06 Pinecrest

Trip Start Jan 15, 2008
1
6
9
Trip End Jun 08, 2008

Flag of United States  , Florida,
Tuesday, March 11, 2008

The transisiton from the Everglades to Big Cypress was easy -- less than a two hour drive after dismantling the Long Pine Key campsite. On the way, I played boyscout again to a reluctant Alligator Snapping turtle - it took three tries with corresponding scratches before safe transport across the road was accomplished. I also got to see a large (two feet), magnificent black and white Swallow-tailed Kite - these birds are just returning to the Florida for the nesting season.

Pinecrest is a free campground (Mitchell's Landing, just a mile down the road, is free as well but tends to be the party place and has loud airboats on weekends) on the Loop Road that surprisingly was not well utilized this year. Supposedly, gas prices are keeping many campers/RV'ers away from the nice warm weather. At night, the stars have been brilliant and the mosquitoes rare.

I first explored the Loop Road which is unpaved most of the way and extremely muddy after a huge rainstorm the first night 01-Big Cypress sign
01-Big Cypress sign
 . I stopped for a visit at my favourite place on the road, Sweetwater Strand, which has a bridge overlooking the cypress swamp. After losing my pocket-knife earlier in the trip, I finally found a "Benchmade" replacement at a neat hardware store in Everglade City where I procured the information needed for the Turner River expedition.

With Cindy, my new Park Ranger girl-friend, and her super-dog Bogie (a short-haired Border Collie), we assaulted the Turner River with great gusto in Bucky's bright blue canoe. This five hour, nine mile (six hours for us since the last three miles were against the tide) canoe trek begins at the Tamiami Trail in the Big Cypress and then traverses the Everglades, ending at Chokoloskee Island (the largest shell island on the east coast). The first six miles on a narrow river through towering Cypress trees that opened into sawgrass interspersed with neat mangrove tunnels was really terrific. The last three miles struggling against the tide in a wide river and eventually a large bay was tough slugging; I guess I should have found out the tide times. Overall though, this was a well spent fun day.

The last day in Florida with Cindy and Bogie was spent hiking to Mitchell's Landing and other Pinecrest haunts. After talking with my sister Eileen and Mum, I will be wending my way home to help take care of Dad. Hopefully I can complete my Everglade explorations in the near future.

Tidbits:
- The future stages of the trip will focus on the little birds and brilliant flowers.
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Comments

starlagurl
starlagurl on Mar 13, 2008 at 08:16PM

Very cool...
I like the photos of the animals. Have fun on the rest of your motorbike trip!

Louise Brown
TravelPod Community Manager

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