Gators, snakes and panathers

October 25th/09 - Florida City, FL
EconoLodge
Mileage: 180 km
Total milage: 6,535 km

Tonight we are staying at the EconoLodge in Florida City. We thought we would be staying in Homestead, but somewhere we crossed a street and ended up in Florida City.

Long ride today, 180 Kms. Deby was bound and determined not to camp in the Everglades and it so happens that from Naples to Florida City it is almost all Everglades! We passed more campgrounds travelling through this area than we have on the whole trip, but no, on we went. The idea of alligators and snakes was bad enough for her, but when we saw several road signs allerting motorists of panther crossings, that cinched it.

Riding through the Everglades was beautiful. We had a tailwind, a bright sunny day, and the traffic was light. Gators like this kind of weather as well. Hopefully not because the cyclists are out, but because they like to sun themselves in the grass and for the same reason they float at the top of the water. We saw lots of them. If there is water, there truly is a gator here. Deby was also amused (Not!!) by snakes falling out of trees into the canal beside the road as we rode by.

The ride through the Everglades was like watching an I-Max movie. Many species of beautiful exotic birds flew from the water and the trees as we passed by. They flew beside us and they flew in front of us. With the wind behind us, we rode in silence hearing only their song and the wind over their wings. A day of jaw dropping beauty. I wish I knew the names of the different types of birds we were seeing. All I can say is big, various colors, long long legs and long long beaks.

While the wildlife was jaw dropping we had to keep our mouths shut. The bugs at times rained on us. Interestingly enough the different bugs have their own locales and they don't mix. First we had the clouds of little guys. The ones that fill your eyes and nose. Later we had the bugs that bleed their guts all over you as they strike. Lastly we had the flocks of round beetles that hit you like a rock and come along for the ride.

Princess got a trophy beetle in the eye. Her eye swelled up. She's kind of got the 'Festis' look from 'Gun Smoke,' but she's healing.

Tomorrow we plan to be on Key Largo. The final run.