TowboatUS – MV Simple Life

As we cruise out of the anchorage in the AM we get a good look at some of the boats anchored. It’s a great wide open anchorage but many of the boats taking up space appear to be derelict rather than actively transiting the ICW.

I don’t believe anyone is actually on this anchored boat

Having traversed the Okeechobee Waterway a few times, I should have checked the water height of Lake O before even starting down the Saint Lucie River. I figured that Hurricane Eta dumped so much rain on the watershed that dumps into Lake O … it would not an issue. I do a quick check of the USACE website and it is 16+ feet. The highest I have ever seen it.

The ICW is a federal waterway so there is lots of debate about weather “No Wake” signs are enforceable. Either way… “Do unto others as you would have done unto you”. I find it rude when I’m in an anchorage and a passing boat does not slow to reduce their wake and items in my salon go-a flying. You will always find a few ICW boaters who turn off their AIS boat name broadcasting as well as mount their dinghy so nobody and read their boat name. After feeling anonymous they blast through “No Wake” areas. You always hear someone from the anchorage attempt to hail them on VHF CH#16 but they never answer. They don’t answer because they know nobody is going to have anything nice to say to them.

As I pass this marina that is full of Fleming Yachts.

I can’t help but think it’s a Fleming dealer?

I just did a quick search of Fleming dealers and low and behold… There is a Burr Yacht Sales Fleming Dealer in Stuart, FL.

I do understand why they have resorted to placing this sign out front of their dealership.

There are many beautiful homes and properties in this area. I’m digging the oversized stork lawn art.

Very quickly you are passing beneath the route 95 bridges that us northerners cross over on our drive to southern Florida.

American Custom Yachts has many beautiful custom yachts and a protected boathouse.

MV Yes.. I think it should have been “Yes, Yes, Yes!”

We arrive at the first lock going west on the Okeechobee Waterway. It’s the Saint Lucie Lock with a 14′ drop.

Stylin in my work Pajamas and lock required life Vest.

Soon a sailboat passes us and I think the captain and crew look really relaxed as they pass.

Sitting on the side deck, feet up on phone

Then after it passes I notice that TowBoatUS has them on a hip tow.

At this point my track looks something like this as we approach Lake O

The weather is beautiful

After crossing Lake O and arriving in Clewiston we must go north around the rim channel to Moore Haven. The natural landscape and birds are something to see in this area.

There are many construction vehicles on the dike. It appears as if they are increasing the height of the dike.

Leg #18 of Winter 04 looked something like this…

Making our way North our next anchorage, a little creek called Robinson Creek. This spot lies just North of Comanche Cove Marina in St. Augustine, FL. We stopped at Camanchee Cove for a few days on the way down.

Our route would look something like this.

Route 3 Oak Hill - Robinson Creek — Route from Oak Hill to Robinson Creek

On our way there we passed through Daytona Beach and the airport had lots of planes flying overhead.

There were other hazards to watch for like this sunken sailboat. Just look for the mast 😉

Sunken Sailboat Daytona — Sunken Sailboat near Daytona Beach

As we traveled I trawled a fishing line from outside the pilothouse door. I heard the drag on my reel start zzz-zing and reeled in a what I would later identify as a “Ladyfish”. I quick fish app check and this is an unregulated species with poor edibility.

Ladyfish

Fish Id app

in New Smyrna Beach we had to pass under a few low bridges. Our 22’ air draft it made for a tight squeeze. Luckily the bridge is a bit taller in the middle than what is reflected by the height board.

New Smyrna N Causeway Bridge_7968 — New Smyrna North Causeway Bridge on the ICW

As we approached a bend in the ICW we saw two boats blocking our path to the North. One looks like they have thrown out an anchor to stop from getting pushed further ashore or a possible kedging off attempt. The other was in the process of being pulled off by TowBoatUS. We contacted the Towboat Captain on VHF and treaded water for about 20 minutes until the first boat was pulled clear and we could continue. The trick needed to pass was to hug the reds as close as 10′ abeam. Seems odd that the deeper water would be on the inside of the bend but was where you needed to be. This is location is right near Fort Matanzas South of St. Augustine, FL

The song playing in the pilothouse is “Devil’s Dance Floor” by Flogging Molly. A great Celtic band out of LA.

Anchored to a cloud

Lying STBD Side

Fort Matanzas Anchorage Near the Shoal

Every captain knows when you traverse the ICW, the shallow channel depths mean that you could run aground if you drift out of the channel. For this reason oncoming boats must stay “Right of Center”. This fellow captain seemed oblivious to that rule judging by the wave he gave after forcing us out of the channel. We were riding the right edge of the channel and had no choice but to either hold our ground and use sound signals (1 short blast for a 1-whistle pass – port to port) or simply move over. If you don’t know to stay right of center you wont know your sound signals either 😉

As we approached St. Augustine we saw a large trawler aground.

Trawler Aground_8030 — Large trawler aground just South of St Augustine, FL

We passed the magnificent schooner Freedom

The night ended with a warm orange-pink sunset.

Tag: TowboatUS

Lake Okeechobee

Robinson Creek Anchorage