The Okeechobee Waterway
March 6, 2024
We covered some major miles on the Okeechobee Waterway the past few days, going through five locks and numerous lift bridges and swing bridges, all of which we had to radio to request openings. We love to start before sunrise and be the first boat on the water. It’s so peaceful and smooth with the birds singing as we pass. In LaBelle we pushed off the city dock and radioed the bridge about 100’ away only to have the bridge tender inform us we couldn’t pass until 9am due to the ordinances favoring the rush hour traffic. Makes sense, so we had to immediately return to our dock in shame and kill an hour or two. The Okeechobee Waterway was a nice change of pace due to the scenery passing just feet away instead of miles of open water. We could enjoy the vegetation and the wild birds and alligators we happened upon. (Unfortunately the alligators are quite camera shy so we have nothing for you there.) Two nights ago we tied to “dolphins”, or designated pilings, along the waterway which are provided to keep vessels out of the channel as an alternative to anchoring. Yesterday we crossed the 30-mile wide Lake Okeechobee and made our way to the Atlantic side of Florida just outside Stuart. Today we entered the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and are making our way to Vero Beach for a weeklong stay.
