The end of this line

Saturday' weather forecast was for strong winds again but that would not concern us since we would be in a protected waterway for most of today trip - the last one of this adventure. It was going to be a bit chilly by south Florida standards - highs in the 60's but more than pleasant considering the alternative. When I spoke with Weezie she told me about the 18 or so inches of snow that they had just received back home. We delayed our start this morning until the dockmaster arrived shortly before 8 - I was a bit concerned about the wind blowing me into another boat in the tight confines of the marina as I had to reverse out of my slip and then do a very quick 90 degree turn to port between a couple of closeby boats. It turned out to be a fairly easy departure and we were soon moving along at 6.5 knots with a strong following current but into an equally strong headwind. Lat was to last only about 5 miles - until we cleared out of the St-Lucy River and turned into the Okeechobee canal itself. Once in the "ditch" we were Protected from the wind and very soon, after a passage through the St Lucy lock, immune also to a tidal currrents. Beyond the lock, the water was fresh so the engine, which had been cooled by saltwater for the past 3 months, was now on a diet of freshwater. The Bukh would have a good rinsing from the remaining 15 mile passage through the canal to Indiantown. As we moved along, the air temperature gradually rose so that by Indiantown I was down to short on my sleeves and on my legs. There wasn't a lot to see along the Okeechobee - we passed through agricultural areas where huge pumps drew water from the canal for irrigation, and passed by a few residential developments where houses were grouped on suitable land. There was very little other boat traffic along here, and the canal was wide enough for "auto" to do much of the work.Passing through the narrow and short channel into the marina's basin and tying up just beyond the fuel dock was my last boating operation of this voyage (except for the 200 foot trip to the travelift for the haulout sometime later in the week. We arrived around 2 p.m. My lines were caught by an employee of the marina and another boater - Bob who along with June were preparing to head off on their 27 foot Erickson to the Exumas after the weekend.
Saturdays, I was informed, the marina hosts a BBQ so after sharing a celebratory drink with my neighbours, I read for a bit, walked the dog through the boat storage area, and relaxed, completely.
The boat storage area has a couple of hundred boats there, most of them sailboats, and from all over North America. There is a separate boat work area where boaters can, for up to 2 weeks, so any kind of work on their vessels. There, they are allowed to stay on the boats. In the storage area, it is not allowed.
The BBQ had about 40 attendees, and featured pork and chicken and a huge assortment of appetizers, salads, and desserts. It was a nice way to cap this adventure - enjoying the company of 6 others who very freely shared their "stories" and advice for the less experienced (me)
I contacted Terry at home around 10 pm, they had just returned from Bernie's birthday party. They will depart tomorrow (Sunday), and likely get here later Tuesday evening - weather permitting.
Sunday started off cloudy with some promise of showers later on so I got up early and took down the genoa and main sails, and stowed a few of the lines that I would no longer be needing. Once the showers started, I returned to my Robert Ludlam novel and spent the rest of the day there, at least until around 4 when people began to gather in the lounge to watch some of the football games. Dinner was therefore a bit late getting going but quickly put together in the pressure cooker. I am down to cleaning out the fridge and getting rid of the last of my provisions. I will not starve but my choices are now made for me. Caja, with the warmer conditions has chosen to sleep in the cockpit. It is nice to have pleasant conditions at night. I contacted Terry via Dan's Blackberry. They are on their way and well into Ohio. There appears to be yukky weather on either side of them. They just might be able to squeeze down between the systems and make it here without weather delays. They should be able to pick me up Tuesday evening - I will accompany them to Fort Lauderdale for overnight and we will return to the boat Wednesday evening; and ready to be hauled out first thing Thursday morning. I notified the marina of that plan, walked the dog into Indiantown to pick a some apples - there was very little else in the way of fruit or veggies in the food store there, and returned to the marina for what should be a day of gathering together items for the return trip to Fenelon Falls.
Around the parking lot at the food store were gathered dozens of people, most of them Hyspanic-looking. My guess is that they were there awaiting the opportunity to get a day of work in the surrounding farms.
It is sunny and warm. This marina has good facilities for those who need to be here for a short period of time. I am pleased with my choice of the Indiantown marina, and I will now sign off from this chapter of this blog, hoping to return to the activity if I am able to decide to add another chapter.

Caja and I have survived it well. We will see you all in a short while

This is resolute. Out.