Welcome To Alligator Country–Big Cypress National Preserve

Big Cypress National Preserve (72 degrees, blue skies)



Midway Campground

Our friends Bev and JC encouraged us to visit Big Cypress National Preserve and we are sure glad they did.  It’s a fascinating place located in the Everglades.  There are two campground in the Preserve and we were very lucky to find sites available at Midway Campground with 50 amp service with water and sewer nearby. You can only stay for tent days per year regardless of campground.  For $10 a night with an access/senior pass it’s a tremendous bargain and a beautiful campground.

 

 

Delicious dinner with the Webbers

Our friends arrived two days earlier while we were in Naples.  Bev cooked us a  delicious enchilada welcome back dinner.  Good friends, yummy food, and a great campsite.  What more does a person need. 

 

 

 

The campground surrounds a pond and we camped for the first time with an alligator.  He turns out to be a very small compared to what we soon would see at the Oasis Visitor Center. 

 

 

 

 

Does it appear to you that the alligator below is smiling?  Or maybe he’s having a “nice” dream. 

 

 

The Oasis Visitor Center has a long boardwalk to view the huge alligators.  We spent a couple of hours  just watching all the action. 

The bubbling picture below is of a walking catfish.  I’m from Indiana and the catfish there sure don’t walk but these catfish can cross the road on their fins.  They make quite a splash and commotion.  Before long the alligators became very interested in them as they awakened their long afternoon nap. 

Bev filmed an amazing video of what happened next.  It was quite a sight and shocked those of us who happened to witness it. 

Besides the alligators there were lots of other wildlife hanging out. Be sure to linger awhile when you visit.  The best time to visit is towards evening when  the alligators become more active. 

 



Great Blue Heron
 



Anhinga

 

 

A Great Visit With Our Workamping Friends in Naples Florida

Naples, FL (82 degrees, slightly humid, blue skies

(I'm behind in writing our posts.  This actually occured January 28-30)

Thomas and Fidencia

From May to October last year we worked with Fidencia and Thomas at Watkins Glen KOA. They became great friends and in the winter workamp at the beautiful Naples/Marco Island  KOA.  They invited us to stay at the campground and Fidencia planned a fun whirlwind tour for our two night stay. 

 

Their pretty site at Naples/Marco Island KOA

This is their second season workamping here.  Fidencia arranges all the entertainment and fun activities for the winter residents and Thomas works in the maintenance department. They have a beautiful full hook up site that Thomas has landscaped and improved considerably.  He even has lights going up the three palm trees at their site.

 

Launch site at campground

 

 

A canoe/kayak launch is available  and many of the residents love to paddle. There is a local guide who comes every Wednesday who organized paddles all around the area.  We liked the campground very much due to it being in a very tropical setting and near Rookery Bay Reserve.

 

 

Volunteer guide

 

We visited the Learning Center and a volunteer took us on a very interesting trail. Although he admits to be an engineer by trade our guide was very knowledgeable and told us so much about the plants and trees in this area.

 

Hiking Trail

 

This center is a “must see” (admission $5/person) and we have appreciated Florida more since learning  about the tropical plants of this area. I also picked up the  National Audubon Field Guide to Florida that our guide recommended. It’s very helpful and has lots of pictures to help you identify plants, birds, and much more. 



Python skin

A hunt for the pythons in Florida is underway. It is believed irresponsible owners of pythons have released their pets out into the wild when they are no longer able to handle or afford to feed them. The tropical environment has enabled them to multiple and it’s become a real problem to the animals and birds they are devouring. Thousands of pythons are thought to be in the Everglades and they are very hard to find.  A prize is being offered by Fish and Wildlife for the hunter who finds the most and another for the largest.  So far, after one month and hundreds of hunters only 30 have been found.  The skin in the above picture is of one about 14 feet long and was tanned by a volunteer. 

 

 

 

 

Naples is a pretty town with a very active retired community.  Fidenica found out about a few happy hour and early dinner specials which made our visit more affordable and lots of fun. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had fun window shopping and checking out some very expensive and unique stores.  All of which were mostly out of our price range but fun to explore. 

 

 

 

One evening we had lots of fun taking a water taxi to our restaurant.  For $5 per person it a great deal.  It makes nine stops on the route. and you can hop on and off.  We saw some beautiful condominiums, homes, and huge boats on the route.  Afterwards we went to a local park to hear a live jazz band play.  It was a very enjoyable evening.

 

Water Taxi

 

 

 

It was great to spend time with our friends.  They are returning as workampers for another season at Watkins Glen KOA this spring.  We hope our paths cross again soon.