Saturday, March 2, Shark Valley and Airboat Ride

Another cold front has moved in! At 7:00 this morning it was 13.5C (56F) and cloudy. No shorts today!

We left the park at 8:15, going to the north entrance to Everglades National Park for a Tram Tour and Air Boat ride.

There is construction along Hwy 41, where they are building a 1 mile long bridge that will allow water to flow into the Everglades naturally, the way it did years ago. After years of drainage and alterations, efforts to save the remaining Everglades and to restore a semblance of their original function are underway. The plan to return water to more natural patterns of quantity, timing and distribution throughout the South Florida ecosystem is expected to take 30 years. There are 1400 miles of canals in Florida.

 

On arrival at the Shark Valley entrance of Everglades National Park at 9:20, we had time to wander around before taking the 10:00 Tram tour. We decided to go on the 0.5km (1/3 mile) self-guided trail through a dense bayhead tree island and a sawgrass slough. Dense thickets make this a prime hunting ground and hiding place for wildlife.

 

IThe Tram Tour is a 2 hour, open-air tour through the heart of the Everglades. There are opportunities for close-up views of different wildlife in the Everglades; alligators, birds, turtles, deer, fish & other species in their natural habitat.

 

 

 

 

It was quite windy and very chilly as we set out on the tour. The guide did warn us that because of the cold weather, most of the alligators would be underwater, where it is warmer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the half-way point of the tour, we got to see the 'glades from a different angle. From the top of the 65-foot tall Observation Tower, you can get a bird's eye view of the grandeur of the Everglades and some of its wild inhabitants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was an interesting walk up the curved ramp to the top! The sun was shining, which helped.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After returning from the Tram tour, we walked on the "Otter Cave HammockTrail". While exploring the hardwood hammocks you need to be careful where you step. You don't want to fall into a solution hole. Solution holes are formed gradually over time when limestone erodes or is dissolved. This process is caused by a solution, or mixture, of rainfall and the weak acid produced by the decaying leaves found all over the hammock floor. Solution holes like these are often found in the hardwood hammocks.

 

 

Upon leaving the park at 1:00, Chris noticed a restaurant across the highway. We decided to check it out for lunch.

After looking at the sign, we decided what we were going to have!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I enjoyed a sampler plate of frogs legs, 'gator tail bites, hush puppies and fry bread..... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While Chris had the Gator tail bites dinner and Marcel polished off the Catfish dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After lunch, we drove back to Gator Park for the Airboat tour. Fortunately, it was not too busy, so we didn't have to wait. An airboat, also known as a fanboat, is a flat-bottomed vessel propelled in a forward direction by an aircraft-type propeller and powered by either an aircraft or automotive engine.  Airboats are a very popular means of transportation in the Florida Everglades in marshy and/or shallow areas where a standard inboard or outboard engine with a submerged propeller would be impractical.

 

 

We had a great ride through the "river of grass" and saw more alligators, both mature and young ones and many beautiful birds.

 

 

Chris made some new friends before we left the park.

 

 

Following the Gator wrestling and Wildlife show, we headed back to the RV Park. It did warm up to 18C (64F). 

 

When we got there, Chris picked up his luggage & left for the hotel for the night. He has an early flight home in the morning. It was a great visit with my bro!