Ortona lock and dam

Remember - WP Franklin and now Ortona Lock and Dam are 2 of the 3 locks and dams that help adjust the water flow on the Caloosahatchee River between Lake Okeechobee and the Gulf of Mexico.  Last year, both dams were spewing water because the really shallow Lake O had way too much water and the government was trying to get the level down to protect the frail dike that surrounds it and the farms and families that live on the other side.  This year – all was fine.  Ortona is not an island and has 50 ample sized campsites – about a third of which actually face the river.  Unlike WP, you are allowed to walk the narrow passageway over the dam and over to the lock on the other side!  In years past, we’ve usually parked on the far side and then walked over the lock and dam and then walked thru the campground. SPFBS!! 

This Corp of Engineer Park is also very difficult to get into but H managed to squeeze out several days – but with 2 “shuffles” within the park itself.  Our first 2 nights were on site #48 – a very lovely site in the first loop.  From there we moved to the other loop to site

#9 – which was only available for one night. Our next move was to be to site #7 – two sites down.  Easy, right??   On our only day on site #9 I had an eye appointment in Ft Myers. Out on the highway, just out of the campground, in the turning lane TO the campground was an old “Beverly Hillbilly” kind of truck/camper that was broke down.  We knew this truck from its one night next to us back in WP!!  H and I both just KNEW this guy was going to end up on site #7 – where we were to move to the very next morning.  When we returned to camp that evening, sure enough – “Baughb” (that’s how he spells his name: BOB!) was on site #7.  He and his “RV” had been carried to his site on a flat bed trailer – but he promised to have it running before 11am – check out/move over time!  When 11am arrived we were just about all packed down and ready but the owner of the duck taped/baling wired truck was no where to be seen. Another camper had taken him to town for parts!   Once he finally got the truck started and pulled out (just after 1pm) H also pulled out and backed the “train” down to our new site!  I asked the ranger if there was going to be a new rule stating that you had to enter the campground under your own power to be able to camp there!

Our days on site #7 went fast!  Our new friends from WP, Bill & Sharon also moved to Ortona but were at the farthest end of our loop so our feet and/or bikes were put to good use!   Lots of big beautiful boats kept the waterways busy, coming and going thru the locks!  One day a fellow camper and I watched 2 otters frolic in and out of the grasses in the little creek that divided the 2 camp loops, as they swam in the sunshine towards the river.  I was up early each morning and watched the marshmallow sun rise up over the palms and scrub of the cattle fields behind us, making the mist and the fog glow a soft pink in the warming sky.   With my eye problems, we hadn’t even gotten to visit with dear Carol and Bud up in Lake Placid but we picked a day and headed north to see their new little winter home and enjoy another great Mexican lunch with our friends!

Last October, H had an episode involving a blood clot in his left leg.  Another painful one has shown up and so he spent Sunday afternoon in the EMERGENCY room in Ft Myers.  I sat in the truck in the shade  - - way too much flu going around in hospital emergency rooms down here!  On Tuesday we both spent the majority of the afternoon in our respective doctors offices - H seeing a vascular surgeon and me with the last of my visits with my Ft Myers corneal specialist!   Good news on both counts!  H’s new health aggravation is under control and the meds are working!  Awwwww- but the doctor told him to give up the cigars.  I’ve (we’ve) been to see the corneal specialist twice since being at Ortona and he feels that healing has finally begun!  The eye still has a long way to go but the ulcer is smaller.  The cause of the problem has never been discovered and he does not know which of the drugs is bringing the healing so I am to take all 4 of them still.  He seemed pleased with the new specialist that I have an appointment with in West Palm Beach! 

Wednesday arrived and it was time to move on.  It’s a long way

from Ortona to South Bay on the southeast corner of LakeOkeechobee – maybe 50 miles anyway!!   Bill and Sharon were out to wish us well and safe travels as the 4 of us watched for the lasttime, two beautiful vessels enter and exit the lock, heading towardsthe Gulf of Mexico.  Sharon snapped this picture of us and promised to keep in touch.

