Monday 1/2/12. Today is our New Year’s Day. Following an age old tradition we watched the Tournament of Roses Parade. Next came the Christmas/New Years Dinner.
Then it was time to make everything ship shape. I spent much of the day washing the boat and Linda did all of the housekeeping chores.
Sunset Bay Marina is huge. Most marinas have one or two washers and dryers...this place has at least 10 of each. There is a ships store and a guest lounge with tables and reading areas. There is a very elegant restaurant, The Sailors Return, with live music. You can check out bicycles to ride and they have a shuttle bus that will take you shopping two days a week.
Tuesday 1/3/12. The wind was brisk all night long but this morning after sunrise, it really kicked up. The outside air temps were in the low forty’s with a wind chill around freezing. Everybody in sight was bundled up.
Around 9:30A a Cormorant landed on the boat lift next to our slip. The lighter colors on its head along with its smaller size and not yet formed hook on its bill indicate it’s a juvenile. One of their nicknames in central FL is Water Turkey. Cormorants are great divers. Many times they are floating in the path of the boat and just before we reach them, down they go. It’s not unusual for them to stay submerged for over a minute and pop up a hundred feet from where they went under. Unlike ducks and geese, cormorants have few oil glands so their feathers do not shed water well. They will sit for long periods with their wings spread to dry them out. An adult can be nearly 3 feet long with a wing span of 4 feet.
The First Mate, Cook and Admiral (all one and the same) thought this would be a good day for going ashore and getting more provisions. There is a Publix Market about a half mile from the marina. Other than the stiff breeze it’s a nice day for a walk. Linda bought a little cart from some mail-order catalog. It worked great. 
Then we decided to take advantage of our shore liberty and started walking around the area. There are three bridges within 800 feet on the St. Lucy River. One is the old Roosevelt Bridge and next to it is an old railroad bridge both has a bascule draw. Then there is the new Roosevelt Bridge. It has a 65 foot clearance and underneath is a walkway that almost goes out to the channel. There are places to fish, benches to sit on and the Pelican Café. At night it is well lighted with the amber vapor lights. All of this is connected to the River Walk that follows the south shore of the river for a mile.
Wednesday 1/4/12. We were under way by 8:15A headed for the St Lucie Canal and Port Mayaca, the eastern gateway to Lake Okeechobee. The St Lucie River narrows considerably and starts a meandering course a few miles from the marina. As we made a turn there were two rowing shells moving toward us. It appeared to be a pair of collage teams practicing. There were two john boats accompanying them with the coaches giving orders over a bull horn.
Soon we were at the St Lucie Lock. This lock lifts about 13 feet to transit the St. Lucie Canal. We locked through with the trawler “HarborNate”. The canal has some long straight sections, is rather wide and has a good water depth of 11 to 14 feet almost shore to shore.
When we reached the Indiantown Railroad Swing Bridge we called and they opened for both boats to go through. This bridge is listed as “Open unless a train is coming” but there weren’t no train and it wern't open! You’ll have this in a big city. A few miles later is the Port Mayaca railroad lift bridge and it was open.
As we neared the Port Mayaca Lock we were in VHF discussion with HarborNate about how and where we wanted to anchor for the night. We made a phone call to the Lock Master and asked if it would be permissible to tie up to the dolphins just east of the lock and if the area that looks like an anchorage next to the lock would be available. He said the anchorage was closed but we were welcome to use the dolphins. HarborNate tied up first then we tied up two dolphins back. This was a first for both boats.
After we were more or less settled in the crew of HarborNate came over in their dinghy. We met a delightful couple, Glenn and Margie. We talked boats and cruising and crossing Okeechobee tomorrow. Glenn also had some tips on dockage in the Ft. Myers area. We had planned on crossing together but late in the day they had to change some plans, on the other end, and will probably leave before us. We might catch up with them as we cruise just a bit faster (a whole mile an hour faster!)
Since we had plenty of daylight, and the engine oil changes are due in two hours, we decided to do the oil changes. This is the second oil change on this trip so we have cruised 200 hours since we left.
The sky is clear, the moon is nearly full and there is not a breath of air moving. This should be a great night for sleeping.
Port Mayaca Lock: N26° 59.167 W080° 36.886:
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