The Everglades Probed
After struggling with more guilty feelings about Tiger and Molly this morning, I decided to at least get over to the Everglades and get a quick look see at the closest parts of the park. Didn't get going until after 1:00 p.m. so knew I would only get in and learn some things about the park, make a couple stops and head back for another cookout on the grille -- break the routine of having fish too many nights in a row.
Since I have the "Golden Pass" for seniors, it cost me nothing to get in the park and I didn't even bother to see how much I saved having the pass. My first stop before passing the toll booth into the park was the Visitor Center and I picked up a trail/park map there to help me decide where to stop. The Visitor Center exhibits were well done and could have been done by either of the companies I had worked for in the past but, didn't dig deeper to see who actually did the work. The dioramas were excellent and the labeling was very legible (as most Park Service projects are required to be) and the treatments or representations of the animal life seemed very accurate and real. I especially enjoyed the outdoor deck overlooking the pristine man-made pond on the east side of the center -- water was crystal clear and a sizeable bass stood out against the sandy bottom, between the vegetation and directly below the railing (other small fish were also visible above the vegatation swimming around).
If I had gotten started sooner in the day, I probably would have driven the nearly 40 miles to Flamingo with the hope of getting some pictures of the wildlife there. The park map showed Long Pine Key as the first turn off and the Pa-hay-okee Overlook as the next stop so, decided on the farthest first and work my way back from there. The idea of an "Overlook" seemed to indicate to me that I would be above the surrounding terrain -- and it looked pretty much flat to me. On the way, I passed a sign that noted "Rock Reef Pass elevation 3 feet" and didn't notice much variation from that anywhere along the road -- no humps, rises in the road or bridges. The "Overlook" turned out to be a man-made wooden structure with metal and steel roof some 6 feet above the surrounding wetlands with wooden walkways and rails to and from the viewing area.
When I started onto the trail, I thought I heard some wildlife and anticipated seeing some birds or animals but, at first, only encountered an obnoxious blackbird or crow on the handrail after coming down the steps from the "Overlook". I did see some indications of man's presence in the form of an aluminum can and under the platform I saw a little girl's pink Crocs shoe (too far back to reach wth the waters/marsh surrounding it). Then, I heard and saw a waterbird fly up out of the swamp and then another and a larger bird landed in a treetop back at the Overlook so, I went back to attempt a shot of either or both birds. Did get the black vulture perched in the seemingly dead tree (could be the effects of the dry-season). One young couple walked right underneath the bird and they didn't even notice it until I mentioned it to them.
On the short road to the overlook from the main road, I noticed one or two white egrets or herons at spots beside the road and on my return trip to the main road, I attempted to slow-down so I could spot them and maybe stop at the shoulder of the road and get a shot of them -- they proved elusive but, beautiful as they spread their white wings and flew into the nearby trees. With my appetite wetted by the challenge to get some good shots of wildlife or birds, I headed into Long Pine Key with hopes high of finding something there -- didn't see anything around the pond except for picnickers but, did get a glimpse of the campgrounds there and some larger RVs parked among the pines.
Well, I turned the Jeep back around and decided to head back to the Goldcoaster. A few miles down the road, as I neared the exit to the park and the speed limit dropped to 35, I spied a white bird off to the right and managed to stop well short of its location (pulled off on the narrow, grassy shoulder). I walked as slowly as possible so as not to spook the bird and he seemed to cooperate as he was perched on the top of a concrete culvert and worked his way down the slope of the culvert as I got closer. Well, guess what was there besides the Egret (or heron) -- on the other side of the little pond? There was a six or seven foot alligator laying out on the bank of the pond and lots of little fish were swimming around the pond -- keeping the bird's interest (think the alligator had his eye on the Egret -- at least until I showed up).
That really made my day and the short time spent in the Everglades memorable enough to go back perhaps on Monday. Something else too, on the way back, I stopped at a little market just around the corner from the Goldcoaster -- saw it on my way to the park. It is "Robert Is Here Fruit Stand and Farm" which has some of the best tropical fruit and they even have their own guide (brochure) -- explains all about the fruits they sell including the Sapodilla I bought (yummy tomatoes and watermelon too). Will have to wait until the Sapodilla are really soft before I enjoy.
Since I have the "Golden Pass" for seniors, it cost me nothing to get in the park and I didn't even bother to see how much I saved having the pass. My first stop before passing the toll booth into the park was the Visitor Center and I picked up a trail/park map there to help me decide where to stop. The Visitor Center exhibits were well done and could have been done by either of the companies I had worked for in the past but, didn't dig deeper to see who actually did the work. The dioramas were excellent and the labeling was very legible (as most Park Service projects are required to be) and the treatments or representations of the animal life seemed very accurate and real. I especially enjoyed the outdoor deck overlooking the pristine man-made pond on the east side of the center -- water was crystal clear and a sizeable bass stood out against the sandy bottom, between the vegetation and directly below the railing (other small fish were also visible above the vegatation swimming around).
If I had gotten started sooner in the day, I probably would have driven the nearly 40 miles to Flamingo with the hope of getting some pictures of the wildlife there. The park map showed Long Pine Key as the first turn off and the Pa-hay-okee Overlook as the next stop so, decided on the farthest first and work my way back from there. The idea of an "Overlook" seemed to indicate to me that I would be above the surrounding terrain -- and it looked pretty much flat to me. On the way, I passed a sign that noted "Rock Reef Pass elevation 3 feet" and didn't notice much variation from that anywhere along the road -- no humps, rises in the road or bridges. The "Overlook" turned out to be a man-made wooden structure with metal and steel roof some 6 feet above the surrounding wetlands with wooden walkways and rails to and from the viewing area.
When I started onto the trail, I thought I heard some wildlife and anticipated seeing some birds or animals but, at first, only encountered an obnoxious blackbird or crow on the handrail after coming down the steps from the "Overlook". I did see some indications of man's presence in the form of an aluminum can and under the platform I saw a little girl's pink Crocs shoe (too far back to reach wth the waters/marsh surrounding it). Then, I heard and saw a waterbird fly up out of the swamp and then another and a larger bird landed in a treetop back at the Overlook so, I went back to attempt a shot of either or both birds. Did get the black vulture perched in the seemingly dead tree (could be the effects of the dry-season). One young couple walked right underneath the bird and they didn't even notice it until I mentioned it to them.
Well, I turned the Jeep back around and decided to head back to the Goldcoaster. A few miles down the road, as I neared the exit to the park and the speed limit dropped to 35, I spied a white bird off to the right and managed to stop well short of its location (pulled off on the narrow, grassy shoulder). I walked as slowly as possible so as not to spook the bird and he seemed to cooperate as he was perched on the top of a concrete culvert and worked his way down the slope of the culvert as I got closer. Well, guess what was there besides the Egret (or heron) -- on the other side of the little pond? There was a six or seven foot alligator laying out on the bank of the pond and lots of little fish were swimming around the pond -- keeping the bird's interest (think the alligator had his eye on the Egret -- at least until I showed up).
That really made my day and the short time spent in the Everglades memorable enough to go back perhaps on Monday. Something else too, on the way back, I stopped at a little market just around the corner from the Goldcoaster -- saw it on my way to the park. It is "Robert Is Here Fruit Stand and Farm" which has some of the best tropical fruit and they even have their own guide (brochure) -- explains all about the fruits they sell including the Sapodilla I bought (yummy tomatoes and watermelon too). Will have to wait until the Sapodilla are really soft before I enjoy.
posted by Ray at
3:19 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home