Everglades Wilderness Waterway

Page 8
     On the 18th, we decided to try the Gulf of Mexico.  It was low tide and even with our 9 inch draft we had to carefully feel our way into deeper water.  We needed to get off the coast about a mile and a half before getting into four feet of water.  Turned north and finally got under sail with the Sanity's single gaff rigged sail, which needed a single reef in the 15 knot breeze.  We had pre-plotted several timed compass legs, which came in handy along the featureless coast.  According to the chart, we passed several major rivers, but even when scanning the coast with binoculars there was no hint of their existence; the coast appeared to be a solid, unbroken line of mangrove.  After several hours we took a right and found the piles that marked the channel into Lostmans River.  Contrary to its name we were successful in finding it.
  We than proceeded to pilot our way through bays having such names as, Lostmans Five Bay, Dads Bay, and Alligator Bay, ten in all, many of these were separated by small creeks with "mangrove tunnels."  Finally came to anchor near Marker No. 101 at the entrance of Last Hudson Bay.  Made 30 n mi on the third day.

This pelican is setting on one of the markers found throughout the waterway.  You need sharp eyes to find them from a 1/2 mile away!
A rest stop along Lostmans River.  We were so lucky with the weather.  Just great days and clear nights.  The mangrove is fascinating.  It seems totally impregnable.  But there are some very happy inhabitants.  This particular one patently waits for low tide, then goes out to fish the pools!  What a life.

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