South Florida Loop

B

BoaterHomer

New member
Well, Casey and I are back on the boat. Yes, ....again. By the end of the year, we will have spent a total of 8 months on this "cute little" boat! We launched today at Glades RV near Moore Haven and will spend the next 5 to 6 weeks doing the South Florida loop....clockwise. From here, we will cross Lake Okeechobee heading east to the coast. Then we will pick up the intercostal waterway near Jupiter and head south through Boca Raton, Ft Lauderdale, Miami, Biscayne Bay etc and then curve west through all the keys. Once we go around Key West, we will head back up the keys on the inside and then cut north to the Everglades, Marco, Naples, Ft Myers Beach, Sanibel, Captiva, North Captiva, and Cayo Costa.... And maybe Boca Grande. We will then head back down to the Caloosahatchee River and head east, through Ft Myers, through the locks and back toward Lake Okeechobee to where we left the truck/trailer.

Well, that's the general plan anyway.

The weather was PERFECT today and we are very happy to live in sunny Florida and be back on the boat.
 
Mary, thanks much to you & Casey for continuing to share your wonderful new life. We will be happily viewing your photos, reading the details & following your SPOT with rapt interest. Your previous trip had us wanting to hook up the trailer & boat & head southeast to see first hand what you were sharing.

Best wishes,

Jay & JoLee
 
Sounds like fun. Some of our favorite stops are LaBelle. Several nights free dockage just before the bridge with water and elect.

Roland Martins Marina is a good stop in Clewiston, Fla. The Clewiston Inn will pick you up at the marina for dinner or lunch. Food is good and not too expensive.

When you are heading back to the Glades try a stop at the W. P Franklin lock. It will be to your Port side after you clear the lock. It is a Corp of Eng. facility and with your Old Persons pass dockage is under $15.00 per night with Elect and water. they also have good showers.

We will be in the area for most of the winter in our little Roadtrek Motor Home. We will look for you.

Fred and Pat and Bonnie "the cat"
 
Enjoy the trip! Was just today thinking about Florida! -3C here. Too darn cold for me. We'll be down next fall/winter! Best wishes. Carolyn and George
 
Glad to see this thread - thanks for sharing.

I'm still trying to decide whether or not to trailer over to Florida (later) this winter. I bet reading this won't discourage me :D
 
Casey and Mary
Enjoy the trip! We spent 4 nights over Thanksgiving at a Westin in Cape Coral which is where Tarpon Point Marina is located. Also did Fort Myers Beach and had lunch at Nervous Nellies. I would highly recommend all three when you get to that side.
 
Great plan, folks -- when north of the Keys, and visiting the 'Glades, we have a suggestion - look for the American CROCODILES!! Yep, Crocs! not the everyday alligators. We finally spotted two, when cruising the area, by following the suggestion of a friendly Park Ranger -- on the boat ramp into the 'glades! Two crocs!! Not often spotted, and most folks don't even know we have crocs. in the US.
Enjoy your cruise through some delightful, nature-filled waterways -- some of the best for winter cruising anywhere on the globe. We'll be following your posts and sure wish you a bon voyage!
 
Hi, You all have got great plans, We will have Pandy Girl down at Fort Myers Beach Jan 2, Keep us posted on your trip, Maybe when you get back up the West Coast to Fort Myers Beach we can meet for Dinner. Jim J
 
I was going to try the free dockage in LaBelle, but after having to fend my boat off the side-tie dock for the umpteenth time, just before dark I chose to continue on to the ACOE dockage just above the last lock before Ft Myers.

Everglades National Park has loads of places for a C-Dory to explore. Travelling up the Lostmans River, for example, you can get a good 10 miles inland, all the way to the Wilderness Water Trail. I've only kayaked the Shark River, but it's got plenty of water for a C-Dory. Since you're staying on your boat at anchorage you don't need an NPS permit. Watch out for the mosquitoes and no-see-ums though!
 
