The Florida Everglades

This is our fourth trip to the Everglades and we're spending seven nights at Flamingo. The last time we were here was in the spring before the 2017 hurricane came through. There was some damage that we could see coming in. Some of the mangroves have been choked out by salt infiltration and sediment build-up. Areas looked dead and quite sad. The campground was intact, and we have a nice site. The restaurant and visitor center at Flamingo lost their roof and mold became a problem. The are both closed down pending renovation. The conscionaires that run the boat rentals and tours and the cafe are building a new facility where the old resort was west of the current boat launch. They are scheduled to open in two years.
Everything else is as always, and we have been touring all of the attractions in the park. It's always nice to be here. The bugs are quite scarce and its no problem to be outside. Last time we were here nobody ventured out of their campers!
We have only a few more days and wee fly out of Miami to Panama City for our tour of the Panama Locks. Probably will not be posting for a while, but I will be taking pictures to post on our return.

The roof blew off of the visitors center and restaurant at Flamingo.

The gulls were waiting for a tour.

This american crocodile was guarding the entrance to the boat launch on Florida Bay

New eco shelters at the campground on the bay.

This hawk was patrolling the campground.

Hurricane damage at West Lake's boardwalk.

Kayaking out to Coot Bay

This was a mini-croc. Only about eighteen inches long.

Dwarf Cypress forest in the glades.

A heron at Royal Palm visitor center. Not as much wildlife this year. Probably since there is more water and they are dispersed over a larger area.

Air plants blooming.