Friday, April 30 at Royal Yacht Services

Friday, April 30 was a warm and sunny day in Naples Florida. The temperature was 80 and a breeze was coming in off the Gulf of Mexico at 5 knots. At 12:55p.m. and high tide Independence got underway for the last time from Royal Yacht Services and was moved to the Naples City Dock in preparation for the 1,200 journey to her new home in Longport, New Jersey. On board were Tom Kenny, John Nute, Bill Strobel and Roger McCormick.  Distance covered 3.5 miles. The day was spent topping off, food, fuel and supplies and completing the final preparations for the planned two week trip to New Jersey.

Saturday, May 1 1999 at Naples City Dock

By 06:15 everyone was up and moving around. John stopped on his way to the boat and picked up a box of Dunkin Donuts for breakfast and then made everybody coffee. The engine and transmission fluids were checked and all the electronic gear tested. At 07:00 Independence got underway from the Naples City Dock and began the long trip by heading north along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico towards Fort Myers. The winds were blowing out of the West at 20 knots with sea swells running at 3 feet. The cruising speed to Fort Myers was a constant 7 knots. From Fort Myers Independence headed east on the Caloosahatchee River toward Lake Okeechobee and the 152 mile trip across Florida to the East coast. A late breakfast of fried eggs and bacon, with toast and jelly was enjoyed by all. One of the county sheriff's patrol boats pulled Independence over and issued a verbal warning for going too fast in a residential area. The first stop was at the Franklin Lock. The timing was good because there was only about a ten-minute wait for the lock to open. Lunch on-board was assorted lunchmeats with lettuce, tomato, mustard and mayonnaise. Next was the second lock at Ortona and then stopping for the night at the Moore Haven City Docks. Moore Haven is an old community that the industrial revolution and interstate highway have passed-by. Dinner was at the only eatery available, the Moore Haven Restaurant. Not much to see, or do, so by 22:00 everybody was asleep.

Pictures (click to enlarge)
Naples City Docks	Caloosahatchee River	Caloosahatchee River
Approaching Franklin Lock	Franklin Lock	Moore Haven Marina