Indiantown

After 3 great days at the St. Lucie Lock Marina, TIKA was ready to head west.  We met new boat friends at the Locks, Mike and Barbara on "Last Chance" and Dave and Pat on "Indecision". We all decided to make the 15 mile trip to Indiantown and then do the crossing of Lake Okeechobee on Monday.  The lake is the second largest lake totally within US boundaries, second to Lake Michigan.  Although it is large it is only 14ft deep, which makes a perfect environment to build waves on a windy days. The lake route we plan to take will take a little over 3 hours over open water.  Weather windows are a factor in crossing the state, much like the crossing to the Bahamas. Indiantown in on the east side of the lake, and is the last stop prior to entering the lock and Lake Okeechobee from the east.  This part of Florida is very rural, but it is the heart of  Florida's citrus industry,  Since Indiantown is in the center of the State along a canal system, there are major marinas for boat storage and repair.  In the event of a hurricane in the area, large yachts can be brought through the canal here, put up on the ground and tied down. There is one modern mega marina on each side of the lake.  The Indiantown Marina is a smaller marina and boat yard. The community is very small, but it is home to the Seminole Inn, a historic hotel and restaurant. Indiantown was the vision of S. Davies Warfield, a Baltimore banker who planned to make Indiantown the southern headquarters of the Seaboard Airline Railroad which would stretch from central Florida to West Palm Beach.  The Seminole Inn was built to be the focal point of the planned community. His niece, who later became the Dutchess of Windor attended the grand opening and visited several times.  The restaurant sent a car to the marina to pick up Mike, Barbara, Marlene and me and take us to their Sunday Brunch.  The meal was delicious and plentiful and mandated we make the mile walk to the marina.

 The St. Lucie Canal is a beautiful trip across the state. 

Captain Kevin "digesting" lunch on a rocking chair at the Seminole Inn, prior the mile walk back to the Marina.

New boat friends Mike and Barbara in front of the historic Seminole Inn.  It is both a restaurant and hotel, beautifully maintained with a lot of ambiance.