Gators and a new hero

Good friends

“I could do this the rest of my life”, says Steve, as we ride our bikes around Everglade City, Florida. The sky is blue, the temperature is in the upper 70’s, the scenery is green and lush, and we have no deadlines. And for Steve, who has worked so hard to get the RV and car ready for this trip, it finally feels like we have begun this trip we have thought about for so long.

We had a wonderful time with Carol and Jerry and Brenda and Thurman, even though neither of us could ever manage a win at the Mexican train dominos we enjoyed every night. We went with them to Solomon’s Castle, a strange but fascinating place where a man took all manner of junk—like oil cans, vegetable processers, ball bearings, etc. – and made art out of it. Mr. Solomon also lost faith in the stock market and invested in refurbished cars all made before 1935- the year he was born. We enjoyed seeing all of it and having a lunch in the “Boat in the Moat”. We also saw Tampa Bay play the Boston Red Sox and got a little too much sun that day- (is that possible?).

Carol has an embroidery machine and a generous heart.

Takes 3 brains to hook up

Solomon's Castle

Lunch at Boat in the Moat

Since Thursday we have been in tiny Everglade City learning about the renegades who were early settlers here amid the mosquitoes and swamp. Mr. Collier, who built the road from Tampa to Miami and paid his workers in script to be spent at his stores, was a major influence on the economy here.  

I have a new hero. I had never heard of Marjory Stoneman Douglas until the tragic shooting that occurred at the school named for her. She was an outspoken writer for the Miami Herald who campaigned for women’s voting rights and carried a lot of influence in decisions about the environment of south Florida. She wrote “The Everglades: River of Grass” and if it were not for her, the Everglades National Park and the Big Cyprus Preserve  would perhaps be covered with cement and condos. She made a lot of enemies of agricultural and business moguls but was smart enough to know that the Everglades are the source of water and life rather than a worthless swamp. She lived to be 108.  Quote from her obituary- “In the history of  the American environmental movement there have been few more remarkable figures than Marjory Stoneman Douglas.”

We had the thrill of a high speed ride on an airboat through Ten Thousand Islands and the mangrove trees. We saw no alligators as the water is too salty for them there.

 

NO, I did not drive it but did enjoy pretending

But we saw dozens of gators when we rode the Shark Valley trail to the outlook and back yesterday. A few gators were so close to the path we could have run over their tails. Most were 5-8 foot long and very black. Once we saw baby alligators about 10 inches long which meant they were less than a year old.  They are 6 inches long when they are born. Glorious cranes and egrets and blue herons watched us from the water or flew above the tall grasses. Turtles were out to sun themselves.

I rode the whole 15 miles just a day after “warming up” with a 5 mile ride. I thought I would not be able to walk today but aside from bruised ischial tuberosities, I am ok. And if you don’t know where they are that’s ok.

Hurricane Irma devastated many homes and businesses around here and we can see the work going on to restore roads and buildings. One place that was a mess was “Havana Café” in a little place down a narrow strip of land in Chokoloskee. The owner made the news because of his determination to reopen and we had a lovely lunch there today complete with live music.

 

Havana Cafe

Outside Havana Cafe

So did I agree with Steve when he said, “I could do this the rest of my life”? I am the one not ready to commit to never having a house again. I am the one who has insisted we put furniture and belongings in storage for a while.   This week has been really special and we are so much more relaxed. And I am thrilled he is so happy. But I’m not ready to promise to love this traveling forever—yet. Give me a few more months to see what I think about full-time RV’ing. Can one get sick of sunshine and no alarm clocks?

Being with family and friends this past 10 days has made us realize how serious we are about wanting to have friends join us on this trip. So we will post our plans- as far as we know- always willing to make some changes- nothing is set in stone. And if there is a place you have always wanted to go and could stand being on a pull out queen sofa bed with a memory foam topper, tell us when you want to go and where and we shall see!!!!

Look for the tentative schedule later this week….