From the West Coast to the East Coast

Honey Bees 

If you look at a map of Florida you'll see Lake Okechobee in the southern part of Florida in the middle of the state.  The 2nd largest freshwater lake in the US.  The Okechobee Waterway, a series of natural and man-made rivers/canals connect the west coast of Florida to Lake Okechobee to the east coast of Florida.  Upon this waterway is where we have spent the last week.  Most of waterway is lined with some of Florida's agricultural products:  oranges, sugar, and honey.  And there are a series of locks on the canal that ascend or descend (depending on your direction) from 1 to 15 feet.

A lock along the Okechobee Waterway.

The locks on the Okechobee raise and lower the water in the chamber by simply opening the door a crack to let water in or out to the proper height.

Orange groves along the Okechobee Waterway.

Sugar Cane fields along the Okechobee Waterway.

Town dock at LaBelle, FL.

La Belle town docks.

 We stop for the night at LaBelle town docks.  The library is right across the street, groceries and the laundromat within a block.  As you can see, people travel and live in a variety of sizes and types of boats, ours being a bit smaller than our neighbor to port.

 

While tied to the town dock fellow Albin owners spotted us.  We were invited to join them farther east on the Okechobee.  Here are 4 Albins in Turkey Creek.

4 Albins on Turkey Creek on the Okechobee Waterway.

The Okechobee Waterway ends in Stuart, FL.  We anchor in our favorite 4 foot deep bay in Palm City and have the whole bay to ourselves (except for the pile drivers who are constructing a new bridge connecting Palm City and Stuart at the end of the bay).  We enjoy the sunshine and watching the small fish jump out of the water.  Our friend Dale, who lives nearby, comes out to visit and have dinner before we continue up the river to Manatee Pocket.  More old friends, Arno and his daughter Bene, live on their boats here in Port Salerno.  Bene has been in Dominica studying to be a doctor so we have not seen her in a while. 

Bene shares her homemade juice made from cactus.