On Tuesday, we didn�t have to wait for any drawbridges or swing bridges to open or wait at any locks. On Wednesday, we did quite a bit of waiting. Right after the Port Mayaca Lock came the Port Mayaca Lift Railroad Bridge with a maximum height of 49 feet when open. With the various instruments on top of our mast, our total height was 51 feet. Billy, a local from the nearby area, had created an ingenious system to tilt sailboats up to 55 feet high so that they could pass underneath that bridge. We acquired his services but had to wait 2 hours for him to show up. When he and his two helpers arrived, they put huge cans on the starboard side of our boat and then started filling them with water. He used a gauge which he attached to our mast to let him know when we were tilted over enough. Once tilted, our boat with his attached alongside, motored slowly underneath the bridge
Nine miles later we had to wait almost 25 minutes at the Railroad Swing Bridge for an Amtrak train to pass by before that bridge was opened. Then 15 miles later, we had to wait at the St. Lucie Lock while boats came through from the other side. In the St. Lucie Lock we downlocked 13 feet. Around 8 p.m., just as the sun was beginning to set, we dropped our anchor in Stuart. We had crossed the state of Florida from Fort Myers to Stuart in two days, and during much of the transit had had very little water underneath our keel, often only 2 to 3 feet, which was definitely not a comforting feeling.
Thursday, May 27, we traveled up the Intracoastal Waterway to Fort Pierce and the Fort Pierce City Marina, arriving there around 2 p.m. At the channel entrance into the marina, much silt buildup had occurred causing us to touch bottom briefly. Luckily we were able to quickly get the boat off. We thoroughly enjoyed our five nights at the marina. It was the perfect place to relax, catch up on needed sleep, and buy last minute supplies before heading out to sea. The marina was located in �historic downtown� Fort Pierce, its location adding a special touch to our stay. Mary especially enjoyed the small manatee center and museum nearby. |
