Over 400 Miles

Four days, and over 400 miles into cruising from Marco Island, Florida to Riverside, CT, it is proving to be an adventure of a lifetime.  It is mentally draining, challenging, at times anxiety-ridden, and incredibly rewarding.  As well as offering the opportunity to meet friends along the way.

Stan and my day start between 5:30 – 6:00AM by waking, showering, eating breakfast, checking the engine water strainer, the generator strainer, the oil level, diesel, and the general condition of the engine room.  We then leave the dock between 07:00 and 08:30, at the latest, for our 100+ mile daily journey.  Our days have been ending around 1700 by washing the salt off of Wakely, having dinner, and charting the next day’s course.

Our days on the water are focused on following the charts as we venture down rivers, canals, channels, past inlets, all watching the depth of the water to assure that there is a minimum of 4′ below.  And, that is not always easy as the water levels on the Intercoastal Water Way can be very shallow.  We have been navigating locks and bridges making sure that any bridge we approach is higher than 14′ (the height of Wakely).  Stan and I are both 100% focused on following the charts (maps) assuring that we are not making a wrong turn or losing the channel and running aground (neither has happened).

The marinas that we have stopped at have ranged from a small, backwater, marina such as Clewiston Florida (Westcoast of lake Okeechobee) to Fernandina Beach, FL on the Florida Georgia border.

We have gone through beautiful country, and crossed Lake Okeechobee, The second-largest freshwater lake entirely within U.S. boundaries.  Lake Okeechobee is also among the most shallow lakes in the country with levels less than 7′.  Unless you stay in the designated channels, which are maintained by the Army Corp of Engineers, you will hit a rock or run aground.

To give you an example of high anxiety, while crossing the lake, and out of sight of land, we realized that our electronic navigation was obviously flawed (please don’t ask how that happened).  We were traveling east early in the morning and the sun was directly in our eyes so that we were unable to see a thing.  We were lost, surrounded by shallow waters waiting to lay Wakely aground.  However, as the highly qualified crew considered all options, we gave up on the electronics and went to paper charts plotting, and a compass to move on.

Below is a small sample of some of the beautiful country that we have traveled through.

And, in Vero Beach, Stan and I had the opportunity to spend time with my dear friend Bill Sinnott and in Daytona, Stan and I were invited by John and Denise Keundig to have a wonderful dinner at their house.  However, hanging out with my friend John Keundig is a little different today.

Finally, as I wrap this blog at 0015, I need to again thank Jeff Neuberth for his continued support and advice.  Jeff continues to be a wealth of knowledge and encouragement.  And, I cannot express my gratitude to Stan Thurley, who has been a great first mate.  His enthusiasm for the trip and for Wakely is truly inspiring.

I will post as often as I can and ask you all to keep cruising.