Fort Myers!

Tuesday, 23 December                                                            41.8 SM

There’s that sound again. Heard many mornings in Maine, Rhode Island and, most recently, Fernandina Beach. The sound of someone dropping BBs on the deck, here and there, one every few seconds. But that can’t be. Maybe it’s acorns…nah, no oaks here.

The fog of sleep lifts to reveal the fog on deck. The “BBs” are the droplets of mist that run off the rigging and slam hard on the hatch, the deck. It’s wet up there. And the fog thick enough the far bank is just a suggestion.

Can you find the boat in Ortona Lock? It’s somewhere in the shroud of fog.

By 0730, though, enough is seen to suggest getting underway. The “dolphin ballet” begins, let out the bow line, pull in the stern, pirouette tip-toe on the cap rail to uncleat one line, then pull-in the bow line and repeat. Steadfast then motors toward where Ortona Lock is supposed to be. The lockmaster confirms it remains in place and operating.

“Once this east-bound boat locks through, watch for the green light and you can come on in,” he says. “Tie-off either side, Captain.”

The bascule bridge at La Belle…

…swing bridge at Fort Denaud.

Once through, it’s 0830 with still one lock and two closed bridges remaining to slow the day’s progress to Fort Myers. Even given those obstacles, Steadfast makes good time. Red plugs along, pushing past names on the chart like Olga and Alva, La Belle and Owanita.

Livestock graze with the egrets.

Way up the Caloosahatchee, no place to sail, but lots of sticks!

First it’s farms, then an orange orchard, a marina, then another. Owl Creek Boat Works is way up a canal to starboard. To port, Riverview Retirement Community boasts single-wides for sale or rent, places to park an RV and a slip for your runabout or pontoon. It’s got it all.

A welcome sight, Fort Myers skyline.

Then once past Beautiful Island, there’s waterway takes a slight turn to port and off on the horizon, Fort Myers. How ‘bout that? After all these miles, all these weeks, finally Fort Myers. And…in time for Christmas.

There’s a sound topside. Not BBs or pebbles but the sound of voices singing carols.

Sweet sound, indeed.

Steadfast out.