We took a good trip on our new (used) boat last weekend. We went with three other couples and boats from the resort and we had a great time. On Friday, we traveled from the dock here at Upriver Resort to Forest River, a new marina about 30 miles up the Caloosahatchie River. We docked here and spent the night on our boats. We found that we'd forgotten to pack a few things, but nothing we couldn't live without. Not bad for a first trip.
Saturday morning we traveled from Forest River to the town of Clewiston, about 35 more miles. This leg of the trip went through Lake Okeechobee at the edge of the Everglades. Lake O is the second-largest freshwater lake located wholly within the United States and it is a major part of Florida's water management system. It's beautiful through there, with lots of birds and alligators and beautiful scenery.
It's a good thing that there was a lot to look at, because it was on the Lake that the fuel filter on our good old boat got completely clogged up. It was the one thing that wasn't changed when we had the boat serviced. So we had to limp across the Lake on idle speed, restarting the boat many times when it died and hoping it would restart before hitting the rocks. The other couples we were with were good enough to limp along with us. Bill did a great job of piloting the slightly disabled boat and he really wasn't stressed at all. I did that part for both of us! I really did not want the boat to die in this alligator-filled lake, no matter how beautiful all the birds were!
We were only a couple hours late for lunch. We tied up at the Roland Martin Marina and had lunch at the Tiki Bar, where two other couples who had driven from Upriver were waiting for us. They said they didn't mind that we were late because the Tiki Bar was such a great place to wait.
I felt a lot less stressed after lunch. Because all of our friends were so nice. And because the Dockmaster found a mechanic to replace the fuel filter on a Saturday (at what turned out to be a reasonable cost).
And also the Tiki Bar makes a great Bloody Mary!
This is Little Man, the Dockmaster at Roland Martin Marina, talking to another couple that were with us. That really is his name; it is embroidered on his shirt pocket. This local character is a legendary dockmaster with a personality befitting a legend. He yells and screams and tells everybody what to do and when to do it, but it is OK because he is so good at his job -- and because watching him really is quite entertaining. He used to be a cowboy in Montana and that is where he developed his skill with a rope. He ties up boats by throwing the rope around the cleat in a loop and figure eight from about six feet away, as if he were lassoing a cow. I would definitely not want to travel with Little Man, but I wouldn't mind if he were at the dock wherever we came in.
After lunch we went back to River Forest Marina again to spend the night. It was a quick trip that time. As one of the guys said "what a difference $100 makes."
On this trip, we had three locks to go through each way. You can see Bill hanging on to the rope as we go up this lock. You have to nose the boat alongside the concrete wall of the lock and then grab two ropes for the trip up (and down when we were coming back).
Sunday morning after breakfast we traveled back to Upriver. Docking the boat in our canal was a lot easier this time than it was a week ago when we took her out for a trial spin.
New experiences are supposed to be good for aging brains. Last weekend, we built up a pretty good store of them. And we had a great time doing it.
I saw in a former blog of yours about family in a zoo? Those Jenkins/Phillips/etc. are my ancestors as well. My mother's side is the connection (her grandmother was Stella Baird Brooks). When they were digging a few decades back, and they found the infants/children's graves, she was the one that went to the city to identify them. Anyway, I just wanted to point out that it is a small world, huh.
If you would like to get in touch with me, feel free. It's nice to know that family is out and about!
Posted by: Kimberley Brooks (Snider) Stone | May 06, 2009 at 10:03 PM
That would be great. We hope you can do it!!
Posted by: Sallie (FullTime-Life) | February 26, 2009 at 09:34 AM
There is just something about boats. First time in a few months I've been really jealous (well, the muffins sounded good too).
I will try to make it down next summer for some serious boat action.
Posted by: geoff | February 24, 2009 at 09:14 PM