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Published: December 22nd 2010
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...and now for something completely different!
Heard a rumour that there was something else in Florida beside theme parks...didn't believe it so thought we'd investigate further. So today, got the kids away from the plastic and glitter of theme parks and went huntin' 'gators with Cletus and Jim-Bob!
Booked a tour out on Lake Cypress on an Airboat. This is now a protected wilderness area...although it does share the reserve with livestock from the 5 surrounding cattle farms who have ongoing grazing rights. It was an amazing day for it.
We got to see some other parts of Florida, some rural some less salubrious as we drove for an hour to Lake Cypress.
Interesting drive and worth seeing a little more of the place than just the lights, malls and traffic of Orlando.
The ride on the lake was on a 12 seater airboat, set to head out at 12:45 pm. We, after being fashionably late for our booking were in the front row. The boat is quite noisey when wound out but it is a brilliant way to move around the lake as it is at a fair clip and a very smooth ride -
Team on the boat..
..and Sandy is smiling for those who have suggested she doesn't.. although the lake was like glass anyway.
There was not a cloud in the sky and it was very warm and only a little chilly when the boat was really tramping. Kids got up close and personal with alligators...there are a 1,000 of them on the lake and we saw around 20 of them ranging from a few feet to 8 foot plus. Amazing birdlife and plenty of sightings of the Florida Hippo. The boat charges right up through the grass to sit alongside the alligators and the birds are fairly relaxed around the boats also. Saw two Bald Eagles but they were in the Cypress trees on land a fair distance away. Kids loved it and a good step towards game drives in Chobe or back on the Serengetti. Caitlin just beamed all the way through it while Reubs just took it in but was really interested in the alligators.
Back on land had a brief presentation from one of the guides about the alligator and he used a 4 year old alligator to demonstrate his points. So of course the kids touched and then held the alligator...you will notice that his snout is taped shut...this seemed
Osprey with kill in talons
May not see the kill but he flew off soon after with a rodent or similar hanging from his talons.. a pretty good idea.
Headed back and had a 'Sandy Stop'...Walmart Superstore Kissimmee...just an upsized version of K-mart but we thought that we still needed a Christmas tree to keep the Santa issue real as it may be our last year with St Nick...the eldest has now joined the ranks of those privvy to the secret. To his credit (and on promise of extreme discomfort) he has maintained the pretence for the junior camper on tour. Picked up a little 3 foot multi coloured fibre optic tree for $12 and the price of their gift bits and pieces here is ridiculously cheap. So Missy has a tree and Big Red has a location to dump his treasures on the 25th...although she and Reubs are well aware that much of this years Christmas cheer went towards their tickets for the parks.
A good day and a shame that this side of Florida is so under rated and so unexplored.
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Audra
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Merry Christmas Beal family!
Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year! Its my last day here for 2010, but looking forward to catching up on the blog when I get back. All the best - love the mini xmas tree....