Okeechobee Crossing to Stuart (#100)

We had a beautiful start to the morning with a spectacular first light departure.

When we arrived to the other side, the lock was open. Ted had read that you need to call on channel 9 to request passage. He called early, and the lockmaster told him to call again when we reached marker 1. He called and we were granted access. Shortly after we had passed through, we heard the lockmaster tell an oncoming boat that he had illegally entered the lock because he hadn't requested permission. The driver apologized profusely. A few minutes later another center console boat was told to slow down, request permission, and was reminded that they were in violation and being filmed and that the marine police could look at the tapes. More apologies came from the second boat driver.

A short while later our friends zoomed by us without hailing and leaving us a nice wake to bounce around our boat.

Ted completed a pumpout before we docked at our slip. We need to pump out every two weeks, but we pumpout much more frequently.

On the other end the dockhand turns on the vacuum to start and stop the process.

A high point of our stay in Stuart is seeing our dear friends from Prince William Marina, Dave & Kathy Weekman of Slip Away!

We met Dave & Kathy as new boaters and they watched us figure out what we were doing. They are lifelong boaters, and Dave was there working on his 100 ton captains license.

We had a great slip with easy acces to all the amenities.

We took the water taxi to downtown Stuart right from our dock.

And we had a marvelous dinner at the Spritz City Bistro. Yum!!!

Stay: 3 nights

Pros: Pool, Hot tub, Clean amenities, Great location, Water Taxi, Good restaurant onsite, Friends!

Cons: Train track for bullet train has short light and people have died crossing.

Rating: 4 stars