Ortona South C.O.E., Moore Haven, Florida
Temperature Inversion. That’s what happened overnight. It dropped to 47 while we were sleeping! No wonder I woke up cold! Blaine had to turn the heat on for a few minutes to get rid of the chill, but it didn’t take long.
We ventured out this morning before breakfast. We didn’t even brush our teeth! So keep your distance at least for the morning portion of this post. 😊
Various sightings and activities kept us out for a while. Otters, fishermen on both sides of the canal (snook fish season started March 1st ), sucker fish, a heron flying right over the bridge, the locked gate, the open gate, a walk to the other side . . . .
I suppose you’re used to more details, but this morning, I think I’ll let the pictures do the talking. 😊
There are two river otters here.
Bad lighting makes for not so great pictures.
There they are – together at last!
Where’d ya go?
Are you down there?
Sucker fish, like you put in your home aquarium to eat the algae – only much bigger!
They came and unlocked the gate! Yeah!
Until they close – “sometime between 2:30 and 4” : )
Fishing for Snook
Regulations are strict – between 28-32″ and – I forget – either 1 or 2 total.
No fishing in the fishing hole today. . . . : (:
Catch of the day!
He was really proud of this fish. We didn’t ask, he offered to show off. : )
Our first look at the lock. The gates are closed until a vessel wants to cross from one side or the other. The right side is 8′ higher than the left, so depending on the direction of the vessel, they either raise or lower the water level. The boat approaches, they open the gate, the gate closes, they fill or lower the water, the opposite gate opens, and out they go.
Back home, I had made a list of things that needed done before Eric and Sandy showed up. We’d been kinda puttering around when suddenly, I actually looked at a clock and was shocked to see it was already 10am! They could arrive anytime! I got frantic. Blaine helped out with some things.
And then I got a text – they were an hour away. Whew!!
Everything was in order with only a couple of minutes to spare when they arrived. They brought brownies, chairs and a machete with them.
We had a really nice day, walking around the campground, watching boats go through the lock and talking. And eating, of course. I haven’t made that much food for quite some time. It was great fun! And a stupendous weather day!
Gate starting to open
Not quite done, but close
Flooding the lock
Almost done
Opening the other side
Waiting
They have to tie off to the sides while the water does its thing.
Hi – Yah!
This is the coconut Blaine found.
One more time . . .
Turned out to not be ripe enough. It was icky and inedible! : (
Marinated pork steaks. Yumm!
Look what we did!
Traded the Jeep for a Mustang convertible!
I was just kidding about the Mustang. That’s Sandy and Eric’s car. : )
Those two bumps in the water near the middle of the picture is an alligator.
We got to watch him feed! That was pretty cool!!
However, our wonderful day did not have an entirely happy ending.
Besides the fact that we won’t be seeing them for a year, our coach became infested with mosquitoes! Black smears all over the ceiling and Blaine’s hands as he valiantly battled the nasty little things! We’ve never seen mosquitoes like that before! Ewwww! We must have killed at least 2 dozen.
Maybe we should pick up more ladybugs . . . .
TOTAL HIKING MILES: .5
Year To Date: 170
Daily Average: 2.74