Riviera Beach City Marina

We're back in Palm Beach. It feels like home.

The morning started out very cold and damp. Much too cold for Florida! Once the sun came out, it turned into perfect weather for cruising. We haven't seen dolphins in awhile, so it was great to see them again. They really keep Hooper entertained. We saw an eagle and lots of manatees. We're back in our slip at the Riviera Beach City Marina.

The air was much colder than the water this morning

Beautiful sunrise

Fun to see dolphins again

That's an eagle in the tree top

Peanut Island

Saint Lucie Lock Marina and Campground

We stayed put today because of the cold and wet weather. It was 48 degrees and pouring this morning when I got up. We were nice and cozy with the heat on in the boat. The forecast was for rain all day. Hooper loves the rain and cold, but we'll have to endure that "wet dog smell" all day. There definitely is a bath in his future!

We put on raincoats and went for a walk. You can walk across the lock and dam. There are nature trails on the other side. Hooper had a good time "wilding". 

Tomorrow we should be back in Palm Beach.

Beautiful sunset last night.

Woke up to cold wet weather. 

Hooper loves running free

Nice trails on the north side of the lock.

Hope he doesn't run into a Bobcat 

It finally stopped raining and the day ended with a beautiful sunset.

Saint Lucie Lock Marina & Campground

NOAA said there would be a light chop on Lake Okeechobee today. Well it really was rough as hell! We were taking waves over the bow and were very uncomfortable until we got to the other side of it the lake. The whole boat got covered in nasty muddy lake water that was extremely difficult to wash off. We were happy to tie up at the Saint Lucie Lock Marina and Campground. We got the last open slip. Yeah! We went to work and scrubbed all the mud off the boat.

Was surprised to see so many alligators on the east side of the lake. Saw one baby alligator sunning itself on the beach. It looked so small it must have just been born. 

Happy to be tied to a dock

Alligator 

Controlled burn at Loxahatchee 

Back in the water

All work done and ready to be launched

New shaft zinc

New thruster blades & zincs

New transom zinc

Ready to hit water

Away we go!

When we went back in the water we made sure there were no leaks so we wouldn't end up like this.

We stopped at the Moore Haven town dock for lunch

Not sure if it's the old lock wall or the footing for the old bridge?

Burning sugar cane fields

A 42' American Tug pulled in behind us. He's also retired from NYPD. Gotta love the NYPD Pension system. They keep paying, we keep playing!

Moore Haven Lock

Clewiston Lock 

No room at the dock! There was a bass tournament at Roland Martin Marina.

There were over 300 bass boats in the tournament. The top 20 will compete tomorrow 

I was glad to see that all the fish cought are returned to Lake Okeechobee via this boat.

Had to wait for all the bass boats to clear out before we could tie up at the marina. We tied up to an Army Corps of Engineers barge with 2 other boats waiting for the bass boats to leave.

LaBelle

The bottom has been sanded and painted, and new zincs installed. Looks like a good job was done. We're waiting for the new stern thruster blades to be delivered. Unfortunately, we were promised that they would be ordered Tuesday and delivered Wednesday.  But typical, no one does what they say they will. They weren't ordered until Wednesday and should be delivered Thursday. Then they need to be painted and installed. We hope to be back in the water, and on our way Friday morning. Fingers crossed!

We've been seeing the best LaBelle has to offer. We've seen open fields, cows, horses, more cows, and the Harold P Curtis Honey Company. At least Hooper is loving the car ride. He is such a car guy!

The bottom being sanded

Hooper loves a car ride. He loves seeing all the cows and horses in the fields.

Harold P Curtis Honey Company. A highlight in the town of LaBelle.

Sunset from the balcony of our motel.

River Forest Yachting Center

We left LaBelle, went through the Ortona Lock, and went to River Forest Yachting Center. We were scheduled to be hauled out today to have the bottom power washed, sanded, and painted, and have new zincs put on the transom, shaft and thrusters. Last night when pulling into the dock at LaBelle something hit the rear thruster and broke one blade on each side. Now we'll have two new blades installed in the rear thruster.

All went well with the haul out. It's always exciting to see the boat come up out of the water. The marina said we should be back in the water by Friday. 

Nice and calm on the water today. A big difference from yesterday 

Ortona Lock 

The narrow canal leading to River Forest Yachting Center

Waiting to be hauled

Moving into position 

Up up and away!

Getting power washed

Blocked up and waiting to be sanded

The bottom looked better than we expected.