Okeechobee-Pink Shell-Hontoon

January – March 2025

Okeechobee WW out and back with a 5 star marina resort stay to the Hontoon Gathering on the St. John River. Read more

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Traveler Okeechobee-Pink Shell-Hontoon
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- Day 11
- Monday, January 20, 2025 at 7:37 PM
- ☁️ 57 °F
- Altitude: 49 ft
- United States Clewiston 26.7542, -80.933726°45’15” N 80°56’1” W
Clewiston Day 3
January 20 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F
Today we cleaned some boat windows.
And did laundry….whoo-weee date!
And walked 2.1 miles to the Super Walmart for provisions. We could not get a Uber back, and had to walk back with bags. Eileen’s left knee and my right hip were complaining loudly and swelling.
No by T
This all confirms my long-held belief that cruising new areas on your C-Dory is THE most fun you can possibly have with your pants on. Agree?

YMMV.

Best wishes for those in the freezing latitudes.

JohnRead more
Traveler21 miles! That must have been harsh. There is also the Lyft app when there is no Uber.
1/24/25Reply
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Traveler Okeechobee-Pink Shell-Hontoon
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- Day 12
- Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 2:43 PM
- ☁️ 66 °F
- Altitude: 49 ft
- United States Clewiston 26.7542, -80.933726°45’15” N 80°56’1” W
Clewiston, Weather Day 4
January 21 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F
Clewiston, Weather Day 4

Gale warnings and gusts predicted to 36 MPH have us deciding to stay put here at Rolands’ and extend another two nights. There are a few hard core bass fisherpersons…this is the ‘bass fishing capital of the world’. There are lots of fishing guides, but for $1,500 Roland Martin himself will take you and a buddy out for the day in his bass boat.

We have everything we need with RR and showers nearby. Most of the front should be over in 48 hours. Pink Shell marina in FMB has a long fetch of exposure to these Northerly winds, so there’s not much sense in running down there. This afternoon the winds have moderated to 10-15 for a while but will get back up to Gale force gusts tonight and tommorw. Today we are the largest yacht at this marina!

We had Pedestal Power Pork Roast for dinner (that calls for 400 degrees, which is a bit much for the toaster oven in the boat so we run it on another pedestal). We caught up on some reading, routing and IRS rithmetic (via TurboTax). We might still get back to the FMB marina on Jan 23 (as reserved eight months ago).

Safe Travels and hope to see you at Hontoon!Read more
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Traveler Okeechobee-Pink Shell-Hontoon
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- Day 13–18
- January 22, 2025 at 3:16 PM - January 27, 2025
- 5 nights
- 🌬 54 °F
- Altitude: 36 ft
- United States Roland Martin Marina 26.752921, -80.91949726°45’11” N 80°55’10” W
Clewiston, Weather Day 5
Jan 22–27 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 54 °F
We Planned (and God laughs) on one night at Roland's but had four more Weather Days. However, this storm is the worst for Florida in 120 years. The marina never lost power (switching to propane heat and cooking in the cabin would be a pain and not very safe) so we're thanking our lucky stars.

An aside:
We've gone under a lot of RR bridges, but we avoid getting under a train like avoiding COVID. I once had to pass the DOT HAZMAT course test required of locomotive engineers etc. You wouldn't believe what some of those tank cars (especially) are carrying...Benzene, Molten Sulfur, Sulfuric Acid, etc etc.
https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p…

If one is leaking Something, you don't won't it in or on or near your boat. So just wait for the train to pass.

NOAA Marine and Windy Blue version and Local Knowledge all predict the wind will settle down to 10-15 with gusts to 20 tomorrow, with a high of only 55 with fog and mist. We don't have a cabin heater (other than propane Lil Buddy) so we plan on four layers and keeping the cabin buttoned up. We need gas, but be aware that many marina fuel docks refuse to allow dipensing in the rain (so you won't blame them for water in their fuel). We'll see how that goes.

Hope everyone is doing OK with this record setting snow storm!
Safe travels...Read more
TravelerHope you guys stay safe and warm in this weather!! Hope it gets better. Take care.
1/24/25Reply
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Traveler Okeechobee-Pink Shell-Hontoon
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- Day 14–15
- January 23, 2025 at 5:12 PM - January 24, 2025
- 1 night
- ⛅ 50 °F
- Altitude: 30 ft
- United States San Carlos Park 26.4965, -81.820626°29’47” N 81°49’14” W
Escape from Clewiston, FL to Sweetwater
Jan 23–24 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F
Clewiston, FL to Hinckley Yachts Sweetwater

We moved to the fuel dock at sunrise in light rain. Luckily the dockhand didn’t make us wait for the rain to stop, because it didn’t stop all day. The high was 55 and it was a cold ride in misty, foggy to rainy conditions. At least there weren’t many boats out. The Sweetwater marina is on a long protected canal with good protection from wind and wakes. We put more hours on the wiper motors than in the past 12 years combined. Good to be cruising again!

JohnRead more
TravelerHow do you like the new outboards?
1/27/25Reply
TravelerSteve, love em, would never go back.
1/29/25Reply
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Traveler Okeechobee-Pink Shell-Hontoon
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- Day 15
- Friday, January 24, 2025 at 3:39 PM
- ☀️ 57 °F
- Altitude: Sea level
- United States Bodwitch Point 26.462255, -81.96478126°27’44” N 81°57’53” W
Sweetwater to Ft Myers Beach
January 24 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F
Finally, a decent cruising day that’s not too cold, 55. Through Ortona and WP Franklin locks again uneventfully. There are prolonged manatee slow speed zones on the lower river plus the Miserable Mile approaching Ft Myers Beach.

