Where Are We?

Talking about a trip...by water....this was it.
Charlie and I spent about 1 1/2 wks. on the Florida waterways, rivers, lakes, creeks, intra-coastal etc.... all size boats, all weather conditions.....and had a wonderful time.
This was my brother, Aaron’s, trial-run boat trip in the 28 ft. “Pretty-Ugly”.
The trip began for him and crew in Daytona with destination being to Lake Kissimmee and back. The return trip will have give him around 650 miles of water travel.
Traveling with Ruth Ann and his sidekick, Billy....Aaron was in his element....being a long time Florida salty sea dog...Aaron lives and breathes the water life!
We traveled a great deal of that trip with him, Ruth Ann, and Bill...first with our small boat, Go Gator, Kenneth’s ,Why Knot? and Dockie’s ,Nubbin, meeting him at Harbor town Marina in Ft. Pierce.
High winds interfered with fast travel but even that was....doable!
All boats proceeded from Stuart back thru the St. Lucie canal and across Lake Okeechobee to Taylor Creek where Sam and Sally awaited us in their 42-ft. Gemini.
Taking a day to recoup and re-situate travel vehicles, we traveled up the Kissimmee River, again, thru locks and more locks, this time moving our big boat, Milagro. High winds, strong river currents and an occasional tree slowed us down considerably.
Unfortunately, I was captaining the Milagro around a strong current curve and for some reason (strong current-slow reaction)I could not straighten the wheel quickly enough and hit the bank trees....head on. Hearing Aaron on the radio saying to Bro. Dockie our ’scout’ ....“Milagro’s in the trees”...
MADE ME MAD!!! He didn’t have to tell on me for the entire world to hear!
Charlie backs her out...I sweep broken tree limbs from swim platform, back deck, side decks.... everywhere!
No holes in canvas or damage....except my pride! Had to happen to a ....woman....shucks...
Spending the night at Kicco....Ann fried fresh ‘specks’ which Sam (and Sally too) had caught and given us for the trip. They were delicious to say the least....we had a feast in a nature setting that is beyond description.
A scene....and experience...which money can not buy!
.....Our worst was yet to come!
Hitting Lake Kissimmee......the winds were....unforgiving!
Slow time.....fighting the wheel....and canvas and vinyl being ripped from their zippers were a wind nightmare. Even traveling west of Brahma Island gave little relief from the high winds.
We limped into Kissimmee River Park and were glad to be there.
With a sigh of relief we set up our ’new home’ for the Milagro and the Eagle’s Nest and then went by car to Pt. Canaveral for a Nautical Flea Market. A boat....always needs....something!
Later in the afternoon, Chris and his airboat buddies paid us a visit and initiated us to the fact that we were......in their territory....now!
Airboats...day and night....can be heard in the nearby canal.
Yes, we were now in airboat country....having left....pontoon fishing boats and bass boats from Taylor Creek and Lake Okeechobee....we were in a new ‘neck of the woods’ for sure.
Adventure living.....is just that with zany nautical family and friends.
A ’simple mistake’ is never forgotten.....retold over and over again....until new material is provided!
I know....I do it too!!!

Charlie and I decided to travel back with the “Pretty-Ugly” to Okeechobee in order to get our car and the Go Gator.
Spending the day on the water with Aaron, Ruth Ann and Billy was truly a delight this time because the water and weather was....perfect.
We had earned the right....to enjoy it!
.....A little excitement in Lock D....Billy saw a dog above the locks on land and wanted to talk.....dog talk.... he braced his front paws on the concrete side...under the top bow rail....and of course, the boat moved leaving a wide space between the concrete.....and the boat. Billy fell...belly first into the lock water below.....thru about 20 feet of open space....
Everybody left their positions....except me.....I KNEW dogs can swim and dog paddle! Aaron called him to the back of the boat and put down the swim ladder and do you know that dog forget that he didn’t know how to climb a ladder? Needless to say, Billy was a bit subdued for the rest of the trip that day.
Having traveled 12 hours for the day....90 miles at around 7.5 mph....we were happy to return to Taylor Creek docks.
They looked so....empty!
Double Eagle....gone
Eagle’s Nest....gone
Milagro....gone
Only Pretty-Ugly and Go Gator spent the last nights at our Tiki Hut Residence. Next morning, early we leave by car for the West Coast and Aaron and Ruth Ann and Billy....for the East Coast.
Having run out of clean clothes and exotic foods....we had to return home in order to relax, see land family, buy new equipment and supplies for the boats and get ready for our next trip around the 1st of May.
Yes....It Is A Good Life.....you should see my bruises!
Oh, well, that is another story!

See pictures...Link # 1...Boat Move....Aaron's Trip Album