EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK

MONDAY MARCH 9, 2015

Another new travel lesson learned the hard way, on this section of Florida's Turnpike in Miami there are no pay booths but a picture is taken of your license plate (every 5 miles) and the toll fee will be sent to you by mail!  Unfortunately we will not be home until November so I assume many late charges will be added on to the already expensive toll roads here in Florida.  Finally arrive at Everglades National Park and after 20 miles are surprised there are more grasslands (called Prairies and the groves of trees are Hammocks) than swamps.   Soon arrive at the first big challenge, towing this rig over ROCK REEF PASS (Elevation 3 ft.!!!), only in Florida are the mountain passes under 5 ft. in elevation.  45 desolate miles later we arrive at the hamlet of Flamingo and our beautiful campground, relax by the bay in balmy 80 degree sunshine, and are dinner to a zillion mosquitoes.

TUESDAY MARCH 10, 2015

Wake up bright and early to catch the 9:00 am boat tour of the inter-coastal waterways (I think they are swamps but Florida has their own terminology for EVERYTHING).  Discover huge intimidating CROCODILES swimming around right at the boat dock.  We are both happy this tour boat is a bit larger than the skiff we had in Louisiana.

The 2 hour tour takes us up BUTTONWOOD CANAL into and across COOT BAY through the narrow channel called TARPON CREEK and into wind swept WHITEWATER BAY.  We learn lots of history, see baby crocodiles sunning themselves, and most important the MANCHINEEL tree which is poisonous to touch, if burned the smoke will blind you, and the sap will eat you alive! Just great!!  Not only do I have to watch out for Alligators AND Crocodiles while being eaten alive by mosquitoes as I hike through quick sand but avoid trees with downturned leaves.  Why do people think hiking in the desert is so dangerous???

                                Osprey eating a fish

 After a long lunch at the BUTTONWOOD CAFE ( best food within 50 miles) JoAnn takes a nap after the arduous boat ride and I take a walk along the COASTAL PRAIRIE TRAIL right from our campsite.  As the dutiful solo hiker I am I am on constant lookout for BIG critters, soft ground (even though I did some bushwhacking) and that damn Manchineel tree.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 11, 2015

Today we brave the mosquito infested (we were forewarned but when did I ever listen) SNAKE BIGHT TRAIL, a hike I had to do just for the trail name.  Bight is Florida term for bay and snake bites would have been less painful than the mosquito bites through TWO layers of clothing and constant spraying of bug repellant which I think ATTRACTED the pesky critters.  The trail is surrounded with brackish water and thick brush but each time we heard loud splashes JoAnn was quickly through the bushes searching for that elusive crocodile she was so anxious to snap a picture of.  The smartest one of this duo stayed right in the MIDDLE of the trail.  The loud splashing noise turned out to be schools of fish feeding (on the mosquitoes I hope).

We stop for lunch on the boardwalk into SNAKE BIGHT (bay) and since JoAnn was brave enough to chase down crocodiles I braved a walk across the marsh bog but quickly turned around once my ankles disappeared into the grey muck.

We return via the ROWDY BEND TRAIL which added another 2.8 miles of stunningly beautiful swamp to the hike but what the heck we figured the mosquitoes didn't have anything left on us to bite.  In Yuma the constant wind becomes a little annoying but out here you pray for wind to keep the mosquitoes away!

West Palm Beach 03/06-03/08

We arrived at the Lion's Country Safari KOA.  This was a nice surprise for me because it is part of the Lion Country Safari where you drive through the park and get to see the animals in the natural habit, natural as possible.  The best part is the KOA is right on the other side of the fence from the animal park.  As we were getting up in the morning we hear the most amazing sound.  The Lions are all roaring.  We learn their roar can be heard for 5 miles and we were camped 100 yards from their compound, this roar is a sound you will NEVER forget. They are ready to be let out to roam their area.  Not only dot we hear it once but all morning.  It is the coolest thing I have ever heard.  We woke to this sound and went to sleep with it.

We received two free passes to go through the park.  It was so cool driving slow and having the animals walk right up to your car.  You are, of course, instructed before you start to keep your doors locked and windows up, now we know why.

After we finished our drive through the park we walked through the area where you get to see some of the animals up close and personal.  More turtles some birds and snakes.  One of the high lights is we got to feed the giraffes one feel of their 16 inch slimy tongue and we were back feeding them seconds.  Then of course was the big old Crocodile which we DID NOT feed!

It is now raining and we enjoyed our drive so much we decided to go a second time to see how the animals behaved in the rain.  We weren't disappointed.  Some were more active while others took cover.  The funniest thing of the day was the Ostriches.  They were coming up to your windows and looking in at you.  The poor car in front of us couldn't get around them.  They finally managed to get around them.  Then it was our turn to try to get around them they are so cute.  Once we got around them one of them decided to sit down in the middle of the road and no one could get around the cars were way backed up.  The only other thing that Joe really liked, is that he got to see the Water Buffalo in the water.  What a great day.

Day two we drove out to the beach for breakfast.  It was so relaxing to sit and watch the ocean while eating.  It was a cool and windy day and the tide was in so we weren't able to walk on the beach ;0(

 After breakfast we drove over to Jupiter FL to tour the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse.  Highway A1A winds North up the coast through HUGH mansions of the rich and famous.  Interesting to see how the other half lives with ocean views from front of mansion and boats parked out back on the bayside. It took forever to find it we were about to give up when we finally found it.  There were so much road construction and detours that you could't find your way.

This light house was built in 1860.  It has 105 steps to climb to the top.  Joe went right up but I had a little trouble with breathing because of this cold I can't seem to get rid of.  What a view from the top, well worth the climb.
The tree to the right is a Banyon tree. Not sure I spelled that right.

Joe's favorite picture is of the bridge opening up to let the boats go under.  Perfect timing as we watch the draw bridge operate while on top of the lighthouse!

Tomorrow we head to the Everglades National Park!!!