Dirk and Dixie Havlak's US Travelblog: Myakka SP, Everglades NP, and Miami Beach

Our search for Florida Gators was fulfilled at Myakka State park. A 2.6 mile hike through palmetto and pine trees and along a pelican filled lake, led us to the Deep Hole, a Florida sink hole filled with gators, vultures, and egrets.

Going over a slight rise to get a better vista, we spooked a pile of alligators on shore and sent them crashing into the hole. Here they are placid again!

En route to the Everglades stopped by this Gulf beach on Sanibel Island and enjoyed the soft sand, cool water, and lovely sunset. Apparently watching sunsets in the official Florida activity, which we have experienced every time we have been near the Gulf.

An unexpected pleasure was a multi-hour stop at the winter estate and research center of Thomas Edison in Fort Meyer, Florida. He invented so much more than the light bulb and the phonograph. Who knew that our George Forman Grills were just a spin-offf of the Edicraft Sandwich Grill of 1930?

On the western edge of the Everglades is the less publicized Big Cypress Swamp, part of the same system. Here we enjoyed the large numbers of big egrets, little egrets, herons, anhingas, and other birds we have started to become accustomed to. There are even white "great blue herons" here, a Florida anomoly. They are very difficult to differentiate from the egrets.

Had to take a break near Miami to get the RV serviced, so braved the traffic and made our way to Miami Beach. Too windy to be on a beach, but enjoyed seeing the highly civilized assortment of chairs, umbrellas, life guard stands, etc. Note the cruise ships in the background. Three departed just before sundown.

Coolest part of Miami Beach was the art deco design used on nearly all the buildings along the main beach road. Very unique and colorful!

Finally, we make it to a campground in the Everglades!!! Joined a ranger on a Swamp Slog!

Knee deep in clear water as we patrol the cypress swamps that form in the deepest of the water systems here.

Encountered a barred owl staring at us from the trees. They are not evil here like they are in Washington, cause they are supposed to be here.

Next free ranger trip was a canoe trip into the mangrove swamps in the southern everglades. Note gator patrolling the beach!

The passageways weaving through the clumps of mangroves and grasses are completely confusing. Followed white PVC markers and clung close to the ranger's kayak. At one point we were surrounded by bellowing alligators that we could not see, only hear. They are warming up for breeding season.

Cuban cigars escaped from an illegal shipment through the swamps???? NO! These blobs are cigar shaped clumps of algae called periphyton that are the base of the food chain in the "river of grass" that is the Everglades. Here they are floating on about a foot of water. They are fun to squeeze.

The Anhinga trail in the Everglades is a nice boardwalk for the casual tourist that yields good animal sightings such as this one.

We accompanied a ranger on a night hike there, spotting the retinal reflex of these gator's eyes in our flashlight beam. Can you see the two reddish spots?

Sadly, the southernmost reaches of the Everglades, where we camped for two nights, is a prime breeding ground for mosquitos. Although it is now the dry season and supposedly enjoyable, it rained several times, raising the mosquito meter reading.

End result was that Dixie got devoured while somehow Dirk remained unscathed. Who is more delicious? We both suffered a night of no sleep when the mosquitoes went on the war path and discovered that there were passageways around the screens on the RV. Since it was warm enough that we were sleeping with the windows open, we spend much of the night turning on the light and hunting the humming varmits.

A celebration was in order. Finally, our vision of putting out our canopy and reading in our fold up chairs while sipping cool iced tea became a reality, if only for two days!