Lazing away in Margaritaville!

We've been beaching and kayaking here and enjoying the Keys with Tom and Evey. They have been with us since Saturday and will be here one more night to drive to Orlando and Universal Studios before flying back to Michigan on Sunday.
We had five days of strong winds through yesterday evening but they finally subsided and today are only 5-8 miles per hour. Tom and Evey went out on the kayaks and saw a couple of sharks this morning. Nancy and I rode bikes for a couple of hours and walked the nature trail outside of the park.
Tom took us for Cuban Sandwiches for lunch and we filled up quite well.
Yesterday we spent the afternoon at Bahia Honda State Park and Evey rolled in the waves all afternoon. It was a gorgeous beach day and a good time was had by all.
Marathon's Seafood Festival starts on Saturday and we plan to get there early.

A perfect picnic spot at Curry Hammock State Park

The kite surfers were out in force with the strong winds the past several days. This guy liked to fly and would soar thirty feet in the air each time he made a turn.

We took Tom and Evey to Everglades N.P. on Monday.

A purple Gallinule at Royal Palm visitor center.

Air plants in bloom at the pond at Royal Palm

An Anhinga with it's hands full feeding it's young

Another Purple Gallinule. We weren't seeing as much wildlife as normal, probably because the weather was cool and cloudy. 

The alligators were out waiting for the sun. They were laying so still they almost looked fake. The only giveaway was that they would open their eyes occasionally.

Sunrise at the backyard beach.

Curry Hammock State Park

The first evening here we were outside in our camp chairs and it was remarkable to be sitting outside without being carried off by mosquitos!! We were overjoyed to be able to relax in the great out of doors.
We were at this campground two years ago and it is nice to be back. The campsites are huge and especially the handicapped site we are in for these two weeks. The bathroom facility is being renovated so they have two trailers parked in one of the adjacent campsites with a bank of shower and bathroom facilities that are nice and clean and accommodating.
We have a beautiful beach area very close to our campsite and there is abundant kayaking and walking to be had.
We are about five miles east of the famous Seven Mile Bridge which links Marathon Key to Bahia Honda Key. We biked and beached at Veterans Park on the west end of the bridge yesterday and saw starfish and a sea turtle from the bridge. Fishermen were catching porgies and snappers off the bridge and we could see huge tarpon swimming below.
This is a welcome change from the Everglades with blue, clear water and sandy beaches. Not to mention the lack of bugs!

Looking east from the shore at Curry Hammock State Park

 

The view to the west toward Key West

The Red Baron swooped by for a closer look! Marathon's landing field is about two miles west of camp.

Our shell collection from Fort Desoto is drying on the picnic table. One of the shells must not have been completely empty and is giving off an interesting odor!

An Island off of the west end of Seven Mile Bridge has it's own dock and is inviting us to explore it with our kayaks.

The abandoned span of Seven Mile Bridge is open to walkers, bikers and fishermen to enjoy. We saw starfish, tarpon, sea turtles and stingrays from the span.

One of the big red starfish in the shallows beneath the bridge. These guys are about 10-11 inches across!

Camping at Flamingo is drawing to an end

We've had nine days of warmth, sunshine and mosquitoes. Tomorrow it's onward to the Florida Keys and Marathon. We have two weeks at Curry Hammock State Park and are so looking forward to it.
We have done a lot of kayaking, biking and Nancy and Bev walk each morning here at Flamingo. We are finding that if you don't stay on the move the mosquitoes force you to move or go indoors. The past couple of days have been very breezy and not so bad with the bugs. We kayaked the loop at Nine Mile Pond and  found the water shallow and the going tough to get through all the grass and floating vegetation. It was a three hour paddle and one of the toughest ones we've ever done.
At the end of the loop we saw the famous crocodile they call Croczilla and he is bigger than ever. They estimate he is fourteen feet long, but I would have thought more. His girth is so massive he is quite intimidating. I didn't dare get any closer than about thirty feet!
We've seen manatees, dolphin, and alligators and crocodiles in the park, and each day has been a new adventure.

Ospreys nesting near the campground

This is a manatee. Bev called it a pig-nose!

A croc at the boat launch

We saw this barred owl on one of the boardwalks in the everglades

Wood storks in the marsh. Part of the river of grass

A crowd of coots. At least it looks crowded to me!

Here we are kayaking the loop at Nine Mile Pond. This is about a four mile trek through the everglades and cypress Islands.

Croczilla in person! This guy is HUGE!!

Camping at Flamingo, Florida

We are at the southern most tip of the Florida mainland. This is Everglades National Park and all the way south to Florida Bay. The weather has been hot in the eighties every day and sunny until this morning. We are having a rain day today so are in Homestead to make a grocery run.
The mosquitoes are horrible here this year. It is eerie being in a campground where nobody will come out of their campers during the day! When they do they are all bundled up despite the heat. We have been spraying down with bug juice and then showering off in the evening. It's been working, so we can still get out and enjoy a few activities.
Here are some Everglades pictures...

Taking a cruise in Florida Bay in the Ten Thousand Islands area.

Dolphins chasing the boat.

They put on quite a show jumping in the boats wake.

Huge white pelicans with a nine foot wingspan!

This cypress tree was a subject for Clyde Butcher's camera and he made thousands with the black and white photo of the tree at sunset!

Here we are with Bev and Gary Clark on the cruise boat.

The Florida Bay cruiser at Everglades City.

A few of the ten thousand Islands.

The marina at Everglades City

My favorite Rod and Gun Club, dating back to the early eighteen hundreds. 

Lots of these guys down here!

This was one of the bigger ones I saw.

An Anhinga scolding me for taking a photo.

A boardwalk through the everglades at Big Cypress.

The air plants were everywhere and some were in bloom.

Stilts at Eco Pond at Flamingo.

A red shouldered hawk at one of the campgrounds.

Midway Campground, Big Cypress National Park

Life is good at Big Cypress. We've been here several times over the years and this is typical Everglades country. US41, the Tamiami Highway, runs through here paralleling I-75's Alligator Alley to the north.
The canals on either side of the road were dug out to create the roadway and are now full of alligators, birds, and fish. It's a scenic drive and very leisurely.
We visited the Oasis Visitors Center yesterday and today are planning a boat tour to the Thousand Islands area near Everglades City.

Camped at Midway Campground, midway between Naples and Miami on US 41. (Air plants in the cypress trees behind the camper).

I will have more pictures for next time.

Two Weeks at Fort Desoto Coming to an End

It's hard to believe we've been here thirteen days already, but tomorrow we are moving. Our new destination is Midway Campground near the Everglades. We will be in Big Cypress National Park for four nights.
This stay has been very relaxing and we have enjoyed the beaches and kayaking, biking and lazing around. It now feels like winter vacation! We've had awesome weather the past week and have enjoyed the easy living. We will plan on coming back here some day. The area here around St Petersberg is really nice and all the shopping is very close by.
Wishing everyone a happy Valentines Day.
Here are a few pics..

We came upon this heron while kayaking in the cypress jungle.

An osprey nesting along the bay.

A great egret sun n ing in the bay

The bad moon rising!

North Beach at Fort Desoto Park

Bad hair day

Another day in the record book