Ft. Myers to Moore Haven – 6/21/2014

Ashley had to get up around 5am to go drop the one-way rental car off  so we could get an early start. We finally shoved off from Fort Myers, FL this morning at 7:55 AM. Fort Myers has been Secret Egret’s home for three weeks; during that time, we have visited her on those three weekends, and got to know Fort Myers a bit. We learned about the Edison and Ford Estates, ate at restaurants, went to the Art Walk, and hung out at an event for a firefighter that has cancer. Now, it was time to say goodbye to Fort Myers and make our way back to Jacksonville.

We arrived at the Franklin Lock at 9:30 AM this morning. Locks in the Caloosahatchee River are the Army Corps of Engineers attempt at maintaining the water level in Lake Okeechobee. Also, it helps isolate Lake Okeechobee’s fresh water from salt water.

We weren’t sure what to expect when we got to the first lock, but what we did know was that we were going to have to tie off on the wall and then water would rush in as the lock opened. The stop light turned green at the lock, which meant that we were clear to enter. There was a nice fella there that handed us the lines so we could tie up. Piece of cake.

The Franklin lock’s water level was only two feet lower than the water on the other side. However, the second lock, the Ortona Lock was nine feet lower. This means all that water had to rush through from the other side.  We entered this lock with another boat, the Mad Hatter. Although no one was there to hand us lines this time, we had no problems at all.

Here come the whitewater rapids

Toy boats in a bathtub

Sometime in between the two locks today, we saw a guy on a super speedy boat. We were watching him rumble by and then without warning, he blasted off! Once that guy hit the throttle, the prop wash sprayed way back like a fire hose.

Here is our video of his takeoff :

At 11:20 AM we pulled up to the Fort Denaud Swing Bridge. We knew there was a possibility that this particular bridge was limiting its openings due to being broken and waiting for a part. The bridge openings were only every two hours. Well, we became suspicious sometime before our approach of the bridge when we saw a line of several commercial trawlers coming toward us. That meant that they must have been gathering at the bridge for a while and were just allowed through.

Sure enough, on our approach toward the Fort Denaud Swing Bridge, Ashley radioed in and the bridge tender responded that the next opening would be at 1:00 PM. It was now only 11:23…

Finally open

Along the way we saw some cows…

  

                  …and ghost ships.

  

 And here we are in Moore Haven.
 

Moore Haven Restaurant

Apparently this is the most happening place in town tonight. Contrary to the informative sign, they were closed. So I reckon, it’s hotdogs on the boat for dinner.