Everglades National Park

Our visit to the Everglades National Park was amazing. Our first stop after the visitor center was the Anhinga Trail. This is about 3 miles into the park and an area that is fresh water grassland. The quarter-mile boardwalk trail was surrounded by more wildlife than we've ever seen!!!

The trail is named after the Anhinga bird, a kormorant-like bird that has adapted to living in the fresh water, diving and swimming for food. It then dries it's feathers in the sun before the next dive. In addition to the Anhingas we saw lots of herons, coots, grebes, and ibis.

The alligators were prolific, they were all around us on each side of the board walk. All different sizes seem to congregate here in winter (the dry season) where the water pools.

Our next stop was the Southernmost outpost of the park, on Cape Sable in Flamingo on Florida Bay . This area of the park features mixing of salt and freshwater. The habitat is perfect for crocodiles, manatee, all kinds of birds. Alligators can also survive in the brackish water, making this the only location in the world that you can see alligators and crocodiles together!!! We saw lots on a pontoon boat tour to the "back country".

We camped overnight at the Flamingo site. The alligators and crocodiles looked fierce, but we all agreed what would kill you were the mosquitoes!!! They were unbelievable at dusk and we all had a fitful night slapping and hunting those that had followed us inside the camper.

Superbowl Sunday in the Everglades

Deciding to head to the farthest point accessible by four wheels deep into the Everglades on Superbowl Sunday was not a popular decision, especially with Will, who had somehow transformed into a Steelers fan.  We left the cushy RV Park just North of Homestead, FL with amenities such as a huge pool, shuffleboard, playground, a basketball court, and which was also hosting a Superbowl Potluck party and headed to a National Park Campsite in Flamingo, Florida.  Flamingo is 40 miles from the nearest gas station and is literally on the southern most tip of mainland Florida and is surrounded by Everglades to the north, east and west, and Florida Bay to the south.  As the kids have come to learn, most National and State Park camprounds mean zero on the amenities front and in the case of Flamingo it also meant no electrcity, sewer, or cable TV hookups.  After the cramped quarters at the cushy RV park where you could literally "high five" the neighboring camper by reaching out your window, I was looking forward to the space and tranquillity typically offered by National Park campgrounds and since the Patriots were not in the Superbowl the decision was made to go deep into the Everglades.  As we were driving through miles and miles of Everglades it leaked out that the National Park campground at Flamingo was not going to have a pool and was very unlikely to have cable hookup.  As we pulled into the Flamingo campground we could hear the groans and moans coming from the back of the camper.  "Oh my gosh, this place is the worst campground ever!"  "What do you mean it doesn't have a pool!"  And from Will..."How could you do this to me on Superbowl Sunday!"  To Will's credit, he immediately put a plan into action.  He hopped on his bike and cruised for the campground looking for the biggest and most decked out RV's that might have a satellite feed from which to view the game.  He identified 2 such RV's, determined their allegiances (Steeler or Packer fan), and figured out which RV would have thew best viewing opportunities.  He chose the older couple from Texas who had a 42 foot landyacht with a 52 inch flatscreen TV mounted in a side compartment so that you could view from OUTSIDE the camper.   Why this couple chose to view the game outside (with the millions of mosquitoes) when they had 2 more large flatscreens inside the camper, we will never know, but it certainly made it easier for Will to invite himself over by casually asking what the score was which was followed by an immediate invite by the kind couple from Texas.  With the invite secured Will gathered the troops and Peter, Will, Caroline, and I headed over on our bikes to view the game.  It became immediately apparent that this couple and a few of their friends were immune to mosquitoes.  The four of us were being devoured by mosquitoes and Peter and Caroline quickly fled back to our camper.  Will was determined to watch the game so we headed back to the camper to get long pants, sweatshirts, and load up on bug spray to weather the mosquito onslaught.  The only problem with the long pants and sweatshits was that it was about 85 degrees with 98% humidity, so we were not only losing blood by the pint, we were sweating profusely.  As we watched the game pleasant thoughts of malaria, triple E, and West Nile Virus crept through my thoughts.  As of yet, neither Will or I have contracted any mosquito born illnesses but it will be a Superbowl we will never forget.