Florida Everglades Travelogue:
Sat, Jan 24 2003


Saturday was our last real day in Florida - our flight out from Miami on Sun (SuperBowl Sunday) was at 6:15am. So we packed up and said goodbye to Islamorada. We stopped at a boat shop and spent an hour looking at nice walkaround 23' fishing boats, learning the benefits of buying them in the keys. Maybe this is the year! Then it was back up route 1. Here is the cool Burma-shave style signs that they have along the one-lane road!



This time we drove up to the northern part of the everglades. This is the area of the Shark Slough. In essence this part of the everglades is a giant, slow-moving river, 40 miles wide. It helps bring fresh water to the rest of the glades. It goes through cycles of water (summer) and drought (winter). There's a 2 hr tram ride around the area here, and there are a LOT of alligators. Since the tram ride is on a regular "bike trail" road, those alligators are right up against the road, sometimes on the road. The times that you're choosing to walk instead of ride the tram, you have to be very careful about watching the roadside!

Here's a wood stock we passed on the tram -



A large gator snoozing alongside the road -



Next we hit the large observation tower. Tons of gators here! Here's an explanation at the tower of the water systems in the glades, and the harm caused by manmade blocks to that natural river. I've added a yellow dot to show where we were.



There were many gorgeous birds all around. Here's a tricolor heron.



Here are three views from the observation tower, out over the everglades -







We all got back onto the tram. There were several alligators in the parking lot that we had to shoo out of the way before we could get going again. Then it was a ride back to the visitor's center, where a cute little green heron was hanging out.



Now we continued Westward, heading towards Everglades City.

Saturday: Everglades City
Master Everglades Travelogue Page

1998 Florida Keys Travelogue