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.

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