Tuesday, February 12, 2013 – Lollipop (Mile 92.5) to Ft. Myers (Mile 134.5):

            Last night was a beautiful evening.  There was only one other boat in this anchorage and they were anchored around the bend so we never saw them.  So, basically, we felt that we were pretty much by ourselves.  The night was pitch, black dark, and almost dead quiet!  The only sounds we heard were sounds from various night critters, such as frogs and some birds, but at some point in the middle of the night we were awakened by a pack of howling dogs – at least I think they were dogs.  They howled and made an eerie racket for a few minutes but then all got quiet again.

            The morning was beautiful.  Everything was still as could be, the water was like glass, and there was just that hazy, ethereal look to the morning just before the sun rose.  I anticipated a gorgeous day.  We had over forty miles to go today, so we didn’t linger on the hook, and instead got going right after a light breakfast.

Sunrise in Lollipop

Leaving Lollipop

A look back at our anchorage

       The first challenge was the Ortona Lock in the Caloosahatchee Canal, which was only a mile past our anchorage.  The lock tender was very nice and dropped the lines to us.  There was an 8’ drop, and when the water goes down you don’t want to tie the lines to the boat!  However, even though I had a tight hold on my line, when the water level started to fall, the boat started to move forward, and I couldn’t hold on to the line.  I thought about panicking, but then decided to wrap the line once around our cleat and let the line out as the boat went down.  I had to be very careful though, as the line was taught against the stanchion and I was afraid it would bend the stanchion, but everything worked out, and when the lock gates opened we were ready to head out.  But – just as we started making our way out of the lock, the lock tender yelled at us to quick put our engines in neutral because he had discovered that there were four manatees in the lock with us!  So Bob put the engines in neutral and we coasted out with the manatees!  Bob said he saw one, but I couldn’t because I was too busy trying to keep the boat from bumping into the sides of the lock.  Phew!  I was glad when we got out of there!

            After our experience in the Ortona Lock we continued on down the canal, and passed several areas with lots of cows and horses.  One area in particular had cows with calves who were jumping and frolicking around.  They must like the “winter” months when the temperature and humidity take a break down here.

            Next up just before the La Belle Bridge another trawler passed us who then called us on the radio.  He apparently just wanted to chat so we exchanged stories about where we had been and where we were going and what to expect when you got there!  The bridge tender at La Belle was very nice and opened for us right away.  The Waterway Guide said the bridge had a clearance of 28’ but when we got there it was more like 23’, so we needed an opening.

            The areas are starting to look a little more prosperous as we get closer to Ft. Myers.  I like being in the canal – it’s calm and gives you a feeling of security and protection from the elements; plus it’s very deep the whole way across.

            The next bridge we had to negotiate was the Denaud Bridge, and when I called the bridge tender to let her know we were approaching the bridge she said she wouldn’t open up until she saw us!  Then, when she saw us she had to walk from (maybe her house) to the middle of the bridge to open it.  It was a swing bridge and didn’t take too long to open and get through.  We waved at her and thanked her as we went through, and she seemed to return the greetings. 

            We are now in the headwaters of the Caloosahatchee River.  It is still beautiful, but the wind is definitely picking up and starting to blow like crazy!  Everywhere on the banks are horses, cows and llamas!  We didn’t see any more alligators, but there was enough other livestock to make the area look bucolic.

            The next bridge coming up was the Alva Bascule Bridge, which opened for us right away, and we got through that one.

            The next bridge we had to get through was the Olga Bridge.  That bridge also indicated they only had 23’ of clearance under the bridge, and we called the bridge tender for an opening.  The nice young lady, however, said that there was 28’ of clearance, and we said, “Ok, we will approach slowly.”  She said if we thought we needed a lift, she would give us one when we got up there.  Well that would have been kind of late, so we held our breath and started through, but there was enough clearance and we got through just fine.  Phew again!

            Now next up was the last lock we had to get through, the W.P. Franklin Lock.  This time we had to wait for the eastbound traffic to get through, and that seemed to take an awfully long time.  It took us almost an hour to get through and continue on to Ft. Myers.  But that lock didn’t present any problems when we got into it, and there were visitors on the pier who wanted to chat and find out where we had been and where we were going. 

            All in all today, there were two locks to get through and four bridges that we needed an opening to clear under, plus a railroad bridge that was open when we got there.  That was enough for one day!

            It is about 1:30 p.m. and we are headed to Ft. Myers.  The channel becomes narrower but well-marked, and even though it is a huge body of water, you have to be careful to stay in the channel.  It is now blowing about 15 knots, but feels stronger to me, and I wonder how it will be getting into our slip at the marina.  Fortunately, we wound up on the inside of the face dock, which is easy to tie up to, and we are here for the next two nights. 

            Once we get tied up, the next boat that comes in behind happens to be one of the couples we had drinks with at the Indiantown Marina!  And they think that the other couple that had the 65’ boat is docked sort of across from us.  The couple behind us is celebrating their anniversary and were headed into town.  It’s amazing how many times encounters like this happen going down the waterways!

            We are getting closer to the keys on the west coast and hopefully in a couple of days will wind up at Cabbage Key or Pelican Bay or Chino Island.  However, tomorrow is an errand day – laundry, groceries and boat cleaning!  Exciting, huh?  Well, maybe we will have time to check out Thomas Edison’s house and some other sights in town.

Ft. Myers Yacht Basin