First - - - heeeere's JADE!! We sent Mardi Gras masks and beads from New Orleans to our granddaughters at home and in Othello, and Jade sent me this . . . thank you, honey! Miss you!
Okay, so Hi again! We left Carrabelle on Monday and have been working our way towards Miami to pick up Lindy and Maren. Did I mention already that two of our granddaughters are flying down for a week and going with us to Key West? Can't wait to see them!
Of course we've been finding amazing places to explore along the way. Passed through Apalachicola National Park and inadvertently stumbled upon an indescribably beautiful tropical paradise, Econfina River State Park, tucked away in a corner of untouched wilderness!
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| The Econfina River |
Then, more great scenery all along the drive . . .
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| Virginia Live Oak dripping with Spanish moss . . . |
We stayed one night at the Keel & Curley Winery in Plant City near Tampa.
K&C makes delicious fruit and fusion wines and serves them up in a fancy tasting room. We bought just three bottles: Blueberry, Key West Key Lime and a Peachy Chardonnay - each with a taste true to its name and very drinkable!
Then came Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary & Blair Audubon Center near Naples. Since a picture is worth a thousand words - I'll just let them do the talking . .
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| Cypress knees everywhere - lizards, too! |
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| Cypress grove |
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| Anole lizard showing his red "pouch" |
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| Tree hugger!! |
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The Strangler Fig grows on the cypress . . .
(but it doesn't really "strangle" anything) |
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This part of the boardwalk is elevated
and lets you look out over the top of the marsh. |
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| Another cypress with Strangler Fig |
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| We watched this Anhinga fishing . . . |
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| . . and then he "posed" like this to dry his wings! |
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| lots of Ibis and egrets |
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| and this interesting red lichen |
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| Cypress knees |
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| Little Blue Heron |
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| My first close-up of a gator in the wild! |
Our next drive took us on the old Tamiami Trail - down through Naples - OMG! SO MANY people, cars, resorts, upscale shopping - this place is dripping with $$$$ - opulence and extravagance to the MAX!!
But then things got real and comfortable for us again on reaching our day's destination, Collier-Seminole State Park. The park lies in the giant mangrove swamp of southern Florida, one of the largest mangrove swamps in the world, and is home to majestic royal palm trees.
We did have one little scare on arrival. Harold and I were at the park office checking in when someone outside shouted - "There's a dog loose!" We knew it couldn't be Trixie as we had left her in the RV, wearing her harness and on a leash attached to the RV - inside! But the office door opened and in dashed Trixie! There ensued quite a discussion on how little dogs make good alligator bait! Back out to the RV, this is what we found:
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| Alligator bait??? |
Next on the agenda was a scooter ride exploring Fakahatchee Strand Preserve. That'll sound familiar if you've read The Orchid Thief. Well, we didn't get to see the ghost orchid - or any orchids, for that matter - as the orchids bloom in winter.
But we saw lots of wildlife and I actually ventured, accidentally, closer to a very large alligator than I ever want to be again! After that, I stayed ON my scooter, and I stuck to the MIDDLE of the road. It was definitely tense, but the ride was fun. But I was definitely relieved when we got back to the truck!
The Preserve brochure says it's the world's largest cypress and royal palm forest. Here are some pics from our scoot . . .
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| all over - these huge rocks with tons of fossils! |
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| Cottonmouth winding his way . . . |
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| A congregation of Ibis & Egrets!! |
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| My guy with Royal Palms |
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| This is the little pool where I got too close to a big gator! Scary! |
We also took a drive down to Everglades City and Chockoloskee in an area known as 10,000 Islands. Had a much needed espresso and key lime pie at the Habana Cafe . . .
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| Trixie seems to enjoy all the sight-seeing! |
. . . then headed for Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk for more sight-seeing - amazing trees and, yes, more alligators!!
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| Very large air fern - with blooms! |
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| More Strangler Fig along the boardwalk |
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| Another alligator in a very green pond! |
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| One last alligator shot!! |
OK - so now I think I've seen enough alligators to last a lifetime!!
Well, it's Saturday night and here we are at the Miami Airport. We'll collect Lindy and Maren in the morning and head down to Key West! This should be FUN!!!
