Across the Everglades

Just this past Sunday found me traveling through the everglades in south Florida.  It was amazing.  Dramatic skies, rain forest downpours, and primal sounds coming out of the swamp were a real gift for Charlotte and I as we headed to the Keys.

I had only been through the everglades once before (on a bicycle), and I could only remember pieces of the experience.  Since I was much younger than, I didn’t notice a lot of what was happening around me.  This time, my eyes and ears were very open.  Actually, all my senses were fully online.  I breathed the glades right through the pores on my skin.  And believe me, that’s not a hard thing to do.  Just step outside the air-conditioned car and the pores on your skin blow wide open and sweat begins to pour out.  It’s a very cleansing experience.

Charlotte and I made several stops along the way across Hwy. 41and made sure they were stops that allowed us get a sense of the local vibe.  One of these was an air boat stop.

These guys are out in the middle of a hot, humid swamp wearing full overalls as they operate these boats through the tall grasses and narrow waterways.  Below you can see one of them pulling in.  The engine is loud, a sound that crosses an aircraft engine and a nascar engine.

Some of the airboats even get the personal touch of the captain.

I will post more photos of my trip as time allows.  I am on vacation though and I don’t want to spend any more time in front of a computer than I have to.  We just completed day 2 in the Keys and we’ve been having a blast.  Stay tuned.