5/20 909-1700 Departed LBKM thru New Pass, ran outside to Boca Grande to the ICW Lattempel Waterway to E. of Pine Is. - Too shallow. Lost 1 1/4 hrs. Ran over two schools of several hundred Sting Rays each. Dinner w/Uncle Jim & Virginie Morgan. Anchored. W of #8 on ICW near Shell Pt.

5/21 1100-2030 ICW to Ft. Myers - took on 255 gals diesel + water at Ft. Myers Muni Marina. Entered Okeechobee Waterway just past Ft. Myers. Locked thru Franklin & Ortuna locks. Franklin only 2 ft. rise. Ortuna was about 10 ft. and turbulent, difficult to hold off side of lock. Arrived Moore Haven lock 2030. No restaurant within walking distance. Docked at Moore Haven City Dock, 200 yds W of lock. Dined on garden burgers prepared by DR - very good!

The Okeechobee Waterway is very scenic and interesting -Easy navigation 18-20 foot depths so far.

5/22 0830-1815 Cleared lock at Moore Haven, crossed Lake Okeechobee - 26 NM to Port Mayaca Lock (1 ft. drop) and St Lucie Lock (15 ft drop). Waterway varied from primitive to suburban. Alas no alligators! Dinner at Wahoo Rest. on pier at marina at St. Lucie. Very good food but noisy.

5/23 0835-1715 Terry Grai joined us this morning to help with the last 4 days. Traveling 20 miles up the Indian River and ICW to Melbourne, FL. Lots of Memorial Day boat traffic. Two dolphins rode the bow wave for several miles. Berthed at Indian Harbor Marina at 1715. Cocktails on board followed by dinner with the Dalton gang at local restaurant.

5/24 0700-2245 Left Melbourne and continued up the ICW to Cocoa Beach. Docked at Whitley Marina at 0930. Cabbed to Space Center for 3 1/2 hour tour, which was well worth the trip. Broke a plug on port engine after leaving CB and engine overheated - had to shut down and pull into Titusville for repairs. Broke rail on landing w/one engine. Lost 2 hours. Got ride to hardware store for tap and screws, re-tapped and made temporary repair. Terry was most helpful. Continued on to New Smyrna Beach after repairs.

5/25 0715-1415 Passed thru a mix of towns including Daytona Beach and stretches of marshland. Very pretty at times and reminiscent of the Okeechobee. Bumped bottom once on an unmarked shoal. Bolt in port engine holding well. St. Augustine docking was a challenge with following current of 2 kits.. Town is very picturesque, Spanish architecture. Best bridge architecture in Florida. Old fort, churches, college funded by Henry Flagler in 1700. Oldest town in America.

5/26 0700-1315 The run from St. Augustine to Amelia Is. was 41 miles, mostly thru small islands and marshes. Traffic was light. Arrived at the marina at 1315 and spent several hours relaxing and cleaning before catching a taxi to Fernandina Beach for dinner at 1878 Restaurant. While at the dock a manatee swam alongside and we fed him fresh water from a hose. quite remarkable. Got some good video.

Hired a girl to was and clean boat before next leg and carpenter to repair rail damage. Also oil change. DR & I caught planes next morning for Chicago & KC respectively.

Terry rented car and drove back to St. Lucie.