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Ed and Deb’s Lake House and Traverse City, Michigan
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Heading West on Wednesday
Hidden Valley
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Everglades National Park
Waiting in like to get into Shark Valley
The end of Route 29
March 25, 2017
The Everglades is a very special place, which shouldn’t surprise me as most national parks are wonderful, but I will go back with much greater appreciation and more time. We didn’t even touch 10,000 Island area, and we couldn’t get into Shark Valley as the parking lot was full. The end of Route 29 is near Smallwood’s store on the south tip of the Everglades where the Smallwood family still runs the store.
Everglades, 9-Mile Lake
March 24, 2017
We rented a canoe to take the water trail through 9-Mile Lake. These canoes were big and heavy, making it difficult to maneuver in the tight mangroves There was a 20 mph wind, and I didn’t think this was a very good idea as we headed across the lake into the wind. We could easily be pushed up against the mangroves and turn over, but as we finally made it into the narrow parts of the trail, we were mostly protected from the wind. The first bay teemed with wildlife – ducks, coots, Ibis and shore birds were everywhere. It’s a tough place to shoot pictures though. The wind pushed us around and I couldn’t get a good shot before they all took off. A giant Blue Heron took off well in front of us.
After paddling kayaks for weeks, I saw the difficulty of handling a canoe in tight places. I kept watching for snakes in the mangroves to drop into the canoe. Never mind biting me, I would die of a heart attack. I have watched many shows on TV about the proliferation of escaped Anacondas, Pythons and others in the Everglades, I was nervous going through these tight places, but we only saw one alligator. One area was quite shallow and we barely made it through. I thought I would have to get out and walk it through, and that would have been interesting with a very soft bottom. The bottom is only soft for a foot or two, and then there is a limestone base. You could see it in many places, looking like someone had dropped cinderblocks. The wind was behind us as we came out to the big lake. We didn’t have to paddle, as it carried us at about 4 miles an hour.
We turned in our canoe and went back to the trailer for lunch. Martha opted for a quiet afternoon of reading and a nap while I went back to the rookery. I met a nice young couple from Quebec. They were traveling for 10 days and were going to the Keys tomorrow. The wind was so fierce, the birds were unable to fly into the wind. Even the Swallow Tails were having difficulty. I went back onto the main road and stopped along the left side. Climbing onto the tool box in the bed of the truck, I could sit on the kayak with my feet on the toolbox and have an incredible view. There was a pool in front of me, but sitting there for a while, I realized this went on for miles and miles. I could see birds feeding a half mile away. Each time I started to leave another bird flew into my pond.
On my return to camp, one pond was loaded with wildlife – Egrets, ducks and shore birds. I don’t know what the ducks were eating, but they were slowly swimming along with their heads under water having a ball. It makes you realize how much food is here. I don’t know what it all is, but the more I see in the Everglades, the more impressed I am. Right in the campground, we have seen Ibis everywhere, hawks and Ospreys are nesting on every tall object. In front of the visitor’s center dolphins swim right up to the wall. Pelicans are everywhere, and a giant alligator attracted lots of attention in the marina. We leave tomorrow, so we don’t even have time for one of the cruises or the half-hour lectures they have. I want to come back! But tomorrow – Shark Valley!
The Everglades
March 22, 23, 2017
Driving back up the Keys to Homestead, we stopped at Robert’s, a great fruit and vegetable place and were lucky enough to be waited on by Robert who told us about his brother and how they had a rift about the election, politics and marches on Washington. Now they don’t speak. This is a very cool place with a great story I will tell you later. Must go now and pick up the Airstream that has had a complete solar make-over by Lew Farber. I can’t wait!!
We drove into the park to Long Pine Key Campground. This is a first come, first serve campground with no hookups. It was very nice, but pretty empty. A raft of mosquitoes greeted us as we unhooked, and we quickly realized why it was empty. We sprayed down and I sent Martha into the trailer. We were amazed at people walking down the road with no apparent problem. People were bike riding, but across from us a young group quickly broke camp, packing up their tents and cars while swatting themselves. After talking with a few people, we found out you were safe in the road, or riding a bike, or on the water in a boat, but step on the grass or in the shade and you will be swarmed. We drove around a bit, but didn’t discover anything much.
