MOORE HAVEN, FL TO CLEWISTON, FL

Sunday, March 8th, 2015

Day 216
Miles Traveled: 13
Total Miles Traveled: 2714


  We continued our travels on the Caloosahatchee Canal.  After leaving Moore Haven lock, which was just a few less than a mile from their city docks, the scenery changed.  There was marsh to our left and rock jetty to our right.  We hoped to see some alligators, but since it was an overcast day, none were out sunning themselves.  However, we did get to see a many different varieties of birds.  We even saw one bald eagle, but he was too far away to get a good picture while underway.  

Osprey perched on limb of tree

Great Egret

Pelican - with is winter plummage of yellow on top of its head

Marsh land along the Caloosahatchee Canal

  Our final destination for the day was Roland Martin Marina at Clewiston, FL.  To get to this marina sometimes requires locking through the Clewiston lock.  Often this lock is left open when the lake levels are at or above normal pool.  When we arrived, the gates were open, and we passed on through.  

Clewiston lock with its gates wide open for passage

  Roland Martin Marina is named after the famous bass fisherman.  And, like its name implies, is frequented by bass fisherman.  When there is not a big bass fishing tournament taking up the slips, boats like ours can dock here overnight.  It is a good place to stay before crossing Lake Okeechobee, or after crossing the lake, depending on which way one is traveling.

docks at Roland Martin Marina

  Several interesting finds around the marina where an alligator bench and a "courtesy car". 

Angie on the alligator bench - look close - their are alligators on that bench

Courtesy car ???
The marina does have a courtesy car, but, we hoped this wasn't it.

   
     
  Clewiston, FL is known as the "Sweetest Town in America" due to its role in sugarcane production in the 1960's.  There are still sugar cane fields in the area, and, when the fields are burnt, the ash will travel in the wind.  We found some sugarcane ashes on our boat during our stay.

  Just when we had given up hope, we had our first alligator siting.  It was swimming across the channel near our boat while we were docked at the marina.  We kept our transom (back of boat) door closed that night!! 

Our first alligator siting