The Everglades

Thursday 13 December we head southeast along Hwy 41 crossing the bottom of Florida. We were on our way by 7.45am, an early start but we are keen to get going. And it doesn't take too long before we are travelling on a 2way highway with water and swamp on each side of the road - a bit like driving across a very grassy lake! Except that it IS the Everglades!

There are lots of birds especially wading birds close to the side of the road but as yet no alligators or panthers!!

We stop at a wildlife refuge at Ochopee - alligators, crocodiles, panthers,even a couple of tigers - so now we know what we are looking for!!!
I was walking in a grassed area of the refuge which wasn't cordoned off and which I could see stretched out into the everglades.  I was thinking how realistic and natural it all looked  when I realised that I was looking directly at the head of alligator lying in the water about 20yards away!! I beat a hasty reteat.




























Then on to the smallest Post Office in the US. The Ochopee Post Office. Ochopee means 'big farm' in Native American. The area opened up in 1928 when the Tamiami Trail (Hwy 41) and railroad  was completed. A guy  named James Gaunt came from Miami to buy up land and establish a tomato farm. In 1953 the the general store burnt down and Gaunt moved a small shed to the site to serve as a temporary PO. It is still there and still operational! We posted postcards and chatted with the friendly postmistress.

They are still there!!

We stop at a ranger station in the Big Cypress National Preserve.  The waters of the Everglades begin in the Chain of Lakes Region near Orlando way north in Central Florida. They then flow down/into the Kissimmee River and on to Lake Okeechobee. During the summer wet season when the area receives more than 50 inches of rain between May and October, the southern edge of the Lake overflows forming the broad shallow river of grass - the Everglades.
The ranger station has a boardwalk erected along the canal of water which runs beside the road - yes Hwy 41 - there are many alligators lying in and beside the water. Lots of birds and fish too. We watch a 20 minute film about the Big Cypress National Preserve and then listen to  talk by a ranger on the alligators and how peaceful and friendly they are!!?

They are very close to the road!!!!





We continue heading south to Homestead - known as the Gateway to the Keys. We have reserved a site at the Boardwalk RV Park for a week. We plan to rent a car to drive to Key West for the weekend.
Stopping at Walmart  for provisions. As Trevor opens the door the wind catches it. The strength of the gust tears out a couple of screws on the door stay. So - some running repairs and a few more tools added to our collection!