It seemed forever to get from Stuart on the Atlantic side of
Florida to Marco Island and Collier Seminole State Park on the very
We squeezed into site 67, which was too short and narrow for this “train” but it was right across from the bathhouse and tiny laundry area! It was for only 4 nights and our neighbors were great, plus - I didn’t have to lug the laundry too far! We’ve met so many nice folks – it seems like this was Michigan week – folks were here from Livonia, Traverse City, Warren, Brownstone Twp and even Temperance! We’ve moved now to a bigger site and our neighbors next to us are from Angola/Lake James, Indiana!
western
edge of the Everglades! We crossed
south of Lake Okeechobee and across to Labelle before heading south on the
comparatively calm Rt 29. Anything but
getting on hectic I 75!
We squeezed into site 67, which was too short and narrow for this “train” but it was right across from the bathhouse and tiny laundry area! It was for only 4 nights and our neighbors were great, plus - I didn’t have to lug the laundry too far! We’ve met so many nice folks – it seems like this was Michigan week – folks were here from Livonia, Traverse City, Warren, Brownstone Twp and even Temperance! We’ve moved now to a bigger site and our neighbors next to us are from Angola/Lake James, Indiana!
With the government shut down, nobody was sure about whether
Midway Campground in the Glades would be functioning when it was our turn to
park there so we took a chance and drove that way to see. We learned there had been squatters in the
campground that wouldn’t move when the real campers arrived so the camp hosts
finally put out the “campground full” sign and put “reserved” signs on all the
campsites. We also wanted to see if
Shark Valley was
open and available to ride our bikes. Shark Valley, while part of the National
Park System is operated by a separate concession, so it was open. The day was sunny but cooler – low 70’s, as
we began peddling our trusty little bikes!
The first half of the day’s ride was easy – not as many bikes and not as
many gators lying in the roadway like last time! The tall spiral observation tower came into view and then stood
right before us. The uphill walk was
more tiring than the 7-mile bike ride but the view was still worth it. Looking back to where we had come – you
could see the stick straight bike/tram path and to the right the curvy line
that was the longer route was visible and then the vast grassland that lay
beyond. H decided that we should
venture back
to the parking area/visitor center via that route this time. The trip out was 7 miles, level and WITH the
wind. The trip back was 8 miles,
curved, a bit uphill and INTO a 15 mph wind!
AMEN to the power of the electric bikes! And while the Everglades are referred to as a River of Grass –
it’s been way too dry down here and this part of the damp glades have dried up
with just a few pockets of water remaining along the way. But – we still counted gators – 83 of them
on this round trip. And a million birds!
The beaches have been visited! As usual, in Naples we parked and walked the mile up the beach to
the public pier and back. This time we
finally got to go visit the much acclaimed Tigertail Beach on the north end of
Marco Island. However – it was the day
after we rode our bikes on the Shark Valley trail and H’s legs and knees were
not up to too much beach/sand walking.
We did make it to the main beach area tho and saw all the shells strewn
about on the white sand. One family had
even created a sand sculpture of a
giant dragon! Had it been up north it would have been snow!
Then the storm that has dumped all the snow on the northern states arrived at our little section of SW Florida. Thankfully it passed Saturday night/Sunday morning and was only much needed rain! Sunday brought the strong winds! H felt the need to head back to the Naples Pier and document the size of the waves at high tide and to see how much of the beautiful beach was now under water. As we parked and approached the gathering area for the pier, the crowd was getting thicker. The pier was packed with people who had the same idea as we had. We side stepped around several groups and worked our way to the front of the crowd to check out the long wooden fishing dock but the pier itself was closed and a chain was draped across the way. Where just a few days before the beautiful blue green water was gently lapping at the snow white sand, now HUGE, 6 to 8 foot, angry gray waves
were beating at the higher
section of the beach and at the sturdy cement legs of the pier itself. A few foolish surfers were trying to find a
wave they could handle and about a dozen hardy kite surfers were hanging on for
dear life as they skipped and bounced along on the raging waves, up the
coastline.
We’ve watched as our new friends have come and gone and we’ve said our “Goodbyes” to others. It’s our turn to hitch up and hit the road to our next area of this winter’s adventure.
The Caxambas City Park on the south end of Marco Island – is
where we normally park the truck and ride our bikes to the public access
pathways to the beach. At the boat
launch area we had to stop and watch a group of men dressed as what seemed to
be pirates. They were filling a small
wooden sailboat with way too many supplies and gear. Eventually they completed their tasks and shoved off from the
dock. Long skinny looking oars were
dipped in and out of the water in synchronized time and the much overloaded
boat was pointed out to the open water.
Finally, as we stood watching, the small, heavy looking canvas sails
were hoisted to assist in their slow moving process.
Then the storm that has dumped all the snow on the northern states arrived at our little section of SW Florida. Thankfully it passed Saturday night/Sunday morning and was only much needed rain! Sunday brought the strong winds! H felt the need to head back to the Naples Pier and document the size of the waves at high tide and to see how much of the beautiful beach was now under water. As we parked and approached the gathering area for the pier, the crowd was getting thicker. The pier was packed with people who had the same idea as we had. We side stepped around several groups and worked our way to the front of the crowd to check out the long wooden fishing dock but the pier itself was closed and a chain was draped across the way. Where just a few days before the beautiful blue green water was gently lapping at the snow white sand, now HUGE, 6 to 8 foot, angry gray waves
We’ve watched as our new friends have come and gone and we’ve said our “Goodbyes” to others. It’s our turn to hitch up and hit the road to our next area of this winter’s adventure.
