QC91-10 Everglades Forever

February 13, 2009 (Fri) Flamingo CG (5) 63/80° - It was foggy last night and everything was very damp this morning. This campground has two dump stations (or more accurately, two half dump stations). The sewer line in the "T" loop is out of order and they have inexplicably taken out the fresh water tap at the station in the "A" loop. So after breakfast we visited both and availed ourselves of their respective amenities.

The long Presidents Day weekend is bringing in lots of campers. All the sites around us are filling up. Unlike most campgrounds most are tents - ranging in size from barely big enough for one person to sleep to elaborate multi room "palaces". Small trailers are also prevalent. A lot of boats decorate vehicle tops and dedicated trailers - it's going to be a busy weekend on the water. And there are a lot of kids.

February 14, 2009 (Sat) Flamingo CG (6) 60/78° - We woke this morning wondering what was dripping. It turned out to be condensation from the awning dripping on the rug. The air is so humid that it might as well be misting rain.

Two crocodiles (maybe more) live in the channel near the marina. We made it a point to pay them a visit when we rode our bikes over to the camp store for milk. They were in exactly the same position they were in last year leading us to believe what we've long expected - they're statues. Actually they are real. They just don't move much.

February 15, 2009 (Sun) Flamingo CG (7) 61/79° - The campground filled to overflowing last night. Every site around us was occupied when we got up. But almost immediately they began to become available as some of the longer timers packed up and moved on. Of those who came in for the weekend most are families with children - some lots of children. Several groups appear to be pushing site occupancy limits. In one site (the one we vacated for this one in fact) six adults and three older teenage children shared one tent. Some may have slept in one or both of the two cars.

We thought we were in for a "long weekend", especially when the restrooms became nearly unusable for various reasons, but by late afternoon almost everyone had gone home. One very large family (maybe several family) unit left after dark, grossly overstaying the time limit. So much for the three day Presidents Day weekend. Apparently three day weekends are for camping even if you only go for one night. We've got the campground pretty much to ourselves again - except for the semi-professional (read intimidating) guitar player across the road, the slightly more professional guitar/harmonica/keyboard player in the next site - although invited to join them Mark was glad he'd made other plans when they got together in the evening.

February 16, 2009 (Mon) Flamingo CG (8) 58/75° - This campground being so open makes it easy to spot freeloaders - for us anyway. When we got up this morning, there was a small pickup truck (no tent) in a nearby site. He had obviously been there since last night because the windows were cloudy from the overnight fog. He was packed up and gone long before the campground hosts came around to check occupancy.

This has been another windy day making it seem chilly to sit out unless in the sun.

February 17, 2009 (Tue) Flamingo CG (9) 54/74° - Today is the day the government mandated that all television be broadcast in digital - until it said they didn't have to till June 12 "to give the people more time". We expect it was really to give broadcasters more time (angering many who complied in time). Even so, all the Fort Myers, FL stations, and probably many others, are shutting off their analog signal today anyway. We are going to miss the analog signal because it is the best, maybe only, way to accurately aim our antenna. We can usually pick up an analog signal with the antenna in completely the wrong direction then turn it to the best picture. With digital we either get a signal or we don't within a very narrow range. There could be a perfectly good TV station within range and we would  never know it!

Several large flights of Pelicans (some may have been Storks) flew over this afternoon. Beautiful! We don't see that much in New Jersey. Down at the marina the other day we watched an Osprey devour his catch. We haven't seen that at home either but, unlike Pelicans, there are Osprey in New Jersey.

February 18, 2009 (Wed) Flamingo CG (10) 54/74° - This has been another windy day. As was yesterday. If we were to describe our trip so far in two words, they would be cold and windy. We don't remember quite so much of either in other years. At least it's been relatively warm while we've been here. It certainly was a beautiful day today in spite of the wind.

This seems to be the music corner of the campground. Besides Bob on banjo and Mark on guitar there have been the fellow with a guitar that was across the road, the fellow with guitar, harmonica, and keyboard next door, a fellow with guitar on the next cross-loop road West and another on the next cross-loop road East. It could have been quite a jam if they'd all gotten together.

Tomorrow we're back to Monument Lake.

Q047947 Flamingo CG, Everglades National Park #B16&9 dry $8.00 A (x10)