A Walk in the Swamp

Brian and I spent a few days at the Collier-Seminole State Park on the west side of the EVERGLADES.  The highlight of that trip was a SWAMP WALK.  We took a guided tour from the Clyde Butcher Big Cypress Gallery.  It was a private 2 hour tour with our guide, Scott.  I was a little concerned about the walk when I booked it.  The usual concerns...alligators, snakes, bugs and walking in water.

It was a blast!  We spent two hours walking through water from ankle deep to hip deep.  Walking was very slow.  Even though the water was clear, you have to test each place you put your foot down to watch for roots.  In the two hours we probably only covered a half a mile.

It is beautiful in the swamp, the lichen and algae decorate the trees, the air plant blooms were everywhere and we saw several native orchids in bloom.

There were young alligators, swimming in front of us.  One was a group of three and they took off once they saw us.  Another small alligator was swimming in front of use for a little bit.  Eventually he got irritated that we were following him and he took off.  Brian noticed a fish spider, probably 4 to 5 inches.  The spider was very patient and stood very still while we talked about it and took pictures. 

Another fun time was when a catfish and gar swam past us...the catfish brushed my pant leg. 

We didn't see any snakes.  I really don't like snakes, but I was so comfortable in the swamp that I was disappointed not to see one.  I was so into the moment during the walk that I didn't remember to take many pictures.  It was that much fun.

The SWAMP WALK was the highlight of the trip, but it wasn't the only thing we did.  Brian and I arrived at Collier-Seminole State Park at the tail end of Subtropical Storm Alberto.   I am not sure if it was the storm or the time of the year, but there were plenty of open campsites.

The storm left lots of water...good for our swamp walk...not good for the bugs.  I did get some mosquito and fly bites.  I was surprised to hear the park only considered it "Moderate".  I don't want to be around when the meter says "Donor". 

Another fun and educational adventures was the Shark Valley Tram tour.  The tram travels through the EVERGLADES.  Halfway there is a stop at a 45' tower with great panoramic views.

Our tour guide, Kelly, did a great job of describing the EVERGLADES and the different ecosystems within it.  The EVERGLADES begins south of Orlando where water feeds from a chain of lakes into Lake Okeechobee.  The water overflowing from Lake Okeechobee forms a slow moving river through the limestone all the way to the Florida Bay.  Water from Orlando will take a year to get through the EVERGLADES, a vast and unique region...one of a kind in the world!

When I think of the EVERGLADES, I think of sawgrass marches, also called a prairie.  That makes up for most of the EVERGLADES, but there are also hardwood hammock (raised land where palm trees and hardwoods grow), pinelands, cypress swamps and mangrove swamps.

Urban development, agricultural chemicals and exotic invasive animals (pythons) have created challenges to the EVERGLADES.  In the 1970's the importance of the EVERGLADES was recognized and restoration plans were started.

Of course with all the water around, Brian and I kayaked...in a mangrove swamp.  There was no wildlife on this kayaking trip...no alligators and no birds.  That didn't stop me from taking pictures of every mangrove root and flower.  Still, any time kayaking in calm water is relaxing and enjoyable.

One afternoon we went to Marco Island and visited Tigertail Beach.  I picked up a dinner to go of grilled shrimp with homemade cocktail sauce and black beans at Lee Be Fish.  This meal should get a Michelin Star.  It was that good.  The shrimp was fresh and perfectly seasoned.  The homemade cocktail sauce was unique...tangy, fresh with a bite of horseradish.  The black beans were also homemade...lots of toppings for a nice flavor.

The EVERGLADES is not a park that takes your breath away when you first see it (like the Grand Canyon or Mammoth Cave), but the more I experienced it, the more I love it...except for the biting bugs of course.