Day #276: Mike and I up at 5:30 A.M. to watch the weather to make a final decision regarding crossing Lake Okeechobee which showed a great forecast make the crossing. At 7:00 A.M. "Dash Away" off the dock followed by "Parrot Bay". At 7:20 A.M. "Parrot Bay" was secured in the Moore Haven Lock. At 7:25 A.M. "Parrot Bay" was clear of the Moore Haven Lock (28th lock for the trip) after being raised less than one foot (yup we were all wondering why bother locking through). The trip leaving Moore Haven to Clewiston was canal we started to see alligators in the water but they would dive. At 9:00 A.M. "Parrot Bay" passed Clewiston where there is a lock that is open to pass into the town but "Parrot Bay" turned to port headed to Lake Okeechobee. The trip across Lake Okeechobee couldn't have gone any better with the lowest water that was see was 5.0 feet mostly between 6.0 and 7.0 feet. The sun was shining with only a light breeze which was good as the temperature was 82 degrees. At 12:00 P.M. "Parrot Bay" had crossed Lake Okeechobee getting into the Port Mayaca Lock (29th lock of the trip) which was open so we were able to pass through. It took a total of three hours to cross Lake Okeechobee. At 12:20 P.M. I received a phone call from St. Lucie Campground letting me know that B-6 dock was full to take B-7. As Mike and I proceeded down the St. Lucie canal we started to see more and more alligators. We were passed by numerous larger boats but all were very respectful coming off of plain so that they didn't wake the "Parrot Bay". At 2:45 P.M. Mike from "Dash Away" hailed "Parrot Bay" letting us know that he was going to be turning into River Forest Yacht Center as this was where he was able to get a spot for the night. It was decided that Mike on "Dash Away" would leave at 7:00 A.M. meeting Mike and I at the St. Lucie Lock in the morning. The two of us proceeded to the St. Lucie Campground when they arrived the slip that we had reserved the boat next to their slip boat was to wide which spilled into the slip that was to be the "Parrot Bay's". I quickly got on the phone to the campground where I was informed that there was nothing that they could do and wanted to know what we were going to do, anchor or tie to a dolphin. I told the lady that I wanted my money back the lady told me that since I had made the reservation on-line that I needed to cancel to get our money. In the meantime Mike called River Forest Yacht Center while he was waiting for them to determine if they had room, I was preparing to anchor. River Forest Yacht Center called Mike back telling him to go ahead and pull in that they could accommodate the "Parrot Bay" for the evening. "Parrot Bay" was secured at River Forest at 3:30 P.M. after a total of 64.4 miles today (total miles for the trip 2674). I got on the phone to work on getting the money back for the slip at St. Lucie Campground which I eventually was able to do. At 5:00 P.M. it was finally time for Mike and I to have docktails on the flying bridge. At 5:15 P.M. a severe thunderstorm rolled into the area so the two of us headed into the cabin to ride out the storm. After the storm passed we had leftovers onboard. Mike was able to get me off of the boat as the boat is very low in the water so getting up on the concrete was a challenge.
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Moore Haven Lock at 7:00 A.M. 
Boat exiting the Moore Haven Lock so that "Parrot Bay" and "Dash Away" could lock through. 
Captain Mike holding the bow line so that I could take pictures of the lock. 
Small fish boat in the lock with "Parrot Bay" and "Dash Away" the guy was very verbal that they we shouldn't have had to lock through as we only went up less than one foot.  Only a trickle of water let into the lock to raise the boats. 
Beautiful sunrise this morning. 
First sighting of an alligator unfortunately it was dead and the buzzards were eating it. 
Looking out over Mike's shoulder a boat coming at the "Parrot Bay" just beautiful. 
First sighting of a alligator. 
On one side of the canal was the Herbert Hoover Dike which is a dike around the waters of Lake Okeechobee in Florida. "In 1928 a hurricane roared ashore at Palm Beach September 16, 1928 , many coastal residents were prepared. But inland, along Lake Okeechobee, few conceived the disaster that was brewing. The storm struck first Puerto Rico, killing 1,000 people, then hit Florida with 125 mph winds. Forty miles west of the coast, rain filled Lake Okeechobee to the brim and the dikes crumbled. Water rushed onto the swampy farmland, and homes and people were swept away. Almost 2,000 people died." 
More alligators. 
Clewiston Lock that "Parrot Bay" would have passed through if they had gone to Roland and Mary Martin Marina but plans changed. 
Heading out to Lake Okeechobee. 
White pelican on Lake Okeechobee. 
Port Mayaca Lock was open "Parrot Bay" was given a pass to cross through the lock (this makes the crew very happy when they can simple drive through the lock). 
Port Mayaca Railroad Lift Bridge (again this makes the crew very happy when the bridge is up). 
Australian pine with Spanish Moss. 
Saw this racoon running down the shore. Not looking so healthy. 
Check this alligator out-WOW!!! 
Mike and I decided that after seeing all of the alligators that this slide doesn't look like fun!!! 
"Honey Fritz" the Presidential Yacht which served five United States Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon. A 93-foot wooden motor yacht was originally built in 1931 by Defoe Shipyard in Bay City, MI.  The Presidential Yacht was renamed "Honey Fritz" by Kennedy after his maternal grandfather John Francis Fitzgerald. 
Watched this cow gently move the egret out of it's way while it was eating. 
Check this out!!! 
NEBO trip from Moore Haven, FL to Stuart, FL
Beautiful sky after the thunderstorm. 
"Parrot Bay" was very happy to be tied up during the thunderstorm! 
This is how Mike got me off of the boat (with much coaxing).
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