Swamps!

Wednesday found us in the Everglades National Park.  We arrived just in time to participate in the Ranger Led Hike along a half-mile boardwalk into the swamps of the Everglades.  It was a great hike with a great ranger (we've had some pretty lousy ones in the past, on occasion).  It took us about an hour-and-a-half for the tour and that was plenty in the heat and humidity and of course out in the sun!  Apparently, the best time to see all the alligators is in winter dry season.  We saw only one large one and a group of 4 babies at another place.  We did see quite a few different birds, butterflies, bugs and plants.  After the hike, we drove to the very end of the park road and checked out another visitor center and the campgounds where there were just a few brave souls' tents set up.  We hadn't even tried to go there as there are no hookups of any kind.  This section of the park had a great deal of damage in 2005 from Katrina and especially Wilma and they are just beginning to replace buildings and facilities.  On the drive back to the entrance of the park, we stopped at overlooks and boardwalks and walked in the Mahogany and Mangrove forests.

Today's journey was to the Biscayne National Park along Biscayne Bay east of Homestead, FL.  Most of the park is out in the water, but we visited the Museum and marina and again walked a boardwalk trail. (We passed on the $65 boat tour)  After a lunch and shopping break at an outlet mall, we drove Route 1 down into "the Keys" as far as Islamorada, catching glimpses of beautiful homes and big boats along the coast and the Intercoastal waterway.  We found an overlook to park and have a picnic supper.   

The weather these two days was rain-free except for a few drops, but the heat and humidty remain quite high.  (We just carry our "dew rags" with us at all times)  We enjoyed visiting on the phone this evening with friends who are at the other "end of the road" in RVs camped on "The Spit" in Homer, Alaska....a few miles between us all!  We plan to head north once again on Thursday.