Nov 25, Stuart, FL

We moved another 65 miles today. Clewiston had a bit of fog this morning as we got underway. Going home today!

We crossed Lake Okeechobee today using 'route one' which is the direct route across the lake. Water levels are back to normal and we had 7 feet of depth all the way. Conditions on the water were easy as there was almost no wind and the waves were less than a foot.

Flat calm in the early morning as we leave Clewiston.

The sugar plant in Clewiston is processing sugar cane.

Seagulls look for what they might find in our wake
as we motor along.

We entered the Myacca Lock and just cruised through as the water level in the lake and in the St Lucie canal were the same.

Myacca Lock opens for us
as we exit the open waters of Lake Okeechobee.

We passed Indiantown and then transited the St Lucie Lock, where we descended 14 feet into the St Lucie River.

Derelict sailboat near Indiantown Marina.

St Lucie Canal is tranquil and beautiful.
We did spot a couple of alligators.

Ready to enter the St Lucie Lock. We will decend
14 feet from the level of Lake Okeechobee to sea level.
This is the last lock of our trip.

We cruised past the new Stuart City Marina, located where the Stuart Anchorage used to be located. The new marina looks well occupied and we hope it will be a nice addition to our community.

New Stuart City Marina.

Next we went through the Old Roosevelt Bridge (14 feet clearance - we need 22 feet) and had to wait for an opening. Everything looks good.

Waiting for the Old Roosevelt Bridge to open.
Almost home!

We then cruised around through very familiar waters under the Sewalls Point Bridge and through Hells Gate to home. We officially crossed our wake at 3:30 pm at green marker 13A (about mile marker one of the St Lucie Waterway) in front of our house.

We have the best welcome home we could ever have.

Katie, Sydney, Linda
Ashley and Walker.

We are back home after three summers of cruising some 7750 nautical miles (almost 9000 statute miles) on the 'great loop'. For us it was a voyage of discovery to see the eastern USA from the water and has been one of the great adventures of our lifetime.

We thoroughly enjoyed living aboard KOKOMO II and loved having family and friends join us along the way. We saw many interesting sights. We learned new things almost every day. We kept a record of our travels to remind us when we want to remember. We got very familiar with the systems on our boat and like what we learned. We thoroughly enjoyed the cruising, the towns, the museums and the restaurants. We enjoyed meeting the other boaters who were doing, or had already done, 'the loop'. Everyone seemed anxious to pass on information to make our trip more enjoyable. We didn't count the marinas or the towns or the locks, but there were many.

We will miss the AGLCA (America's Great Loop Cruisers Association) group and the daily e-mails with helpful hints and advice. We enjoyed flying our AGLCA white burgee while traveling (signifying we are on the loop) and will fly our gold burgee from time to time (signifying we have completed the loop). We will continue to look for these burgees on other boats. We are ready to offer information and advice to others who are thinking about making all or part of this trip of a lifetime.


Our 'Great Loop' is complete!!!!!

Linda and Owen Schwaderer
November 25, 2009