After waiting a week for a weather window β it finally happens. Steve takes breakfast back to his boat for his wife, Judy. We bid Captain Sam good-bye and off we go. First stop is the Clewiston lock, just down from the marina. We make it through the lock easily and into Lake Okeechobee.
Our next lock is Port Mayaca, located on the east side of Lake Okeechobee at the junction with the St. Lucie Canal. This lock proves to be one of the most challenging β and here we are, so close to home! The waters come rushing in as we enter the lock, and Captain Pat has a devil of a time controlling the boat.
Finally we make it to the wall, grab our lines and secure to the cleats on the boat to hold for leverage. Now the Admiral is getting very excited. We are approaching the St. Lucie Lock β our last lock on the Loop!
As luck would have it, there is a wait β about 45 minutes. Boats are going in both directions, so we have to wait our turn in line.
We are waiting with one other boat. Now that we have the locks behind us, we can focus on our next journey marker β Stuart. We discuss staying at Sunset Bay Marina. We have stayed there a few times, the last time being , and enjoyed the marina and the town of Stuart.
