Tina and I spent last night and will tonight at the Long Pine Key campground in the Everglades National Park. It’s located on the southeastern portion of the park, in the drier portions of the Everglades. We are totally off the grid with no electricity or water but self-contained with our RV and generator. After a sausage and egg breakfast, we headed across the southern portion of the Everglades to explore. The life-blood of the Everglades is freshwater which gives way to its rich biodiversity. Freshwater in combination with elevation give rise to various plant communities and associated wildlife. At our first stop Tina was reaching out for a growth of air plants which are growing everywhere only to realize she was 3 feet from a 10 foot alligator 😳. As we traveled west towards Flamingo across the Everglades the transition of plant communities was apparent. Somewhat higher elevations in the vast wet savannas created small islands of trees and shrubs called “hammocks” which provide refuge for larger mammals like the Florida panther. Along the way we took 3-4 hikes, photographed a lot of unique plants, saw a bald eagle, osprey on her nest with young, and manatees where the Everglades touches the ocean. The weather was perfect, with a slight breeze and no hotter than 70 degrees. And no skeeters or biting insects! Tomorrow we’ll relocated the RV to the southwestern portion of the Everglades at Flamingo RV park. It was a day to remember.
Greg and Tina’s Travels Across America 