The Appetizer Trip

I took a trip last week. I left early, early Wednesday morning, and didn't get back until Sunday night. I put almost 1300 miles on my car. I went a lot of places, saw a lot of new things, but didn't even scratch the surface of what was available. What I was originally calling my Trip South, has been renamed the Appetizer Trip.

I started with a stop at DeSoto National Memorial. Yes, as in Hernando. (Ponce de Leon and the Fountain of Youth was the week before in St. Augustine. Hoping to post on that soon.) I went to a ranger talk on fire making and uses of fire and found it fascinating. I'm trying to figure out how to talk about fire this summer at Great Basin.
I headed farther south into Big Cypress National Preserve. I've got to go back and rent a canoe and explore that area. I camped the night at Monument Lake and it was beautiful. I walked through the campground chatting with those that were out and had to capture this guy fishing, at sunset, on the lake.

My little tent, it's first time out of my trunk in a long time!

Thursday morning I was up early and headed for Everglades National Park. Everglades!! Oh my gosh, I was so excited. This was definitely a place where I need at least a week to do and see everything. Plus, I really wanted to take an airboat ride but wasn't able to. I did, however, see plenty of these guys to last me a while.

My campsite in the Everglades. I was basically on the southern-most point of the Florida mainland. I went to a ranger campfire program titled Salt: The only rock we eat. It was so-so.

In the morning, I finally was able to break out the trekking poles I got for Christmas (!!!) and did a hike all the way to the top of Rock Reef Pass. It was a hard climb, the elevation down there can really get to you!

From the Everglades I set my sites on the southern-most point in the USA, Key West. I stopped on Marathon Key for lunch with old friends from Montana days. It was great to see them and get caught up while eating fabulous seafood!

I checked into my campground on Big Pine Key and got my tent pitched, then drove a few more miles to Key West. I walked almost that entire town. I saw Ernest Hemingway's house, traversed the historic district, and much more, but still have a list of things I wasn't able to get to, like a museum that has Spanish gallion ship loot; I hear you get to heft a gold bar!

I joined the mob of tourists, and with ice cream in hand (it was in the upper 80s/lower 90s the whole trip) I enjoyed sunset from Key West. It was spectacular! There was a wedding reception going on a little way down the boardwalk and they had a steel-drum band playing which only enhanced the atmosphere of the evening.

After a major fight between my tent and the wind (in which the wind won and my tent went rolling across the campground in defeat, with me in it no less...but that's another story) I did a few laps in the pool at the campground and called it a night.

This is what I woke up to the next morning. Big Pine Key has Key Deer; basically they are really stunted white-tail and they are free to roam around. This little one got really close to my tent.

I left the Keys and the prettiest water I have ever seen in my life and headed for Biscayne. I got my book stamped, watched the park film, and chatted with the rangers. Another park I've got to explore with a snorkel and fins, for sure!

I made my way north through Miami and took a slight detour. Anyone recognize this house? Don't be jealous, but I got a picture of the loft too!I headed north and drove until I couldn't drive anymore. I got a room (with a shower!!) and woke up early and drove the rest of the way to Jacksonville to attend my church meetings. I drove back to Macclenny after church and my roommates had welcome home signs up all over the house. It made me feel pretty special.

Life is good.