Gasparilla Marina to Indiantown Marina

June 15, 2002 Saturday Day Four Departure Point: Gasparilla Marina Arrival Point: Indiantown Marina Start time: 0625 End time: 1930 Total time: 13hrs 5 minutes Distance Traveled: 157.5 miles We left the Gasparilla Marina at 0625 under cloudy skies heading Fort Charlotte Harbor.

The Gasparilla Marina the next morning as we were leaving. The marina was just rebuilt and modernize it.

NOTE: Just after we got underway the weather turned bad, no time to put up the curtains. Deanna got a picture of a double rainbow. Double Rainbow You can see the other one just to the right of the first one. The water in this area is usually a beautiful turquoise color, but not today. Around 0830, we entered the ICW leading to the Lake Okeechobee on our way to Fort Myers. I have a brother that lives in the Fort Myers area. At 0920, we stopped at the Tarpon Point Marina to get fuel, let the dogs go for a walk.

Around 0935 we passed under the Cape Coral Bridge. We are all wet and cold. It will be nice to get ahot shower and dry clothes on. The only ones not wet are the dogs.

1030--We saw the Seminole Gulf Train coming from Beautiful Island mm 19, ICW. This is the same railway bridge the Seminole Gulf Train went over. Passed by the power plant east of East Fort Myers around 1040.

We went under the Wilson Piggott Bridge on the ICW.

Just to the right of the island there was a sculpture of manatees.

Came to the W. P. Franklin Lock and Dam, Gary called, but no answer. Finally; he answer our call sure took his time. The Ortona Lock was the ruff one to go through. It was an 8 foot drop. Just after the lock we were catch by another rain storm and you guess we got soaked again.

At 1500 we came to Moore Haven lock it was the easy one, you just drove through. Just after the lock there was a stand of trees for about two miles, all of them look to be dead. Also after the lock we went through some thick smoke were some guys were clearing the trees and burning them.

Around 1700 we left the Clewiston Lock and Dam and headed out to Lake Okeechobee. We are headed for Port Mayaca Lock and Dam on the east shore of the lake.

There are no photo of our ordeal on the lake except what is in our minds, there was not enough time to grab the camera.

Our Ordeal on Lake Okeecobee

It was sunny and calm when we started our trip across the lake, but about half way across we had two storms come together and hit us. Before we knew it there were six foot waves coming over our bow and washing every thing to the stern. We are in a 24 foot open pontoon so every thing that was not in plastic bags or containers was getting wet.

Captian was having a hard handling the boat. Due to the fact our anchor had gone over board and it was tied to the bow. I had a hard time pulling it in due to some surgery I had on my right shoulder and was not suppose to be doing any pulling but all hands were needed at this time.

Deanna was getting the gear from the bow and putting it to the back of the boat to add more weight in the stern. That way our bow would not dip so low in the water. The dogs already had their little life jackets on and we put our on too.

About this time we relized we were in trouble. Gary called the lock operator and confirmed the GPS code. I was really getting scared and wish we were on land. Poor Deanna was hanging onto the anchor rope and curled up into a ball and praying as I was. This was her first trip on open water even though she was raised near the local river by us. I have been in worse weather when I would go out with my Father but I guess then it was a adventure when you are young. You know it holds true about the saying "scared the pee out of you"

We had about 5 or 6 mayor waves wash over the bow and we had to open the back gate to let the water flow out faster. I knew pontoon boats do not sink but they do turn over and that is what I was worried about.

We also contacted the Coast Guard and Sea Tow to let them know we were having some trouble. The lock operator stayed with us most of the time.

We could not go very fast because that seems to be when we had more water to come over the bow. When this would happen Deanna and I would move back as far as we could to put more weight towards the engine. There were times our engine was complety out of the water. It was only an hour that we were on the lake in that situation but is sure seems longer. We finally saw the lights of the lock and dam. Made it to the lock and gone through before I could breath easier. We thank the lock operator for his help. I know all of us was thanking God too.

By this time it was 1800, around 1900 we pulled into the Indiantown Marina for the night. After we docked and took the dogs out for a walk (you never saw two dogs so glad to be on solid ground again) we came back and took stock of what we had left in the way of food for dinner. As we feared everything that was not in cans was no good. So we threw out everything and went to the marina office to register. It was good to hear that they had a washer and dryer for us to use, but the best part was the hot showers. We washed and dried what we needed for the night (the rest can wait until we got to Mom tomorrow). After our very long and hot showers we came back to the boat to let the dogs out for a good walk, then we ate soup from the cans and settled down for the night or so we thought. The sandfleas were out in full force, by morning we looked like we had the measles.

Behind thse big boats under the trees was the place we dried our things and had a hot shower. It was quite a walk for we had to dock on the opposite side.

BHW First mate