Everglades National Park

Sunday, December 21, 2014

We spent five nights in the Flamingo Campground at the end of the road on Florida Bay. The weather was warm and buggy and we were glad to have the electrical hook-ups to be able to close the windows and run the air conditioner in the evening. We rode bikes around the area, to the marina and around the campground. Greg rode back a few dirt trails. Since this is our third time here, we didn't do the tourist “stuff” and relaxed in the sun and warmth. No rain or super humid weather this time. We did get to see crocodiles, manatees, osprey, ibis, and other birds.

Ospreys nested very close to humans in the campground and the marina

Florida Bay

Resident Croc in the marina

Awake and cruising the canoe concession

Manatees sleeping in the salt water side of the marina

Small (7-foot) croc on the boat ramp. Boats were busy launching to the left.

Friday morning we left Flamingo and drove back up the road toward the entrance. We stopped at the various boardwalks and scenic areas. We visited these previously, but it was fun to check them out again and regain our appreciation for the uniqueness of this park. After checking in to the Lone Pine Key campground, not too far from the entrance, we drove the short distance to the Royal Palm area. It is composed of borrow pits from old construction efforts to divert the water, and so there are big ponds with boardwalks along and over them. The wildlife; birds, fish, and alligators gather here, and it is a great place to see them.

Strangler figs at Mahogany Hammock

Is this Poisonwood?

Airplant on Mahogany

Bald Cypress at Pa-hay-okee Overlook

Wood Storks were busy near the road

Slash Pine forest at Pinelands

Liguus Tree Snail at Pinelands

We saw lots of gators, cranes, anhingas, but only a few vultures. Last time we were here, the vultures were so tame that they would follow you down the sidewalk so closely that you were afraid the were going to bite the back of your shoe. Since they are protected in the park, we don't know if the rangers have found a way to discourage them from hanging out in this area. This time the anhingas were the tame pests, very noisy and easy to walk into if you were not careful.

A chorus of Tilapia at Royal Palms

A duet of very tame Anhingas

Anhinga solo!

The gators were busy at Royal Palms

Great Blue Heron

Large Tree Gator- King of the Hill!

Working hard on a Friday Afternoon

Cuddly

Invasive Oscar

Florida Gar

Sawgrass on the Marl Prairie

Hawk directly overhead

Royal Palm

Tree face!

It was a gorgeous, sunny day and just the right temperature to wander around in tee shirt and shorts. Can't believe it is just a few days until Christmas! After enjoying our time at Royal Palm, we drove back to the campground and settled in. This campground is cheaper because it doesn't have hook-ups. You have to haul your water, but it does have a dump station. Amazingly, the no-see'ums and the mosquitoes are not out here until after dark, so we have been able to keep the windows open until sunset and enjoy the breeze. It has been cool enough at night that we haven't needed to run the air conditioner, which suits us fine. The unit is really too big for our small RV, and it is all or nothing, either blasting cold, or not cooling us at all. Plus it is very noisy. We discovered the first time we used it at night, we couldn't sleep with it on. Spent the whole night pulling the covers up and down to adjust for the cooling, and then woke up every time it cut on.


We will stay here for 4 nights and Tuesday, the 23^rd, head west across the state to Naples for Christmas with Greg's 94 year-old Dad. Greg has been taking rides on the old military roads around here, and has seen a lot of gators in the road. We finally have internet here, didn't have it in Flamingo, so I have been catching up on “stuff”. We'll stop at “Robert Is Here” again on the way out for more great tropical fruit!

Previous Everglades posts:
Loving the Everglades, Christmas in Naples, New Year's in Alabama and Finally Beach Camping!
Christmas in Naples and Into the Everglades
How Many No-See'ums Can Dance on the Head of a Pin? Everglades National Park