Florida Keys
We stayed at the very nice Grassy Key RV Resort. The site was really tight, but this is a great place – like a club really, where people return for 2-5 months every year. Everyone was very nice, and the place is very clean. I’m not a pool lover, but this is a great one because they keep it so clean.
Curry Hammock State Park
Visiting Curry Hammock State Park for the day, we separately kayaked a cool loop through the mangroves and out across the beach. We only have Martha’s kayak, but this is only a one hour trip, so that was no big deal. This is a great park with a super campground with only 25 sites, so they are booked 11 months in advance. The sites are big and clean. The beach is beautiful and not crowded. It is on Grassy Key which is about half way down the Keys, a good central location.
Key West
March 19, 2017
We went to Key West, took a nice bus tour of city, toured Hemingway house which was very cool and pretty, ate an original Sloppy Joe where Hemingway drank and Key Lime Pie at the Key Lime Shoppe. The Hemingway House was the best part of the day. First, it’s a beautiful house, well-designed and built. Then all the stories about Hemingway were great. He felt six-toed cats were lucky, so they were everywhere. Then there were his many loves and marriages, the people he met and wrote about, and of course, his drinking.
The bus tour was good, giving us the big picture of Key West. I don’t know how they drive those narrow streets. With a huge cruise ship in port, the streets were packed. People rented bicycles and scooters, riding all over, not knowing where they were going, gawking at all the sights. Too many people in one place for me, but I’ve been there. It was interesting to hear how Flagler built an impossible train track to Key West, cool train station and incredible hotel. It was all destroyed by a hurricane but rebuilt only to have another big hurricane come through and destroy it again. Tourism died until the 80’s. It would have been very cool to see all of the keys in the 60’s and 70’s.
Highland Hammock State Park
March 13, 2017
Driving south on Rt 27 wasn’t great with lots of traffic and frequent stop lights. The time of travel wasn’t bad, and we arrived at Highland Hammock about 1:00. After lunch and getting settled, we drove through the park to get a feel for the place. It is very cool with very old trees overhanging the road. There are huge live oaks with horizontal limbs begging to cradle a panther. We took one short hike along a boardwalk through the marsh and a creek finding an Egret hunting for fish and an alligator resting right beside the walkway.
We enjoyed visiting with a couple, Bob and Jane(?) who just bought an Airstream Bambi. Bob also just bought a Nissan HD which I have been reading about, so I was very interested. I’ll be looking for one when I get back home. Then right behind us were Judy and ? in a brand new Interstate. His TV wouldn’t come on, so I tried to help him, but we couldn’t sort out the problem. Probably a fuse.
Watching TV after dinner, a tornado warning was out for the west cost just to our west. That’s a little scary, so we kept our eye on that, put the awning up and closed everything up. I was in too much of a hurry in the heavy rains putting the awning up. One of the tension rods wasn’t completely released, and broke as the heavy spring slammed it home. We got some heavy rains in the night, but no big winds. Duck Tape held the tension rod in place, but I went on the internet and ordered a part from Iowa, hoping it would arrive at our campground in the Keys.
We biked and hiked this beautiful park for three days. It’s funny how things work out. The only reason we came was because there was no other vacancy in ANY other state park in Florida. Well, this park is quite a prize. The campground is quite nice with lots of space and shade. The “Hammock” is a very special place, like a tropical garden. I am always looking for animals, but this place is all about trees you just don’t see any more. Orange trees grow throughout the forrest, but something in the soil makes them very bitter. Some animal likes them though. There are little game trails around each tree, and no fruit remains on the ground. Armadillos come out about 2:00 in the afternoon. There was one right behind our campsite. We met some very nice campers here. The rangers were very nice. The bathrooms are a little old, but they plan to renew them. There is a new shower house at the top of the hill. This is a great and unique park with a nice little visitor’s center. Don’t miss it!