Florida Everglades 1/26/2011

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We traveled to the Florida Everglades which is approx. 1 1/2 hours south of where we are currently located and took an airboat through the jungles of the Everglades. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.....our Captain Picou had no problem putting the 'pedal to the metal' every chance he had, wasn't sure that he was going to make all the tight corners.....but he did!
Hope you enjoy the following pics.

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Photos

the airboats
These are the airboats. They are VERY loud! Each one can seat (I would guess) 9 adults comfortably (plus the 'captain'). Jim & I had our own personal ride.

a passenger
...this guy was no more than 3 ft away from me.
Obviously the Pelicans have become very comfortable with people.

along for the ride
these guys 'hitch' a ride for about half the way...(easier than flying out???)

on the way to Totch's Island
just some scenery along the way.

Outward Bound camp
Cpt. Picou says "they used to send boys to reform school, now they send them out to the Florida Everglades where they camp with the girls and go boating everyday." (He "just can't understand it").

view of the Gulf from Totch's Island
Named after Everglades author Totch Brown (who lived on this tiny island until his death in 1996.
http://www.florida-everglades.com/totch/totch.htm

Red Mangrove roots
The Red Mangrove trees have roots that 'hover' above the water. The Indians used the roots to make a red dye.

one of the birds
..we saw several nocturnal birds...Captain Picou doesn't know why...insomnia??

waterways though the jungle
a number of years ago we went through the bayous of Louisiana...this was similar.

like a tunnel
on the way back we went through the outback jungle.
Verrry cool!

Captain Picou
This is our 'captain' playing with the alligator. The alligator did 'snap' at him a few times...but it was too quick for me to get a picture of it. (I tried)

his closeup
...just before snapping at Captain Picou

swimming away
he was really quite large

Racoon in the Mangroves
yep....Racoons are plentiful here too!

they feel weird
Yes he's real, yes he's alive and yes I am holding him. They feel really weird
(Jim wanted to know if he felt like a 'purse').

alligators along the roadside
Just wanted to show you how close they are to the roadside. See those 'inlets'?? We saw TONS of alligators as we were driving along..can't see them in the pic, but they are in there!!