Clued-in in Clewiston

It was 5:15 pm before we were docked (much later than we’d planned) and the Clewiston, FL Napa Store was closing (we needed spare filters for the genset).  HOWEVER, if we arrived at 6 pm, Napa-guy Travis would be returning to the store and open the doors for us.  We responded by scurrying in our dinghy to the nearest dock, prepared to walk the mile into town to Napa.  A catamaran sailboat was at the dock with loud 70s music blaring.  John, the catamaran captain (who also sported an artificial leg), kindly introduced himself and after learning our mission and our unfamiliarity of the area, suggested we continue motoring in our dinghy into town, dock at the Tiki Hut (from which John had just enjoyed mahi tacos), then walk the short distance to Napa.  Without hesitation, we took the dinghy as per John’s directions.

We arrived at the Napa store 15 minutes early.  What to do?  Next door was a bar called “Brenda’s Place.”  As we snapped a photo of the sign, a voice from inside the smoky billiard joint bellowed us an invitation, “Come on in!”  And so we did!  Immediately we met Leroy, a lifelong local who works as an electrician for the county waterworks, who was fun to talk to about things "local" (sugar fields, alligators, cleaning fish, and the history of "Brenda's"--at one time a bank, now a community watering hole where local patrons help in its Christmas decorating; each decoration honors someone past or present--quite a moving experience, according to Leroy).  Mike skipped out for 5 minutes to get his filters from Napa next door, and after paying our $4.50 bar tab (for 2 beers and a hard cider, PLUS appetizers!) we concluded our evening in Clewiston at the nearby authentic Mexican restaurant (recommended by Leroy).

Last night, we anchored next to the WP Franklin Lock and Dam and campground (greeted by a shy manatee!) and this morning, awoke to sunny skies and cool temps (greeted by our very FIRST alligator!).  We cruised the Caloosahatchee River/Okeechobee Waterway through 2 more locks and once we reached Lake Okeechobee, took the outer rim channel (lots of alligators and birds and Brenda even saw a snake in the water!) to the small town of Clewiston, Florida.

Our aim now is to get across Lake Okeechobee.  If the wind is soft, we’ll consider doing so tomorrow.

This is what we saw in the water next to Velsignet this  morning near the WP Franklin Lock and Dam...
our first Alligator siting!
There were 8 boats in the Ortona Lock.  The Locks here are gravity fed from the downstream flow of the river, rising or lowering boats from 1-8 feet.  Instead of tying onto a floating bollard (as in the Tombigbee water system), boats grab lines that hang along the lock walls to tie onto the boat's bow and stern.

In the Florida locks, both the stern and bow lines are to be tended; this means the boat motor is shut down and Brenda (usually at the helm) and Mike are manning the bow and stern lines.

Off in the distance was evidence of fire.  Our "Brenda's Place" friend, Leroy, suggested the smoke may have been from burning a nearby sugarcane field or a controlled burn on Lake Okeechobee.

Alligators abound along the rim of Lake Okeechobee.
To capture a photo, Brenda would be on the lookout using the binoculars to spot them from afar.

The rim of Lake Okeechobee is a dike and dam system.   Boats cruise along the rim in a ditch, with the dike on one side; a grassy, swampy area buffers between the rim and the lake.
We took lots of photos of alligators.
This pic and those that follow give you an idea of the size and mass of these wild creatures.

It was VERY exciting to see these guys; they blend into the environment. 
So often we thought we were looking at a log and then it would move!

I wonder what this guy is smiling about...

Outside of "Brenda's Place"--As the photo was shot, Mike is hearing "Come on in!" from inside.  The building beyond "Brenda's Place" with the navy trim and yellow windows is the Napa store.


We are spending tonight tied to "dolphins."  Dolphins are pilings with cleats that we can tie up to.  This is a  new experience for us and it took using the dinghy to get the ropes situated between the dolphins and Velsignet.  At one point while tying onto a dolphin, it looked like Mike was losing his balance in the dinghy.  After our cruise through alligator country, the idea of Mike in these waters is NOT a pleasant one!




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