Canoeing 9 Mile Pond - Meeting the Crocodile

January 6, 2005

We decided to join the park's canoe trip to 9 Mile Pond.  The ranger guides and informs which we thought would be great, and we were with 5 other canoes of two people each.  This turned out to be a very good decision.

We all drove up to the pond where the canoes were already and once we got our life jackets, seat pads, and paddles, we were ready for a 3 hour trip.  The first instruction the ranger gave us was that we were going to cross the front pond (not too big) and enter the byways of this eco system.  There was a 7 or 8 foot alligator in the lake in our path.  Megan, the ranger, said once we got in the canoes and started the alligator would move off as our canoe is twice its" size. 

The alligator was not listening to this instruction as once this novice group got into our canoes and out on the water, the alligator started swimming towards us and quick instructions had to be given to us on how to back paddle the canoes to avoid upsetting the alligator.  Apparently, upsetting the alligator is not a good thing; although, we were assured that no person has ever been killed or attacked by an alligator at the park.  I hope the alligator is paying attention to what the ranger is saying.

Once we all got safely to the other side of the pond we entered the byway of this area and for the next couple of hours, we saw the most unusual sights.  We had to s-curve through overhanging mangroves.  These trees whose root systems arch up over the water and has lush green leaves also is host to air plants that attach themselves to the mangrove. 

The water on the byways is only 1-2 feet deep and you can see all sorts of exotic plant life growing along the bottom.  There was a small yellow flower sticking out of the water, but it was attached to 12 feet of green seaweed like material.  Once we were out of this byway, we came to what looked like an open plain with grasses and mangroves everywhere.  At first, it seemed like we were no longer on water, but of course we were.  I had never seen anything like this.  We paddled through the tall reeds and saw grasses seeing many raptors and sea birds along the way.

As we were nearing the end of this idyllic trip, we came out of the reeds to a small pond which we had to cross to another mangrove byway to get back to the main pond.  We saw what looked like an alligator sunning on the bank.  Its tail was facing us.  We and two other canoes were on the side nearer this alligator when all of a sudden it stood up, its body almost two feel off the ground, and we all realized this was no alligator.  In a split second this 16 foot crocodile charged the water with mouth open and was moving at blinding speed towards us.  All three of us started paddling  for our lives as it was clear we entered this fellows' space.  No time for fear even though this crocodile was as long as our canoe.  Once we were moving away from him at rapid speed, he settled down, but for a few moments we were concerned to say the least.

Once we got into the main pond, the alligator we first met decided it was going to block our way.  Megan said to stop paddling and let the alligator pass, and once this happened, we safely pulled our canoes to shore.  We were glad we had not just rented a canoe and gone alone on this beautiful peaceful lake!

tg

 

Everglades National Park

January 2005

This is a remote and unusual place.  It is about 62 miles from Miami, but it is a completely different world.  Florida City, which is 12 miles from our Miami campground, is near the end of civilization for those going on to Flamingo in the Everglades.  Flamingo is the most southern spot in mainland Florida and it meets up with Florida Bay.  South of Florida Bay is the Straits of Florida which lead to Cuba, on the right is the Atlantic Ocean, and on the left is the Gulf of Mexico.

As you leave Florida City, you see a few homes, bus stops, etc., then you enter the countryside of large agricultural fields of various vegetables.  Within 10 miles you enter Everglades National Park and see nothing but flat land and what looks like an African Savanna.  It is now about 40 miles to Flamingo on a two lane road which for the first 20 miles is this dry savanna like terrain and we pass no other people.  The last 20 miles the vegetation becomes lush with many bushes and small trees on the inland side and beautiful mangroves on the ocean side.  We can now see water on both sides of the road and soon small ponds and lakes can be seen.

Once we get to Flamingo, we are happily surprised to find a small grocery/gift shop, gasoline and diesel fuel, and pontoon tours of the Bay and the back waters.  There is also a motel/lodge with a few cottages and a restaurant.   The canal near the grocery store (this is a loose term as groceries excluding snacks  fill the size of the milk section in a real grocery store), has resident alligators and crocodiles along with ospreys and other sea birds. This is the dry season and the height of tourist visits.  However, the campground of over 200 sites is only one fourth full.

You can size up your situation here when you go to the gift shop and see the t-shirts.  One shows a large mosquito and below says Got Blood? and then the other t-shirt say I gave blood at Everglades National Park.  In summer, you can't go out without mosquito netting, but in winter you are safe during the day if it is sunny and breezy which it normally is, but early morning and after dusk, you need to be really protected. 

After being here for a few days, I realize this place is for the adventuresome and resourceful RVer.  We are in a section that is for motor homes, 5th wheels, and larger trailers; however, you must come here with everything you will need for your stay.  There is no electricity, no water hookup (but there is an area to refill your fresh water tank), no sewer, and very very limited food supplies (unless you are willing to eat at the lodge all the time).

As of day three, we are doing really well.  Fortunately, we do not need heat or air conditioning.  At night, we learned the meaning of dark.  There are no lights and when you look out your windows, the only light you might see is the light in the windows are your neighbor rever. 

Late at night, the stars are like bright shining diamonds in the sky.  I have never seen such a bright night sky and that is with only  a sliver of moon and night is oh so quiet.

tg

 

 

December in Miami

Could there possibly be a campground in the city limits of Miami?  Yes Indeed!  Larry and Penny Thompson County Park which is adjacent to the Metro Zoo and has a campground with 240 sites.

You are driving down a Miami road with 5 lanes of traffic and traffic is whizzing by, sirens are sounding, horns are honking, and sounds are sounding; then, you turn into this side street and instantly you are in a 260 acre park with groves of fruit trees, palms, and all sorts of tropical vegetation. 

The campground is divided into 11 pods with 20 - 30 campsites per pod.  Our site had a couple of small live oak trees on it and then a grove of avocado trees separating our pod from the next.  Each morning campers went out and picked up avocados that had fallen from the trees and still much fruit rotten on the ground as the campers could not possibly use all the fruit that came from these groves.

We cannot see the zoo from here; although, the property adjoins the campground.  However, on several occasions we could hear the monkeys engaging in screaming and yelling at each other.  Even though we feel like we are not in the city, there are from time-to-time the city sounds in the form of sirens--police, fire trucks, and EMS.  When we leave the campground to go somewhere, it is a sudden shock as we transition from peace and quiet to the chaos of city living.

The temperature was in the upper 70s daytime and upper 60s nighttime--just about perfect.  Christmas lights and decorations adorned many many RVs.  Some of the motor homes had displays on their dashboards of Snow Village houses and shops with fake snow for a cheery Christmas scene.

I always thought everyone was home with family for Christmas, but that just is not so. Most of the people here are away from home and family for the holidays.  However, we are not alone because we have each other.  In our pod, one of the couples invited everyone over to their site for Christmas Eve--bring you own chairs and a contribution to the pot luck dinner.  We were unable to go as we do have family in the area, but as we were leaving, we could see quite a group gathered at their campsite.

New Year's eve we could see three different firework displays going on and the neighborhood not too far from us had a large celebration with music and celebration.  So, yes Virginia, they do celebrate Christmas in the tropics!

tg