QC01-07 Monument Lake revisited

February 3, 2010 (Wed) Flamingo CG to Monument Lake CG (119/2104 miles) - We were up before dawn this morning, showered and were eating breakfast as the sun came up. Mark had a bad night, not sleeping much because of mosquito (or whatever) bites. He seems to have been bothered more with them than Joy, probably because he spent time outside yesterday - with his guitar and getting packed up and ready to leave. When she started to put the roof vent down readying Q for the road, Joy found a small frog (dead) stuck against the lid. He must have been caught and crushed when the vent closed in the last day or so. He had to be retrieved, not an easy place to reach, and disposed of before we left. Considering we were parked in a swamp, we may find more.

We got off at about 8:00 (64° heavy clouds), refreshed our water and sanitary systems and started up the 40 mile road back to civilization. There was a lot more standing water out in the "river of grass" than we've seen before - even on our way down. Most is probably because of the rain but we wondered if attempts to return the Everglades to it's natural state have been having some effect. And, of course, the increased water brings more food for the wildlife, so we saw a lot more bird activity than in the past.

After the mundane activities of laundry and shopping we had a Chinese buffet lunch - not all that good. Chores completed, we were back on the road at 1:30. We were backed into our site at Monument Lake CG by 3:00 or so.

February 4, 2010 (Thu) Monument Lake CG (2) 59/74° - Our campsite this time is at the end of the row at the north end of the lake. We have always thought it might be one of the better ones because it is bigger and gives us privacy on our starboard side - where our awning is. The recent rains have left the swamp to the north with a good deal more standing water than usual so we are a little concerned about mosquitoes but so far they haven't been bad (or is it that it's so much better here than in the Everglades that it doesn't seem bad?) We'll see. Although Q's afternoon shadow is on the wrong side, in our neighbor's yard in effect, there are trees to the west that give shade to limit our sun exposure.

When we were here last week there were always plenty of empty sites, even on the weekend. This time there are fewer and by late this afternoon the campground was full. They don't turn people away here (that we know of) but instead park the overflow rigs in the wide grassy areas here and there around the lake. We usually see this on weekends not mid-week. We wonder if some here are on their way to the Super bowl in Miami. Or maybe some will commute to it from here. We are about 50 miles from Miami.

February 5, 2010 (Fri) Monument Lake CG (3) 65/80° - There was a beautiful sunrise over the lake this morning - not the brilliant red that we often think of as a beautiful sunrise but many shades of blue and pink in soft pastels. The clouds varied from puffy to wispy with areas of pure sky coming through at just the right places. When we walked around the lake the first time it was spectacular so we took the camera with us the next time but by then most of the color was gone. Maybe the memory will be better than an actual picture anyway.

February 6, 2010 (Sat) Monument Lake CG (4) 65/77° - Interesting! Usually a campground fills up on a weekend. We especially expected it here since it was so full Thursday night. But most left on yesterday and only few came in. This morning even more have left leaving the campground practically empty - unusual for a Saturday.

February 7, 2010 (Sun) Monument Lake CG (5) 59/74° - The breeze has been brisk today but the sun is warn. All in all it's been a slow relaxing day. The campground hosts had a super bowl party (probably private) at their motor homes but it broke up at half time. It must have been cold sitting outside watching TV in the cold breeze even though they had constructed a wind baffle. We were happy about the outcome because New Orleans needs all the good news they can get but we probably would have been just as happy if Indianapolis had won because we know some of our family were rooting for them. Our football loyalties aren't well developed!

February 8, 2010 (Mon) Monument Lake CG (6) 215/2319 miles - We got a notice in the mail of a problem with one of our bank accounts. Mark thought it was only a statement and set it aside until we got 50 miles from civilization. It turned out to be an alert notice sent over a month ago! A phone call to the bank yielded only the information that the problem could only be resolved in person. The closest branch office is in Fort Lauderdale, FL 60 miles northeast. There is also an office in Margate a few miles further north and since Margate is where a friend of Joy's lives, we set out for there this morning. 215 miles and 8 hours later we are back at Monument Lake campground with a fixed bank problem, a friend visited and clothes washed - a full day with much accomplished.

It was 46° when we got up so the furnace was brought into service to warm things up for our showers. By 7:45, when we pulled out of our campsite, the temperature had gotten all the way up to 46°. After a stop at Midway campground to refresh our water and sanitary systems we were on our way to Margate. The bank, to satisfy a personal appearance, was our first stop then it was on to a laundromat. This turned out to be an interesting place. In addition to being one of the best (fastest, cleanest, well maintained, etc.) laundromats we've seen, there was plenty available to fill the time while waiting for the clothes to wash. In the laundromat itself there was a computer with internet connection, a FAX machine and a copy machine. In the other half of the building there was an adult video place. There was no indication that they were connected (and we didn't visit!!)

Lunch at Sweet Tomatoes with Dorothy was great and Joy and Dorothy found some nice fabric at a nearby sewing shop but the Walmart we picked to do some shopping was crowded and unfulfilling on many levels. We also picked the most expensive gas in the area ($2.90/gal) to replenish our fuel before plunging back into to wilderness. The sunset as we drove west on the Tamiami Trail was spectacular though. Again not the brilliant reds we've come to associate with beautiful sunsets and sunrises but soft blues, pinks, grays and white. It must have been this kind of sunset that inspired atmospheric backgrounds for some biblical paintings.

We got back here at 4:50 completely exhausted.

Q058243 Monument Lake CG, Big Cypress National Preserve. #26 dry $8.00 B-