Franklin Lock to Cabbage Key, Florida

We had a leisurely stroll through the Corp of Engineers campground at Franklin Lock. When we hailed the lock tender, he requested that we turn around and assist a sailboat captain having trouble starting his engine. We pulled up alongside the disabled sailboat and Glenn tried unsuccessfully to start the engine as the timing was off. We headed into the lock and tied up and then as the lock tender was closing the gates, he noticed the sailboat approaching so he was able to join us in the lock. There were two trawlers docked with us and we had three powerboats waiting on the other side of the lock. Magic, another boat like ours shouted out that they were just completing the Florida mini-loop. It was amazing to come out of the waterway and see the skyline of Fort Myers where the boat traffic picked up. Again a thunderstorm chased us this time catching up with us and we drove through the rain to get to our anchorage at Cabbage Key. We tried out our grill for the first time and enjoyed an evening of watching the pelicans dive bomb around us.

Franklin Lock Corp of Engineers campground docks

One of our boat neighbors

Heron on the dock

Franklin Lock 

Waterfowl flocked to this area

Magic waiting to enter lock

The disabled sailor alongside

Fort Myers skyline

Pelicans galore