Everglades National Park

After our crazy few days getting to southern Florida we were thrilled to find a respite in the Everglades National Park. If you have some time - get comfortable - I have a lot of pictures for this post, after all we spent a week at the Long Pine Key Campground.

As mentioned in our last post we arrived at the campground in the dark, which isn't our usual way - actually I think this is the first time it has happened. I was humbled for sure since during the summer when a camper comes in late I wonder why they are not more organized. Well - I have to eat those words now - right!

It was very strange driving in so late and we weren't even sure how far we would get in since there is a $10 fee to enter the the National Park. The park is also 11 miles west of the city of Homestead with agriculture between the two. We were driving in the dark, going left, going right, going right - if it weren't for the signs we would have wondered if we were on the right road.

Anyway, we came to the Visitor's Center and pulled in. It didn't give us much info on the boards and so we continued. Further ahead we came upon the entrance gate and building - surprisingly one gate was open - we drove on in. Five miles or so down the road was a sign for the Campground so we turned left - after another mile or so we came to the very quiet - albeit busy - campground. 

We FINALLY found a spot - sort of backed in well - and went to sleep!

Of course when you come into a place in the dark it is always fun the next morning to see what it looks like. The Long Pine Key Campground is very nice with a combination of trees and taller and smaller plants. As a result most of the 100 or so sites are quite private. There are no hook ups but restrooms for a fair price of $16/night.

Site #99 at the Long Pine Key Campground.

For the next seven days we enjoyed site #99. We were considering moving down to the Flamingo Campground a few days later but upon hearing from someone in the know - that it wasn't as nice, had no trees and had wayyyyyy more mosquitoes - we decided to stay put. 

Just off of our Key West experience we were now a little more willing to take someone else's advice.

We spent most of our time lounging around and going for walks around the campground - it has a great small lake/large pond to walk around.  We went for at least 2 good walks a day which certainly helped us de-stress.

Beautiful sunsets at the Everglades.

We even attended one of the Ranger Programs. Everyday we passed through the amphitheater and so we told Cassia in two days we would take her to a movie about Smokey Bear. We were stretching the truth just a bit since the program was entitled "Smokey Bear was he right?" But we figured he'd be in there somewhere.

So on New Year's Eve in the Everglades National Park sitting at the amphitheater we learned about the role fire plays in our natural areas. The Ranger is at the Everglades in the winter and Yellowstone in the summer and has been full timing for 8 years - ex military. It was very interesting - not a movie but a slide show - and thankfully one had Smokey Bear on it so enough to keep Cassia interested.

We left our site every few days to either see something else or to pick up supplies from Homestead. Boy were we ever glad when we returned from the mayhem.

Robert is Here is a fruit stand on the trip between the Park and Homestead. We stopped in to buy some fruit and to visit the little zoo in back. We purchased some interesting and exotic fruit - two of which we are still waiting to eat. We wish we had written down the names! We ate one that looks like a potato, has the texture and colour of a pear but tastes like brown sugar - very rich. A second fruit was the size of a small orange but with a hard skin - green. Inside you eat seeds surrounded by a goopy substance with the flavour of orange concentrate. So fun eating new fruits!

Cassia on the tractor - one of her favourite things to do.

A second business just before the Everglades Park is the Gator Grill. How can we be in alligator territory and not try some. I have had it before but Derek was very curious.

We shared the Gator Basket which included shucked grilled alligator with a cream sauce, coleslaw and fries. It was a bit steep at $9.35 but now Derek knows that yes - alligator is pretty good but tastes much like chicken.

About as close as Cassia would come to the alligator.

The Everglades National Park of course also offers many places to immerse yourself in the landscape. Near to us was the Royal Palm with the  Gumbo Limbo and the Anhinga Trails.

Gumbo Limbo is a tree - with a beautiful red brown trunk.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Gumbo Limbo trail - we were on it alone and it was a nice respite from the hot sun. The Anhinga Trail is THE trail to see the birds and alligators - up close! VERY close.

