Beautiful day on the Caloosahatchee - First Lock!

Trip Day:         3        Latitude:      26°462.12' N          Locks Today:     1          Miles Today:   44.2    Longitude:  081°269.28' W        Locks Total:       1 Total Miles:  122.2    Location:    LaBelle, FL

We got underway early knowing we would have strong winds directly on our nose.  We passed Cape Coral and Fort Myers, then went through the Beautiful Island Railway Bridge.  Just after we cleared the bridge, a horn sounded and we realized there was a train waiting to cross the bridge (imagine a train waiting for a boat!).

  

The Caloosahatchee River is deep (20-30 ft) and very scenic with a wide variety of homes; mobile home villages, average residential neighborhoods and estates. 

We locked through the W.P. Franklin Lock at Mile 121.4  just before noon.  There was a    power boat locking through with us and the process took 20 minutes.  This lock is a three feet rise going East.  Captain Ron has a multitude of daily tasks;  plotting our course, checking weather reports, checking electrical systems,  researching marinas and ports of call.



Captain Ron has a multitude of daily tasks;  plotting our course, checking weather reports, checking electrical systems,  researching marinas and ports of call. 

At 3:00 we pulled tied off at the LaBelle City Docks which are free, including electric.  We rode our bikes into town, picked up a few groceries and had dinner to support the local economy.  Back on board, listening to the radio and blogging—all and all, a good day!