The Caloosahatchee River

Posted by Duwan Posted on June 9, 2016 2 Comments on The Caloosahatchee River
Posted in Florida on the Water, Life on the Water, Okeechobee Waterway Tagged , , , , , , ,
Leaving Fort Myers behind we begin our journey down the Okeechobee Waterway towards Indiantown.
February 28. Leaving Fort Myers behind we begin our journey down the Caloosahatchee River/Okeechobee Waterway towards Indiantown.

February 28 – March 3.

We left Fort Myers Beach Sunday February 28 and motored down the Caloosahatchee River part of the Okeechobee Waterway. It was time to take ourselves and Blue Wing back to the dirt. The last time we passed this way we were on a mission to get to Mexico and had spent little time enjoying this under appreciated part of Florida. So this time we decided to take it a bit slower and soak it all in.

It was a pleasant trip, but not very adventurous (thankfully). We did take lots of pictures, though…

The Olga bascule bridge.
The Olga bascule bridge.
Blue Wing at the campground at the W.P. Franklin Campground.
We spent our first night on the waterway anchored next to the W.P. Franklin Campground. We had stopped here for the night in December, but this time we spent an extra day and did some exploring.
Looking back towards the Caloosahatchee River from the anchorage.
Looking back towards the Caloosahatchee River from the anchorage. The water is so amazingly calm on the river – the reflections are always spectacular.
The Campground at the W.P. Franklin Campground.
February 29. Exploring W.P. Franklin Campground.
The Franklin Lock.
The campground is directly across the waterway from the Franklin Lock. We dinked over and took a few pics. (this pic is click to enlarge.)
The Lock is connected to a park with a visitor's center, picnic tables, and more camping.
The Lock is connected to a park with a visitor’s center, picnic tables, and more camping. (this pic is click to enlarge.)
We spent a day dinking around.
After our visit to the Lock we did a little dinking around.
We didn't want to get hit by falling rocks, so we didn't go down this path.
The threat of “falling rocks” scared us off this path.
Stuff we saw dinking around.
A truly beautiful area to dink around in.
Sunrise at the W.P. Franklin Campground.
March 1. Sunrise at the W.P. Franklin Campground.
Underway on the Okeechobee Waterway.
Underway to our next destination on the Okeechobee Waterway, Moore Haven.
Boat tucked away on the river.
Sights along the way, a boat tucked away on the river.
Spanish moss.
Spanish moss.
So much solar power!
Passed this one going under a bridge. We were surprised to see so much solar power!
Trees and reflections.
Trees and reflections.
We tied up to the dolphins at Moore Haven Lock.
We arrived shortly before dusk at Moore Haven so we tied up to the dolphins at the Moore Haven Lock.
Birds were nesting in the dolphins.
Birds were nesting in the dolphins.
The next morning we moved to RiverHouse Marina in Moore Haven.
March 2. The next morning we moved to RiverHouse Marina in Moore Haven.
View of the Caloosahatchee River/Okeechobee Waterway towards the west.
We spent the day in Moore Haven mostly just walking around. Here is a view westward of where we had come from the previous day down the Caloosahatchee River/Okeechobee Waterway. (this pic is click to enlarge.)
View of the Caloosahatchee River/Okeechobee Waterway and the Moore Haven Lock.
Looking east down the Caloosahatchee River/Okeechobee Waterway and the Moore Haven Lock, which we would pass through the next day. (this pic is click to enlarge.)
Boats entering and exiting the Lock.
Boats entering and exiting the Lock.
We spent a big night out in Moore Haven. This was the bar.
Our big night out in Moore Have consisted of visiting this bar.
And this is where we got Mexican food.
And eating Mexican food at this restaurant.
Continuing down the Waterway towards Lake Okeechobee.
March 3. We got up early, went through the lock at Moore Have and continued our journey down the Okeechobee Waterway towards Lake Okeechobee.
Trees, birds, water, sky.
Trees, birds, water, sky.
Bird on the Caloosahatchee River.
Bird on the Caloosahatchee River.
Entering Lake Okeechobee.
Entering Lake Okeechobee. We were passed by many trawlers.
Birds on some sort of structure in Lake Okeechobee.
Birds on some sort of structure in Lake Okeechobee. It was a slow calm crossing. On the other end of the lake we would go through another lock, tie up to some dolphins and contemplate going under the Port Mayaca Lift Bridge. We will tell you all about that in the next post.

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