The Belle of the Caloosahatchee – LaBelle, Florida

Free Dock in LaBelle, on the Caloosahatchee River!

On our way east on the Caloosahatchee River today with our eye on making it to the free town dock in LaBelle for a one-night stay, we had to go through two locks to get there. The Caloosahatchee River always provides us with a scenic cruise and the easily accessible free dock was a welcome stop, one we had not taken advantage of before.

LaBelle, Florida, was settled along the Caloosahatchee River, in the late 1800s. At the turn of the 19th century, rivers were the highways of Florida. The region was populated by cattle and citrus farmers in 1895.

There were several boats already docked when we arrived, but still plenty of room for a few more boats. The newly reconstructed docks have stern-to-berths for six vessels between fifteen-foot wide concrete pilings.

We spent Happy Hour talking with the crew on the trawler next to us (above).

   

The next morning before we shoved off the dock to continue down the river, we walked into town to drop some mail off at the post office and explore. Not a lot to see but we managed to find some interesting stuff to look at while we got some exercise.

Jim found a few old cars to look at, a 1957 Studebaker and an old Chevy.

Not sure what a Swamp Cabbage Festival is, but think it would be interesting to attend. Too bad it’s in late February, we’ll be long gone and hopefully in the Keys by then. After a little investigation, here’s what we found out… swamp cabbage, otherwise called hearts of palm, comes from the state tree, the sabal or cabbage palm. There will be plenty of swamp cabbage to eat at the festival along with a rodeo, parade, beauty pageant (of course), and an armadillo race.