We are not bird people so to speak - I know lots of Snowbirds are birders - can't blame them at this time of year. On the other hand, I do appreciate the birds when I see them even though I don't know what they are. 

Since it was early morning and just warming up many of the birds had their wings open like this guy.

Lots of grasses which we enjoy - the seed heads were making a popping sound.

Derek and Cassia seeing what there was to see UNDER the boardwalk - two peas in a pond!

Lots of turtles - can you see him?

A closer look.

Derek took this great shot - guess I should let him have the camera more often.

As we were strolling along I was slightly ahead of Derek and Cassia. I was looking out at the water when a lady beside me pointed to the alligator surfacing just below us.

WoW!

A once in a lifetime moment - I am so glad I had my camera ready!

I've never thought of alligators as beautiful but this is quite poetic isn't it?

As I followed him along he crossed paths with a rather large turtle.

Hmmm - well Cassia did seem larger if it came to it. Probably don't try this at home.

We saw probably at least a few dozen alligators along the boardwalk trail either on the shore or on the water. This guy was lapping up all the attention he was getting.

This was our second encounter with alligators. You can see the really BIG ones we walked by at the Aransas Wildlife Refuge in Texas back during our 2008 Tour here.

Towards the end of the trail as we were heading back we came across a small group of people watching this bird. He had just caught his breakfast and was attempting to eat it with us and - more importantly a group of vultures watching him. It was a second once in a lifetime moment.

As we watched, the poor guy got the fish caught on his beak - perhaps we were all making him nervous. I think all of us AND the Turkey vultures were holding our breaths.

The vultures moving in....

Success! It took a good 5 minutes or so but he got it in - I missed the picture because I was just so happy watching - but this is a picture of the fish going down. 

Over the week we also met some really great people. Thanks to the Rangers at the gatehouse - Levi, Cindy and Dallas who we had numerous conversations with. By the way - we HIGHLY recommend the Long Pine Key Campground for it's cleanliness and friendly, hospitable and informative Rangers. 

We also spent some time with Brian and Suzanna from Hollywood just between Miami and Fort Lauderdale - they were out for a few days of camping with their son Sable and daughter Mimi. Mimi is just a bit older then Cassia and so we visited so the kids could play or well for Cassia to eat all their food - yikes! 

Just before we left we met Charlie from Alabama touring around on his Harley. Obviously Derek struck up a conversation with him as he was making coffee in the bathroom - someone as in love with his coffee as we are! We visited with Charlie a bit swapping camping locations around Florida - and trying to convince him to come see us in BC sometime.

And so that was our time in the Everglades National Park. Well worth the trip to Southern Florida! In the end we didn't make it down to Flamingo even for the day, and we didn't go on all the trails. 

We are ok with that.

We no longer need to see 'the end' of something and were content to just see what we could see close by. Our last night there was down right cold - almost freezing. Thankfully our battery still had enough charge to run our furnace that night and so we stayed warmish.

On Wednesday morning we headed out  - a bit sad to leave.

Thanks for visiting!

Teresa

Today's Interesting Link: Here is a link to the National Wildlife Federation to learn more about the threats to the Everglades. Sadly, as with many areas the Park is at risk and is actually 'on life support'. It is threatened by Regional Growth, Fire and most importantly I think by the Water Flow. You can also learn more at the National Parks Conservation Association.

the red eye.....the Florida Keys

The Florida Keys.....

First, I MUST start this post with stating a few things....in our defense.

Admittedly, our timing of visiting the Keys was wayyyyyy off. To a certain extent this was out of our control since we want to attend a Bible Conference in Plant City the first week of January. From the time we left Valdosta Georgia we had 19 whole days to fill - may as well go to Southern Florida.

Next, we had received a lot of 'free' advice about the best time to go. Our plan was to go today - after the holidays. However, last week we were told it would be better to get there and out again BEFORE the New Year's weekend because come beginning of January the place fills up with snowbirds.

