Our second day of the crossing takes us thru the last 2 locks that get us up to the water level of Lake Okeechobee in the middle of the state. From here 2 more locks will take us down to sea level on the Atlantic Ocean side.
The Okeechobee Waterway was opened in 1937. A second cross Florida waterway was also envisioned farther to the north, connecting the Withlacoochee River on the west coast to the St John's River on the east coast. Funding and controversy plagued the project and after fits and starts in the 1930's (Roosevelt) and as late as the 1970's (Kennedy/Johnson), the project was terminated with the canals that were constructed abandoned in place in 1991(Nixon).
We end day 2 at Clewiston on the southern edge of Lake Okeechobee at the famous bass fisherman, Roland Martin's Marina and RV resort after following a bad thunderstorm with 55 mph winds and hair tingling lightning. Happy (Happy) to tie up at the marina after the storm we calm our nerves at his Tiki Bar on karoke night.
The locks on the Okeechobee were built and operate differently than previous locks we've been thru. Instead of complex valves and piping in the floor of the lock to fill/lower the water levels, the operators of the locks just crack the upstream/downstream doors open to let water in/out to get to the same water level. This can cause quite a bit of turbulence if the doors are opened too quickly.
The small boat ahead of us got pulled off the wall when their holding ropes got loose. Having another boat bouncing around uncontrolled in the lock can be a tense moment!!!
Our boat.
The Army Corps of Engineers airboat.
Roland Martin's airboat.
A supercharged, big block V8, 800 hp, 9 blade, carbon fiber, counter rotating prop, airboat.