Your going to really enjoy the Loop, one we consider a "must do" Florida cruise. You are doing it the right way. Ours was much too fast/short. Looking forward to many more posts.
Fair winds,
James
 
The first day was a total success. Lake Okeechobee was as
Good as I've ever seen it - maybe 4-6" (!).
Just prior to launching yesterday we noticed that a critical
item on the Garhauer lift (the bracket I fabricated) had broken
and we had no way to redo it at hand. ...so the kayak got left
on the truck. :-(
We'll probably make it to the ICW (Stuart,FL) tomorrow.
Yes, there are still mosquito's on the St Lucy Canal!
Best,
Casey&Mary
 
We have been to Ft Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas several times. A beautiful area with a huge brick fort, a rookery, crystal clear water. You might consider a side trip out of Key West. We make the run whenever we are in the area.

PLEASE KEEP US UP TO DATE. SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT TRIP.
 
anchorout":212k2tg2 said:
We have been to Ft Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas several times. A beautiful area with a huge brick fort, a rookery, crystal clear water. You might consider a side trip out of Key West.
Click to expand...

I've been there a couple of times via commercial ferry. When you do that you only get to spend a few hours there, and of course that's when everyone else is there too (from the ferry). It's pretty cool despite that, but as we pulled away in the late afternoon, I always found myself looking wistfully at the cruising boats anchored there for the night, able to go ashore after the crowds and heat dissipated, and wanting to come back under my own steam. I did go past once, sailing, but it was one of those situations where it would have meant entering after dark (wasn't a good time to heave to and wait) so we just kept on going to Key West.

So, maybe I'll get there in the C-Dory :thup I'll have to check into distance and etc. as it's a "dry" place with no supplies of any kind (such as fuel).
 
Sunbeam":pxr1jqog said:
I'll have to check into distance and etc. as it's a "dry" place with no supplies of any kind (such as fuel).
Click to expand...

It's something like 75 miles one way between Key West harbor and the fortress based on looking at Google Earth. This may change somewhat by checking a chart for depths and restricted areas. The entire Dry Tortugas are a marine sanctuary. There are limits where you can go and where you can anchor. At one time I did see a nice chart of the area that had all this information on it.

In theory my boat could do it at cruising speed (almost one tank there and one tank back). But this would not leave much reserve. I would want to take supplemental fuel tanks.

It would be an interesting place to go and spend a few days though.
 
Day 5 ... I think.
We anchored in Santa Barbara Cove in Pompano Beach.
We had a very good night with a light breeze. If you haven't
become an ActiveCaptain user - do so. A great (free) data
source!
Today will put us somewhere down near(er) Miami. Yesterday
(Sunday) the ICW was a bit of a madhouse. We saw everything
from teenager's in kayaks (in midchannel) to 150' yachts out
for an afternoon 'ride (mostly waiting for the next bridge opening),
one boat towing an inflatable toy full of kids, and of course Cigarette
type boats w/ bikini's & booze. ...as I said; everybody was out
enjoying the Perfect wx.
It's currently 0721 and 78degrees ... Looks like the beginning of
another Great Day in Paradise!
Best,
Casey&Mary
 
Nice! Not quite so warm here! Plotting distance and strategy for next year. We wanna boat in warm water. Good for you keep us posted. Any crocagotors yet? George
 
We spent the night at Boca Chita Key (northernmost end of
Biscayne Nat'l Park). I worked at BISC for a couple years 40+
Years ago.
Last evening an 86' vessel came in and tied to the sea wall behind
us. While chatting with the ship's "manager," we learned that the
boat had five bedrooms and five bathrooms ... Hmmm. It also has
twin Arneson drives and cruises at 40K while consuming 240 gallons
per hour ... Hmmmx2. The group brought this "...the smaller" boat,
because their bigger boat (119', and cruises at 44K) doesn't comfortably
fit in the small boat basin here at Boca Chita.

... and both vessel are driven with a Joystick.

They seemed like decent folks, but could only stay about an
hour. They had a dinner party to attend back up in Miami.

Meanwhile we continued our UNrushed lifestyle wandering South
through the Keys!

Life is Great!

Best,
Casey&Mary
 
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