Verkennen

It is a unique experience to sit in the cockpit, anchored in a canal, watching alligators swim past your boat. Common and not so common wildlife noises serenaded us at night, and we awoke to wonderful birdsong.



The Okeechobee waterway did give us a chance to experience rural Florida, not only the abundant wildlife and moss hung wilderness, but also large ranches and farms as well as small villages.



From Moore Haven, where it seemed everyone owned a small fishing boat or air boat, to Stuart, with its nice mooring field and quaint renovated downtown on the river, we enjoyed exploring another side of Florida.



Traveling the waterway was a little reminiscent of our trip down the rivers, although much easier with little current or traffic. Of course, we did meet a tug/barge at our first lock and locked through with him. By the time we reached the other end of the waterway the lake had dropped so low boats could only lock through once every 2 hours. We actually bumped bottom once on the canal but we saw plenty of water most of the way. All along the waterway it was easy to see signs of Florida's attempts to tame the Everglades and manage their fresh water needs, but all in all it was an interesting and different experience and one we would enjoy again.


Sunrise on the St. Lucie canal