There were alligators to the left. There were alligators to the right. There were alligators ahead and astern. Started snapping photos of alligators, before they snapped at us. Then I realized they all look the same! We got quite a buzz out of seeing so many in the Caloosahatchee Canal. (Manatees are proving quite elusive!)

We sailed from Moore Haven later than we wanted. The unthinkable happened – Bushranger would not start. After tinkering for ages, Mark decided a mechanic was needed. A gentleman in a large powerboat berthed behind us came to our rescue. Small world – he had visited WA with his work on the oil and gas fields. With Bushranger purring, we did not turn the engines off until we reached Indiantown Marina on the eastern side of Lake Okeechobee in the St Lucie Canal.

It took us 3.5 hours to traverse Lake O, paying particular attention to channel markers. Entering Lake O we saw our first Everglades boat. Lake O is shallow, murky and is a little lumpy depending from which direction the wind is blowing. And with suffering a migraine, I was glad to reach the other side. Mark had a full day of helming.

The St Lucie Canal is quite a pretty stretch of water.

On our travels we locked through two locks, went under two road bridges, one lift bridge and one swing bridge. 

Such is Life!