Mission Accomplished!

My head is still spinning....and my equilibrium is off. I feel like I’m still on the seas, swaying right and then left, again and again...
Moving the ‘Milagro’ and “Eagle’s Nest’ about 150 miles south.....in two days, 6 locks, tops down for Railroad Bridge, Old River adventure and ‘short-cut‘.....proved to be a successful challenge.
First, we were so grounded in muck at the KRPark slip that Kurt and his Key West boat needed the assistance of Walker’s Sea Yea in order move the Milagro from the suction created by muck. Getting out into the canal took all of us....then we were on our way down river by 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Wind was high, again, across Lake Kissimmee but we made it through Lock S65 by Hwy. 60 and traveled about 6 more miles before stopping for the night. I had made a big pot of Seafood Gumbo with lots of fresh shrimp, which proved to be a substantial, nourishing meal for all of us. The quietness of being in a place completely surrounded by nature was a welcome relief after a hectic week at home after our ski vacation to West Virginia. Our bodies had a chance to catch up with our souls...so to speak. Except for Dockie that is.....He arrived back late Saturday from his boat delivery with Aaron and Chris and was still in limbo. Took him about two more days to feel ’normal’ again.....
Awaking to the sound of Dockie’s generator at 5:00a.m. brought us back to reality quickly...As we prepared to push off from the tree banks where we were anchored......our reverse would not engage properly.
Dockie was already ’down river’ so we radioed to ’hang loose’....work is underway. Charlie disappears into the bilge......using a flashlight since it is still dark outside....and quickly perceives his problem. It also answered his question to the ’unusual’ noise he and Dockie had diagnosed earlier.
As any boater knows......you can go from Captain to Mechanic in 5 minutes on a boat.
We arrived at the first Lock S65A by 7:00 a.m. opening time and was greeting by our lock tender friends, Gail and Dick. Dick has had a battle with cancer and is making a tremendous comeback it seems. It felt like old home week as we proceeded down river.
Dockie had discovered a ‘short-cut’ which cut quite a bit off of the old river run.....Of course, as we exited the short cut.....the signs read...”Prohibited Area”....No Boats Beyond This Point....(See pictures....Link #1.... Boating Album....for our trip also).
The water was so high that nature had created our short-cut.....where boats once were prohibited.....but Dockie & Ann had checked this area out in their little boat the previous week; therefore, we were not behaving ’fool heartedly’....for once!
For me personally, the biggest/worst challenge was to take our Bimini Tops down for the Rail Road Bridge. The stainless steel frames are so heavy once the holding pins are removed that two people have quite a terrific job in the process. That is why my dear brother, Dockie, designed, created, and hand produced a hard top with garage door springs.....to ease this process for the Eagles Nest. They had their tops lowered in five minutes while we struggled at least 30 minutes or so with ours. The bridge is so low and the water is so high at that point that our windshield just clears with inches to spare.....Actually we know.....and have been told again and again.....boats our size has no business being in that area....
Hearing that only creates a challenge for Dockie.....
But of course, THAT is another story!
Winds were high and tough....arriving at Sam and Sally’s Pier 33 dock on the river near the mouth of Lake Okeechobee in the early afternoon.....was a welcome relief. All our strength was spent by this time. Sam and Sally refreshed our hearts with laughter as we all went out to eat....
Next morning we continue on the final leg of our journey.
Having made arrangements for our previous slips at Taylor Creek with our own Tiki Hut we had built last year......we knew we would be...HOME....soon.
Lo and Behold, upon entering the harbor.....a big, huge, 53 ft. Yacht is in our slip. Dockie’s is free so he backs in and settles while we idle in the small entrance. Sissy, our friend/dock master, arrives apologizing to no end. She said the man could not come until 3:00 p.m. to move to another location she is establishing for him.....Quickly Dockie unties one of the man’s lines to give us access to the front of our Tiki Hut and Charlie backs up into what is now our ‘temporary’ slip. Works fine for now but they have a week to make the necessary changes so that we will finally be back into our ‘old home’....
With a sigh of relief.....we are happy!!!!
Mission Accomplished.....Praise The Lord!