We’re so glad the Pink Shell Marina re-opened after H Ian in Sept 2022. They still offer a real bargain for boats staying over 30 days and the amenities even better (now including buffett breakfast and omelet station with servers) and free beach chairs with umbrellas. Since then we’d been wintering at the Perry Marina, Key West but this year the same dates (Jan 23-Mar 2) rose from $3,800 to over $10,000! As usual we get put on the dinghy dock side of the big boats, which helps protect us from the predominant N winds this time of year. Blue skies and sunshine and 60 degrees, though there are some gusts to over 20 MPH.

Our very favorite mod is an entire camperback made of breathable Phifertex that provides unbelievable privacy as well, plus moderate wind and rain and bug protection. All nine panels can be deployed or not as desired, with a separate panel for three egress points (sides and boarding ladder). If you get one, be sure to specify bungy loops rather than snaps to secure the panel bottoms to the boat. Snaps are a pain as fabric ages.

NEBOLINK report here:

https://reports.nebo.global/c39be3b5-c00c-4ce8-…

It’s predicted to get into the 80’s next week, hooray!

Safe travels,

JohnRead more
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Traveler Okeechobee-Pink Shell-Hontoon
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- Day 16
- Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 1:43 PM
- ☀️ 64 °F
- Altitude: Sea level
- United States Bodwitch Point 26.462063, -81.96482926°27’43” N 81°57’53” W
Settled in at Ft Myers Beach
January 25 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
We are settled in at Ft Myers Beach Pink Shell Marina. The OWW out and back was a great cruise despite the 120 year record snow storm. Sun and blue skies today to the point we had to abandon the 2nd floor lobby and sun chairs because the tablets got to hot and shut down.

Hope the pics of the Phifertex camperback show what we like about it. The whole nine panels fold up into a custom 4" x 6 ft bag. Unlike clear vinyl of all types, it can be folded into a small form and stored on the Nav seat foot rest.

Provided you stay over 30 days, this is the best marina deal in all our travels bar none with the 'resort fee' included in the $1.30/ft (no 40 ft min) charge and metered power. It's cheaper than staying at home!

JohnRead more
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Traveler Okeechobee-Pink Shell-Hontoon
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- Day 17
- Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 9:18 AM
- ☀️ 57 °F
- Altitude: 10 ft
- United States Bodwitch Point 26.461752, -81.96511226°27’42” N 81°57’54” W
Pink Shell Marina
January 26 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F
We didn't a 360 under power just to show off and get a std tie. We forego the massive free breakfast buffet for our usual to keep the wgt off. Then wgts or aerobics at the gym overlooking the marina and a beach walk and pool walk in the 82 degee water. Nearby osprey nest with young ones is fun to watch. Safe travels, JohnRead more
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Traveler Okeechobee-Pink Shell-Hontoon
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- Day 22
- Friday, January 31, 2025 at 4:42 PM
- ☀️ 70 °F
- Altitude: Sea level
- United States Bodwitch Point 26.462014, -81.96485626°27’43” N 81°57’53” W
Pink Shell Marina
January 31 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F
Day 22? Every day we face important decisions...beach walk? Beach chairs and umbrella? Excellent gym. Pool walking? Publix run today and for the first time ever we can park the truck here long term, nice. Sunny, blue skies and 79. Great resort spot at $33,80/day plus metered shore power, free bikes, pool or beach towels, even shower towels, free laundry, kyaks and SUP, 8 miles of wide beach to walk.

Every beach towel has a microchip, sign one out withresort RF wrist band. How cool is that?

Safe travels!Read more
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Traveler Okeechobee-Pink Shell-Hontoon
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- Day 27
- Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 4:38 PM
- ☀️ 72 °F
- Altitude: Sea level
- United States Bodwitch Point 26.462375, -81.96483826°27’45” N 81°57’53” W
Pink Shell Resort
February 5 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F
Beautiful place, we rode free beach bikes 8 miles to the other end of Estero Island. Weather has been great, sunny blue skies and 83 degrees. Lots of interesting boat traffic goes by. I'm planning our summer Trent Severn Waterway to Chicago or further cruise 1 way...always makes the logistics complicated. Hope to see you at Hontoon!
JohnRead more
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Traveler Okeechobee-Pink Shell-Hontoon
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- Day 30
- Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 9:54 AM
- ☀️ 72 °F
- Altitude: 121 ft
- United States Lake Gwyn 27.9528, -81.72727°57’10” N 81°43’37” W
1
Pink Shell Resort
February 8 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F
We're enjoying the resort, esp walks on the wide, level, groomed beach. I think Eileen tore a meniscus back at Stuart when we unexpectedly had to walk nine miles when we couldn't get a Lyft back from WalMart. Pool walking/aerobics is a great option, though at 87 degrees the water is too warm. Growing old is tough, but better than the alternatives.

Ken and Sharon Elliot dropped by to share a sunset at the pool bar.

Watching the pelicans dive bomb on baitfish schools by the boat is hilarious. I hope they don't pop a fender, they get so close.

Although we're right beside the very busy river traffic, the wakes don't bother us much since we're not on the boat during the day and traffic dies way down at sunset.

Safe travels!Read more
Nice [Don Tyson]
6/23/25Reply
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