03 Big Cypress

Trip Start Nov 06, 2008
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Trip End Apr 30, 2009


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Flag of United States  , Florida,
Saturday, January 3, 2009

On the road again, by bike - feels good. The objective of this foray is to explore potential future campsites in the Big Cypress National Preserve. Headed first  for Burns Lake which is a free campground open only during deer hunting season (ends January fourth this year). Timing is everything - I arrived just in time for a group lunch at Bruce and Nancy Campbell's RV -- it was great seeing some of the gang that adopted me when I was travelling by bike alone a couple years ago. Camped right next to the lake for the view (and the gators) which was awesome once the stars appeared; although my Big Dipper does not come above the horizon until well after midnight. Went to Everglade City for supplies and gas -- also dropped in on Bill and Shirley at the Everglades Visitor Center; they have a new dog, Blackjack J.

Headed north twenty miles on a dirt wash-board road, which Baby ate up, to Bear Island. This free campsite gets taken over by hunters but will be a fabulous site once they leave with all their Off Road Vehicle (ORV) toys, mainly swamp buggies. The area has both group and secluded campsites amid mature Slash Pines and Palms. I definitely will return for a weekend or more of leisure.

When stopped at the Turner River Canoe Launch (to use the facilities) the bike wouldn't start; the battery was completely dead -- BMW comes to the rescue; they towed Baby sixty-six miles to the BMW Miami dealership where they replaced the battery which had an intermittent fault. And WOW, there was zero cost for this amazing service (the tow and new battery) and I was riding again off into the sunset -- THIS IS SERVICE LIKE NO OTHER I've experienced (BMW does not even manufacture the batteries); I guess they can offer three year unlimited warranties since this is my first problem in 10 years and one rarely sees an immobile Beemer two-wheeler (Motorrad).

Headed to Pinecrest, another free campground on the Loop Road, to secure a campsite a day ahead of New Year's eve so I can meet up with Cindy and Bogie. The Loop Road has been cleaned up by a grader after recent flooding in November.  Traveled to Mitchell's Landing (airboat launch) for a bath and had to wait for a couple of loud landings before lathering up; gators stay away from this spot. The old hands definitely know how to utilize these machines

After a starry quiet new years, we joined the Burns Lake crowd for a late New Year's day lunch - Bogie loved the smoked rib bones and crackling. The next day we headed back to the Everglades but will definitely return to explore Bear Island.

Tidbits:
- My new handheld Garmin is awesome; the topographical detail contained in memory is hard to imagine.
- For some reason, motorbikes are not considered to be an ORV, nor can they get a licence  L.
- Just read a great book about the ongoing troubles in Burma; "The Lizard Cage" is extremely well written.
- After viewing the results of a head-on collision on the Tamiami Trail, I am surprised at the slow progress in the US at getting daytime running lights put on new cars.
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