Big Cypress NP - #51-07

January 28, 2005 (Fri) Ochopee, FL - We've decided to stay here in Big Cypress through the weekend. There probably wouldn't be any problem getting a campsite in the Everglades on a weekend but we need to do some shopping and laundry before going that far away from civilization and trying to do that along with everyone else in South Florida might not be fun. We had a discussion about staying here at $8.00 a night of going back to Burns Lake where it is free. This place with flush toilets, a more manicured surroundings, and fewer people who might be seen as homeless if encountered on a city street, won out - even though the shower facilities here are a bit primitive. There is no hot water and no privacy (they're outside!) Like Burns Lake, the campsites are arranged around a small lake - about 26 in all, plus tent sites. Most are perpendicular to the road - Q's cab faces the lake - but some are parallel. We passed on these because they are little more than wide spots in the road.

Last night we went over to the campfire program. A young (30 she told us) ranger showed slides and talked about the geographical and biological history of the Big Cypress area. It sounds deadly but it really was very interesting. It even held the attention of a large group (25 -30) of older teens camping in the tenting area. It rained lightly just before the program started which added to the fun.

January 29, 2005 (Sat) Ochopee, FL - We've been wondering about the group of teenagers. They seem unusually well behaved for the situation they are in and this morning the bus that brought them here came and picked them all up - without their camping equipment. It turns out that they are middle and high school students from the Broward County school system in a service/study program. They have been spending their weekends traveling to various areas studying different aspects of local ecological, biological, geological, etc. systems. Some of them have even gone to South Africa, though it probably took them longer than a weekend. Part of their work involves collecting data that is passed on to official government agencies that deal with such data. Today the bus had taken them deep into the Big Cypress swamp to study the Florida Panther. Tonight, at the Ranger campfire program, they treated us to a presentation of what they had seen and learned here. Small groups gave a presentation with slide show about reptiles, birds, flora, fauna, panthers, etc. with each student giving a short talk. It was wonderful! What a great experience for young people.

January 30, 2005 (Sun) Ochopee, FL - The folks two and three sites away brought out kites this morning. One was a rather limp cow, the other an elaborate three mast sailing ship. The cow flew beautifully but the the ship never got off the ground (so to speak). After 15 or 20 minutes the cow developed a problem and plunged into the lake. Almost at once an alligator came to investigate. He stayed within a few inches of the kite as it was slowly reeled in. The group speculated whether he thought it was food or a possible mate. He sank below the surface of the water and disappeared when the kite was pulled from the water.

The night sky is worth a mention. It is beautiful with all its stars. At home the lights all around obscure most of them. Here we see so many that it's hard to pick out the constellations among them. Both last night and tonight we sat out at the picnic table for a long time just looking up at them in awe.

Q010154 Monument Lake Campground, Big Cypress National Preserve #1 dry $8.00s B (x3)