog again. There are probably lots of stories like this, but I never been around anyone who was connected with something like this.
Moved today to Loggerhead Marina in the town of Pahokee, Florida. It is on the South east side of Lake Okeechobee. Nice marina with all the services. But only about 7 boats here. Rain tomorrow so I will stay put one more night. This is the last marina until Indiantown. I need a good day to make that run.
Good Morning Alaska. I am the farthest south on my trip and it’s a balmy 41 degrees this morning. At Slims Fish camp. I could sleep in the water, it’s warmer.
Made it to Slims Fish Camp today. I am the only one here. A dock to tie to for $5, nothing else. But they did make a pot of coffee. And yes they charged me. Today I did finally see a alligator, maybe 4 foot long. Now i just have to get a picture of one.