Guided Discovery: Sarasota Bound: Smooth Waters

CLEWISTON FLORIDA TO FORT MYERS FLORIDA

We arrived at the Clewiston Lock at 4:20 PM on Monday, November 7, well before sunset and well before the lock's scheduled 8:00 PM closure. This was the benefit of running a little hotter than usual since leaving Morehead City.

During 2014 and 2015 runs this lock was not in operation and hence we cruised through open lock doors. This year, owing to high water (15.7 feet), the lock was in operation. No big deal. I've done well over 150 locks if you include the 103 we did on the great loop (2010 to 2012).

Approaching Clewiston Lock

However, this lock requires a brief comment. It protects the town of Clewiston during periods of high water, which was the case today. The lift (i..e., drop heading into Clewiston) is a whopping 6 inches. The lock is also VERY small with approximately 70 feet between the doors. Do the math. The 63 is actually 64 feet owing to the foot we added to the swim platform. Throw in the anchors, which extend outward from the hull and her overall length exceeds 65 feet. That leaves a margin of 2.5 feet at the bow and stern.

Looking aft from the flybridge at a very tight fit
The line to starboard is being held by Guy.

Guy shot this one looking aft from the main deck

ESCAPE - Clewiston Lock door opening. you can see the marina ahead (just barely)

Minutes later we were docked at Roland Martins Marina. Now to the fun stuff. Having traveled 640 NM is rough seas the boat was literally caked with salt. We decided to get rid of the salt and cruise like gentlemen for the next two days in the forecasted beautiful weather. This necessitated washing the boat. So, while I tended to refueling, Guy and Morgan washed the boat from top to bottom and stem to stern. Well almost. As the sun set we (yes I had joined in the washing effort) were viciously attacked be mosquitoes. Fortunately we were close to completion and nobody was eaten alive.

Guided Discovery washed and ready for he next adventure

Given that the marina's restaurant is alfresco and given the bugs and given that the food is marginal, we decided to eat gourmet on-board. Dinner was salmon with a Dijon mustard sauce, brussel sprouts and potatoes prepared by Chef Bernard. It was superb.

More locks. Our dinner discussion focused on the Ortona Lock, which is currently under construction and is only open from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 4:30 PM to 5:00 PM. The question was whether to sleep in and arrive close to opening or get their early to be first in line. We chose the latter.

So at 6:40 AM we pulled out of Roland Martins and headed for the Clewiston Lock. Twelve minutes later we were on the Okeechobee canal headed to Moorehaven Lock.

Okeechobee Canal - smooth water

Moorehaven opened and we quickly locked through. We cleared this lock in 15 minutes. This brought us to Ortona at 10:20 AM. We were second boat to arrive. This proved to be good planning as by 11:30 there were a total of 6 boats, three of which, including us, were over 60 feet. Fortunately all 6 boats fit in the lock. The lockmaster probably could have shoehorned in a few more. We were clear of the lock by 11:53.

Filling up the Ortona Lock

Explanatory Note: It took 53 minutes to complete the westbound locking process with 6 boats. Assuming the same time for east bound traffic there would not have been time for a second cycle. If that were the case, the westbound boats unable to make the first cycle would have had to wait until 4:30 PM.

The rest of the cruise was uneventful. We cleared the final Franklin Lock at 3:00 PM and proceeded west on the Caloosahatchee River to Legacy Harbour Marina in Fort Myers where we arrived to 4:35 PM. We were joined by Morgan's friend, _______, for cocktails and following that activity we adjourned to Joe's Crab Shack for a fun dinner.