So - we decided to go down the Keys last Wednesday - Dec. 27. The plan was to go down - take our time - stay at one of the THREE state parks, visit Key West on Thursday and either come back up that day or stay a second night at a state park.

Didn't happen - not even close.

By the time we got out of Midway and stopped in Homestead for groceries it was around noon. Excitedly we headed south on the #1 to THE KEYS.

Well whatever we thought about what the Keys actually are and look like was not quite right. It is a long trip with very little to see. I don't want to be too harsh - it isn't all bad.

But on this day at this time we were in a traffic most of the time - the trip down is filled with towns and congestion - lots of stores and pull outs. The problem was that once we got to the 'ocean' areas we were always to big to fit in the little fishing pullouts. Plus when you are moving so slow you hesitate to pull off.

Stopping in at the first state park was a sign of things to come - FULL!

No matter  - we are becoming great stealth campers. Maybe they aren't all full - maybe we could get a hotel instead - let's continue!

Short story is that we didn't reach Key West until it was dark. We headed downtown only to find out it has VERY narrow streets and it was FULL of people. We got lost since I was intent on a photographing Mile 0 - we had come this far! We got the wrong directions and ended up in a very small dead end! Amazingly Derek got us out with the help of a very small delivery dock! The tightest corner we have ever been in!

After a few stops and some tense moments we drove around and stopped for dinner along the A1A. Sad to then have to get back in the truck at 7:30 at night with no destination. 

We did stop at a few hotels only to find out they were full.

We finally had to admit that we could not find a place here, could not steath camp and had to leave the Keys.

Along the way - at about nine o'clock we stopped in Marathon. Derek checked at the hotel finding out that it was also full - no matter he heard the clerk say that it would be $169 if they did have a room and it was $385 at the hotels in Key West.

We ran across the street and had a cuban coffee and piece of key lime pie. At least we can say we had key lime pie at the Keys.

The view down the Keys - lots of hydro poles!

A common occurrence - traffic line up. It felt like perpetual rush hour.

I had to take a picture of the beautiful blue water out of Derek's window since mine always had the hydro poles.

Thank goodness I took a photo of the sunset from the truck.

We ended up driving all the way out of the Keys that night - we got to the Everglades Campground at around 1:30 in the morning - we were tired and disappointed but glade to be parked in a quiet campground. Cassia was long asleep but transferred easily to her bed. 

So - that was our Keys experience. We know that no one could have talked us out of going. 

We WERE warned!

It was just that we needed to see it ourselves and thought that we could find somewhere to park overnight.

Knowing what we know now we wouldn't go but we understand that everyone needs to do there own thing. Our suggestions are: don't go in December/January, make sure you have RV reservations and know why you are going...there are nicer beaches and towns in other parts of Florida.

Talking with locals it seems that the Keys are always busy - hard to believe that people choose to live there.

Thanks for visiting!

Teresa

Today's Interesting Link: Because we were in traffic all day and got to the end in the dark we don't have many pictures of the Keys! Here is the Keys site where you can see for yourself what it looks like - we weren't overly impressed but I am sure if you have a boat and/or like to fish it would be the place for you. Oh and you have to like lots of people crammed into a small space.

white knuckle.....

After a quick visit to the playground at Gilchrist Park in Punta Gorda we headed south full of optimism for our travel day to the Fort Myers area and on to Everglade City.

All started out well along the 41. Just north of Ft. Myers we suddenly saw this HUGE Shell Factory sign. Instantly I recognized it! 

Could this be THE shell factory we visited when I was a toddler? Location is right - I have yet to confirm with my sister...hopefully she can recall.

Anyway - since it was early we turned in. The trouble was that there was also a flea market going on and suddenly the road narrowed and parking looked tight. We continued on and found a space in the Shell Factory parking lot. Because the factory didn't open until 10 and it was 9 we went to look around the market - reminding us of Quartzsite.