Fort Myers area part 2

My eye appointment was at 10am.  I was expecting good news but got NONE.  The doctor had seen no improvement and now added ANOTHER type of compounded antibiotic to my arsenal of drops, and – he took MORE cultures – digging down deeper than the others had.  I felt the pressure and the strange feeling as he took what felt like a steak knife to my fragile eye.  No, it didn’t hurt – till the numbing agent wore off - then it hurt for 3 days!  I was so frustrated.  It’s been a month now since it has all started and this eye problem has taken over everything that we do – or now can’t do.  The truck is getting lots of miles put on his new tires but our bikes and our walking shoes are not! 

  

After the doctors appointment and the stop at the pharmacy, we ended up down by the harbor in downtown Ft Myers.  We’re checking off another item from our “to do” list.  The day was bright, there was a steady breeze and as always a glare on the wide Caloosahatchee River but I kept my head down and the eye closed and covered as we strolled along the waterfront past the collection of moored boats on one side and the manicured park and benches on the other.  We watched as a large Sport Fisherman craft cruised slowly under the bridge to Cape Coral – looking like it just barely missed the underside of the bridge with his tall antennae and outriggers.  As the light blue boat passed us, heading for the harbor, the wake behind it spread out wider and wider as it went.  By the time we reached the docks where it was secured, the gas pumps were already chugging gallons of diesel into its tank.  We got some ice cream and sat watching as TWO pumps kept up a steady clicking as the dollars and gallons rose!  When we finally left, the pumps were registering at well over $700 and $900 each, at $3.49 a gallon.  Inside the marina, the young lady in charge said it was going to take 4000 gallons by the time it was done!   Cha Ching$$$$

On another day trip we found the Flamingo Flea Market in Bonita Springs, which turned out to be a dud.  Bonita Springs Beach Rd led us out onto the southern end of the string of barrier islands and we drove north towards the Ft Myers Beach/ Times Square area where we normally take the trolley ride. A storm had been predicted for the afternoon and the winds and clouds had all ready arrived in front of the thunder and rain so the traffic and the amount of pedestrians was minimal!   Once over the causeway bridge we made a series of left turns to drive back UNDER the bridge to park in the shadow of that same tall bridge that we had just come over.  Did I get you dizzy with all those turns??  The seafood restaurant –

Doc Fords was also in that parking area and we stopped in for our seafood lunch – a huge delicious fish sandwich on a large soft bun. From our table by the window we even had a good view of the channel and all the multi colored commercial fishing boats beyond.  After lunch, we “had to” take a walk out on the fishing pier that extended out into the swift moving water under the causeway bridge.    Another sleek white yacht was secured at the neighboring dock.  “Terabyte” is a 113 ft vessel built in 2014 by Sunseeker in the U K.  Thanks to Google – we found out she also will hold 14,000 gallons of fuel! (at  $3.49 a gallon?)

Another road trip took us up thru Punta Gorda, over the wide Peace River, thru Port Charlotte and headed west to Englewood to see if we could find Emily and Ron’s new little winter home there.  I had been calling her and kept getting a busy.  We finally found their tiny home; their Ohio State colored golf cart and the red Corvette – also covered with Ohio State – but no one was home!  We drove thru the close quartered park model “village” and found a garage sale to stop at.  As H pulled off the left side of the road he stuck his head out the window and YELLED:  “Get out of the road Lady!”   I turned my head just in time to see Emily walking on the edge of the road toward us – going to the same garage sale!  I couldn’t get out of the truck fast enough and gave her a big “one eyed” hug!  We visited as we went thru the sale and I told her I had been calling her – then found out I had been calling her old number!  DUH!  We visited with her and Ron for a few minutes and finally got to meet their sweet fluffy dainty little white puppy – “Missy”

H has fixed our last breakfast at WP Franklin, our “goodbyes” have been said and the “train” is packed to move on.  Our next stay is 9 miles east of Labelle in the Ortona Lock and Dam Campground,

which is also a corp. of engineer facility on the Caloosahatchee River.  I have another eye appointment scheduled and we’ll drive the longer distance back to Ft Myers from that next campground.    Hopefully, we’ll have better news then!