Sailing update Dec 2

Tuesday (12/2)night we anchored south of Stuart FL in a very crowded anchorage. Many of the boats anchored there - 15 - seemed abandoned because there were sailboats without masts or had no one onboard. Almost all had anchor lights on at night (easy because of solar lights even if no one is onboard) which is a legal requirement.
Wednesday December 3, was the critical day because we were going under the shortest bridge of our trip. We entered our first lock - St Lucie - and were the only boat in the lock. The lock raised us 13’ to the OCWW (Okeechobee Canal Waterway) which was built 1930s to prevent flooding.
Most locks have valves that allow the water from above to enter the lock from below the water level. This lock just cracks the doors a little and lets the water flow in. 15-20 minutes after the water started, we were 13 feet higher and motoring down the canal.
The canal travels mostly straight thru rural agricultural land. We couldn’t see the landscape because the banks of the levees were 10’ above us. We stopped at Indiantown Marina to fuel up and to climb the mast and remove the wind vane and VHF antenna. (I wanted to be sure we could get under the bridge without breaking anything.) Also, because of Phil‘s great suggestion, I remeasured the mast. It was 47’ and we needed 49’.
An hour later, we drifted slowly under the bridge. Phew, we made it! (Phil could tell from the very front of the bow that we had clearance. For me, in the back, it looked like we’d hit.) Another mile and the next lock - the Port Mayaca Lock. That’s for tomorrow.
We tied up at some ”Dolphins” (massive pilings tied together for big barges to use) just in front of the lock. A very long bow line to one piling and a long stern line to another and we’re set. Basically we’re strung just like a hammock. No wind, no current and no one else. Except mosquitoes! See you tomorrow.

Link to photos https://share.icloud.com/photos/01f3YMADTkgtRZ0Qu1FPSlxMg