That was fun - we bought some more Plant City strawberries, some Italian bread and some kettle corn from a nice couple from NE USA now living in Punta Gorda.

Once done we went to the HUGE shell factory full of yes - shells - but everything else you could think of as well.

I doubt the Subway sign was there in the 70's.

The Shell Factory had many many things for Cassia to ride.

It also had a pirate room with a talking pirate even - NOT Cassia's favourite place - actually she cried - can't say I blame her.

On a safari - this room was FULL of stuffed African animals.

After a very challenging time getting back out of the now full parking lot we were back on route 41 south. Destination - Ft. Myers Beach - where we camped when I was a kid. I was full of excitement - I am FINALLY returning to a place of fun times.

Wrong!

Now first I must explain that there are two routes south - route 41 through Ft. Myers to Naples OR Interstate 75. As I have mentioned the interstate is usually our last choice. I did ask Derek which route he wanted to take.

Now famous last words "we'll do the 41 - we'll see more that way". 

Well we saw more all right - more and more and more restaurants and stores and malls!

By the time we got to the Ft. Myers Beach turnoff we were already completely done with the traffic.

And so - I had to let go of seeing Ft Myers Beach. It's ok - I will leave a memory a memory.

After a lot of stop and start we FINALLY got south of Naples and turned east with the 41. Thankfully the 41 east is surrounded by well - nothing - not nothing exactly - lots of grass and trees. It should be the scenic route east with the Alligator Alley toll round just north being the quicker route. But obviously some people take the 41 so they don't have to pay the toll but still want to drive fast.

We reached the Everglades City turnoff and took it - I choose this destination thinking it MAY be a quaint fishing villages.

NOPE!

I will probably never live that choice down. It was a dirty little place with nothing to look at. Thank goodness it was only 4 miles in. We stopped for lunch beside the park so Cassia could play on the playground but that didn't last long since it was so dirty. We couldn't get out of Everglade City fast enough but had to first stomach $20 of gas at $3.65 since we had timed our gas filling wrong. Sad since it was $3.07 when we left Punta Gorda.

This day was getting to be a bit much and it was only one o'clock.

We had done our research before leaving Punta Gorda and had decided to spend the night at the Midway Campground in the Big Cypress National Preserve. Just before that we stopped at the very busy Visitor's Center. Cassia and I went in to look around. I mentioned to the info people that we were headed to Midway. 

"I don't think it is full - they usually let us know - but it is a busy week".

Uh oh - we did NOT need this.

Cassia and I pretty much jogged back to the truck - let's go - let's go!

Totally false alarm - we got the campground and it was less then half full! And what a great park it is - and it has electricity if you can imagine! What luxury - a dump, water, restrooms, nicely paved sites and grass and electricity for $19. And the camp hosts were very nice - we highly recommend this as an overnight stop.

Our site - #1 at the Midway campground.

The view to the pond with one alligator swimming about.

By dinner time it was pretty full.

While Derek was working at the dump Cassia and I strolled over to get a closer look at the alligator in the pond. There was a family having a picnic and so we approached the group to look at the gator. 

Well! what a great group! We ended up spending the next few hours visiting with them. We met Yanisia from Miami who was with German from Argentina and his family. We were able to ask them all sorts of questions about Miami and their lives there. When we first met them Yanisia and German were flying a kite and were nice enough to let Cassia hold the string. Later they actually gave Cassia the kite! What a nice and generous gift!

Our new friends! They LOVED Roofous!

Derek and Cassia later trying to fly the kite but not enough wind.

So a white knuckle day that suddenly got better at about two o'clock in the afternoon. We had a nice evening watching the 1972 version of Charlotte's Web with our electricity.

Tomorrow was finally our trip the Florida Keys!

Thanks for visiting!

Teresa

Today's Interesting Link: Here's a link to the Punta Gorda Farmer's Market - this is the place that Jim and his wife who we bought the kettle corn from hang their hat's.