Off the dock to Franklin Lock

Since school let out the first week of May, we have worked tirelessly on the boat and house, seven days a week.  Those project updates will be forthcoming another day.

Our friends Kenny and Margi purchased a travel trailer, and wanted to take it to Franklin Lock and Campground for a 'shakedown cruise' before they hit the road for the summer.  Our neighbors, Rick and Audrey decided to take their sailboat, so we jumped on the bandwagon.  We needed motivation to clean the boat of her perpetual messes, and we desperately needed a day or two off from all the work!  I have never been to Franklin Lock, so I was looking forward to a trip down river. 

After giving the boat a good scrub down,
we went to town for provisions (i.e., margarita
fixins 🍋)  Len came out of the store and
handed me this.  Funny story is we intended to
leave Willis T at home since we only planned
to be gone overnight. When he handed me a
Willis Coke, he said it was destiny that
Willis should get to take a boat ride, too.

So he did.

Dern cat.

Willis T loves sailing, but he HATES the iron
jenny with a fiery passion.  He was a panting,
slobbering mess for the first half hour.

Soon he settled in to exploring the decks and
watching the world go by.  He loves it when
other boaters yell over to us, "Is that a cat on
your boat?!"  You should see his smug face. 😼

We left by 10:00am, with the intention of arriving before 2pm.
Though it is only the end of May, the summer rainy season is
upon us.  Nearly every afternoon the clouds begin to build, and
by 4pm we'll get a thunderstorm.  It's a good reason to call it
a day, after a hot, hard day's work. It's 5 o'clock somewhere!

For Thursday afternoon, there was a lot of boat traffic!

Boats of all shapes and sizes...

We just passed La Belle (the boat above) from
Texas, as we passed under the LaBelle, FL bridge.
No need for us to call for a bridge opening without
our mast, but the sport fishing boat needed an
opening to clear his outriggers and tuna tower. 

Len grilled hot dogs while we were underway.

I love this view; and the refinished teak!

Next up was to clear the Fort Denaud Swing Bridge.

Any day on the water is a good day!

Lastly, we went under the Alva Bascule Bridge.  It has 23'
clearance, so we didn't need to request an opening without our mast.

We had a wee little rain shower just before we arrived at our
slip at Franklin Lock. They have eight boat slips that are
first come, first serve, and about forty really nice campsites
that must be reserved.  Why have I not been here before?!

Kenny and Margi were there to catch
a line for us- and to get happy hour started :)

Kenny brought the steaks, and Len was the bartender...

He made his world famous 1-2-3 margaritas...
1 part lime juice, 2 parts triple sec, and 3 parts tequila

Cheers to that!  And thank you, Ellie, for the perfect Mother's
Day gift- acrylic stemless nautical glasses for Kantiya.
My daughter knows her sailor momma well :)

Before dinner, Len and I took a quick walk to the
Franklin Lock bridge, to see what there was to see.
This go-fast tourist boat was waiting to lock through
to return to Ft. Myers.  

The first manatee I have seen in a long time!

What a big boy!

We had a bird's eye view of all the action.

Life is fun with this guy 💕💕

While Kenny manned the grill, Len kept us entertained and
in stitches with his stories and songs- too funny!

Everyone was well fed at the Vanderbent Estate!

As the sun was beginning to set, the egrets, herons,
and ibis were choosing prime real estate to roost.

Willis went sneaking off the boat for a closer look.

The sky looked like a water color painting...
the guy on the boat?  He just looks a tad tipsy.

After breakfast the next morning aboard Kantiya with Kenny and
 Margi, we headed out early to beat the afternoon storm.  We thought
it was predicted  to come in some time after noon.  It seems Rick
and Audrey must have had a weather update as they left with the
  rising sun in order to beat the weather. Soon we cast off the dock,
with the plan to arrive home by 1pm- we should beat the rain.
As I pulled out of the slip, this cute little tug boat passed by.

As we approached the Ft. Denaud Swing Bridge,
I called to request an opening, since there is only
a 9' vertical clearance.  The old gal on the bridge
said she saw us coming and she was certain we
could slide under.  Len had to duck, but we made it!

And with nearly half the trip to go, the rain came pouring down!
Thanks to our bimini, dodger, and new side curtains (made by Margi)
we were cozy dry all the way.  No need to drag out the foulies!

While I generally take the helm, I have been skittish to dock
Kantiya in our canal.  It requires pulling in and making a very tight
turn around- without ping-ponging off the neighbor's boats.  Though
it was still sprinkling, there was barely a breeze, so I decided today
was the day...I needed the practice.  Len talked me through it...

Moving a 40' boat on a single screw is a bit precarious.
Slow and steady is the name of the game.

I made it! Sliding quietly by Jimmy's Hatteras aiming for home :)

Tah-dah!!!

We made it in time for the 5 o'clock Happy Hour.  Now that
the snowbirds have all gone home, were getting down to the
locals...and many of them are leaving soon to go land cruising
to escape the brutal South Florida heat and humidity.

As for us? We'll continue to be elbows and a$$ deep in boat

and house projects.  I can't wait to show y'all the results!

G'nite, y'all!