2/3/16 – 2/11/16          Everglades City, Little Shark River and Flamingo, FL

2/3/16- 2/7/16              Everglades City

We made the 53 mile trip to Everglades City with the expectation of staying there 2 nights, as it turned out we spent 5 nights due to the windy conditions where we were and out in the Gulf.

We passed Marco Island on our way and here are a couple of long range shots.

 

We entered the Florida Bay and an area known as 10,000 Islands. I don’t know when the last count was made, but I can tell you that there are more added probably each few years. But then again, there may also be some that are merging with others and no longer counted. It is a very picturesque area, but very shallow, so we took it pretty slow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are staying at the Everglades Rod and Gun Club. It is a historic landmark and must have been just gorgeous in its heyday. The insides are very dark wood and  couldn't get any good shots. The food was good at the restaurant.

This is the swimming pool

Everglades City is a quaint little town with one market and one combination hardware store and gift store. But there lots of restaurants and most are on the water and serving fresh seafood.

 

We did Speedy’s Airboat Tour and it was pretty cool. I think they keep the little fellow in a cage so they can guarantee you to see a gator. There was one on the tour but I am having trouble believing it was live. What do you think? It was fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was on the tour, but he never moved.

He was in a tank and they would take him out and let you pet him.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We watched the Super Bowl at the only place in town that had it on, the Oyster House. We enjoyed the game with Scott and Sue from the "Dolphin".

One of the fishing boats came in one night and cleaned their catch just up from our boat. These three pelicans are fighting over a discarded carcass.

 

2/8/16                          Little Shark River

 We headed to Little Shark River. It was a 48 mile ride through the Islands and the Bay and then into the Everglades where we anchored for the night. They had called for some heavy winds and rain overnight and we wanted to get in where we would be safe. These shots are heading into the river and our anchorage for the night.        

 

After a beautiful sunset we settled down for the night. It was a little spooky and we did get the heavy wind predicted. Ken stayed up most of the night monitoring the boat and where it was moving.

 

2/9/16 - 2/10/16                       Flamingo, Fl

It was a short 32 mile trip to Flamingo. It is situated at the southernmost point of the Everglades and Florida mainland. It is a federal park and large camping area.

We received an escort into port, actually just for a while before we got to the cut, by two porpoise (dolphins) as they rode our wake and alternately led the way. I only got a good picture of this one.

 

There was a little restaurant that consisted of a large trailer converted into a kitchen and a large area enclosed by screens to allow peace from the bugs.

We rode the bikes around some of the island and got a few good shots of the wildlife, etc. This area has a large number of different birds. But we didn’t see anything that crawls around the ground. They actually had signs for tarps that you could use to cover your cars so that the vultures would not damage them. Sorry I saw them but didn’t get a picture.

 

We are currently in Marathon Key and will have pictures etc. in the next post.