We knew there was no sense in leaving much before 7:00 a.m. as that is when the locks open on the Okeechobee and Ortona Lock was only about a mile away. By the time we could see it around 7:15 a.m., we also saw that "Brittany Beyel" was there. That's what that noise was we heard since we got up this morning. We have never seen commercial traffic on the Okeechobee before. Come to find out though in the conversation between the tow operator and the lock master, they will be bringing a space shuttle through. It will be without the wings though. There are things on the Okeechobee Waterway with only a 50 foot horizontal clearance, including the locks and some of the bridge spans. With that in mind, we also assumed the Moore Haven Railroad Bridge must have gotten fixed since "Brittany Beyel's" barge was 48 feet wide. We didn't get into the lock until about 7:50 a.m., but we were out by 8:05 a.m. after about an eight foot drop.
At noon we were doing the same thing. Waiting for "Brittany Beyel" to lock down two feet in Franklin Lock for our turn. "Thanks Dad" overtook us about five miles before that, but they were waiting also. I think it was close to 1:00 p.m. by time we got out. It was time for lunch.
A couple hours later we turned to starboard in a channel off the ICW just after Fort Myers towards Hancock Creek, about 137 miles since turning onto the Okeechobee Waterway. This is the first time we have ever anchored in this little cove near North Fort Myers. It sure is a gem. It almost seems more like one of the little coves on the Tennessee River. You would never know we were near such a bustling town when we are nestled into nature. The one homestead that is visible from here looks to have been there a while. It has some dilapidated sheds, but the little bit of house we can see seems to be well kept. We enjoyed watching the two raccoons, the ibis', and either an alpaca or lama. It was hard to determine from here.
No comments:
Post a Comment