After leaving the Keys, Gary and I ventured to the Florida Everglades for two nights. We have previously been through the area but had never camped in the park. I was always hesitant – I am adventurous, but I’m not crazy! I had visions of creepy critters crawling into our swampy RV site, endless alligators parading around outside while I sat huddled in a corner in the safety of our home on wheels.
But to my great surprise, the Flamingo Campground was nothing like I had envisioned. The sites were large and spacious, well laid out and maintained. We could easily (and safely) bike to the Flamingo Restaurant and Marina, although I did refuse to hike any of the many trails. Don’t these hikers realize there are Burmese pythons invading the Glades, destroying habitats and my overall sense of harmony living here in south Florida?
We took a lovely boat ride from our marina into the inner part of the park, experiencing large lakes and ponds as well as canals and marshes. The entire ecosystem of the Everglades is a magnificent subtropical wetland, the largest of its kind in the USA and the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere. There is a huge biodiversity that exists here, home to 13 endangered species and 10 threatened species. The park is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Biosphere Reserve, in addition to one of our 63 National Parks.
Among the many animals, including alligators, snakes, deer, Florida panthers, bald eagles, most amazing is that the Everglades is the only place on Earth where alligators and crocodiles co-exist naturally.
Now speaking of crocs, we saw several on our boat ride, even a little baby croc. But the one that really surprised us was the extremely large, old crocodile we encountered both standing perhaps 15 feet away and about 5 feet away from the ‘safety’ of our Jeep. We both couldn’t believe what exactly we were looking at – a giant mound clumped near the bushes on the edge of the 9 Mile Pond. But then we realized exactly what we were looking at – the biggest, scariest creature I’ve ever seen. The Rangers said we were ‘lucky’ to have found him, and although I am glad we did, I am equally glad we lived to tell the tale!
Everyone should experience this important and unique habitat. Just wear good shoes and bring your bug spray!