Nice series of videos on paddling in the Everglades:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urOXNAjku0Q&feature=related

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

What a Trip!

__________________
'84 300SD sold
124.128

The bugs did seem intense. I wonder what they are like at other times of the year. It's the kind of trip I'd like to do in the fall or spring, perhaps even the winter but it might be hard to find camping in more appealing bug and weather conditions.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Wild men.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Wild old men. A friend pointed out that the chickees they slept on were safe because alligators can't climb up on them. There's footage of them sleeping on the ground one night. Seems alligators could easily have reached them that night. Wonder what the safety protocols are in those kind of circumstances. They definitely saw alligators around their camps.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Day 1 was Everglades City to Darwin's Place. I suppose if you were able to reach Darwin's place you're fit to survive the rest of the trip.

What are they called? Chickees?

Can you catch alligator for food?

__________________
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

That's what it sounded like to me. Not sure how to spell it. Where does that word come from?

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Beautiful place......but did anyone tell them about the gators?

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

gators suck, but magnum rounds will take them out. no way I am sleeping on the ground in gatorland. And, water moccasins climb trees. Think I'll stay in OK............

Gee paddling around in a kayak acting like gator-bait dipping an oar into the water like bird or other animal...inches above the water in easy reach.

Why can I envision a Darwin award moment for these guys?

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

I did some paddling around a tributary of the St. Johns River around Orlando a few years ago. Gorgeous place. My friend has been paddling around there for years and has never seen any gators, but I guarantee you that my head was on a swivel the entire time.

EDIT: Actually, I guess that's not true. He has seen gators from a distance, but they have never been a problem. We didn't see any that day.

The city sleeker I'm I always have to think about "Southern Comfort" when hearing about the everglades.

__________________
1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

grew up in SWLA, and actually never heard of anyone having issues with gators, though there are plenty there. Just always stayed away from them.....BUFLs.......

We always referred to them as "Louisiana yard dogs". 'Course BUFL's are an apt term.

My wife and I enjoy visiting the Everglades in winter. We often hit the hiking trails and have never had a big problem with mosquitoes. It's the dry season then and very enjoyable. The best part of Florida.

The water levels dry up that time of year, and wildlife tends to congregate at major water holes. That makes excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing at easily accessible points.

There used to be a lot of amenities at Flamingo, including sunset sailing cruises on Florida Bay. As the sun goes down, millions of birds come in from a day of feeding to roost on the many islets in the bay. It's like Hitchcock's "The Birds" X10, except that nobody is under attack. Absolutely awesome.

Unfortunately, I believe the cruises were discontinued along with other services that were knocked out by Katrina and Wilma in 2005. You can still rent houseboats, canoes, kayaks and bicycles, though.