Second day in Everglades

Everglades Day 2

March 23rd - Tuesday - 59 degrees low - 78 degrees high - Beautiful sunny day with bright blue sky

We were awakened by the alarm at 7:30, let Estee outside and went back to bed, as we can’t start the generator until 8:00 and it was 60 degrees in the RV.

We fixed our breakfast and secured the RV with Estee for the day and left for Flamingo which is 35 miles to the south of us. That of course, is the furthest you can drive in the Everglades. Our plan was to drive down and work our way back, stopping at all of the sites on the way home.

While we were driving down, Lou noticed he only had a quarter tank of gas, and we had not seen anything that looked like a gas station. When we arrived at the ranger station in Flamingo, we asked and yes, they kept gas at the Marina, so we decided maybe we should indulge in the $3.89 a gallon petro, might be better than walking back the 32 miles. On Star wouldn’t be much help there.

We toured the displays that were at Flamingo and found them very interesting and the ranger was very knowledgeable. We were on the ocean again, so were able to see Dolphins, Manatees along with the many birds.

We were able to pick up sandwiches very reasonable at the Marina, so we purchased our lunch and Lou wanted to go back to the car to eat, instead of eating along the ocean…….Go Figure, Pres, you know what happens at noon. RUSH, next time I will be the strong one!! It made for a good laugh and we did have an enjoyable lunch.

After lunch we set out for the sights on the way back. We stopped at West Lake and took the walking tour of the Red, Black and White Mangroves, and it was explained to us that the Red Mangroves emit tannic acid and that is why the waters are dark around them. They also emit a sulfur smell. Scott had told me much of this and I had forgotten it. We both found all of this very interesting.

We were able to view and recognize the mahogany tree, gumbo, bald cypress. The bald cypress are just beginning to get their new green needles and I found them to be very soft, unlike our hemlocks.

We took one board walk tour that took us over The Slough Slog, which gave us a sweeping view of the river of grass, but when you look down at it, it is all water underneath it with all kinds of tiny fish and creatures. Truly amazing.

We arrived home about 5:00 and we picked up Estee and drove to a Nike Missile Site near our campsite, but when we got there the gates were closed, so we will have to do that tour another time. This was something new to Lou and he found it very interesting.

Tonight poor Lou is battling the mosquitoes. They seem to love the taste of his sweet blood, that was one nice thing about Key West, we never saw or heard one.

Tomorrow we are on to Fort Myers and city life again.