For the 9th of July, we booked a full-day-excursion in the Everglades with Garl. In advance, we got a detailed e-mail with suggestions about clothing, food and beverages, the admission to Everglades NP ...
Due to the weather situation on the 8th of July, it was not sure that the kayak trip would be possible. Fortunately, in the morning we got a text message that the trip could go ahead.
We met Garl at the meeting point "Robert is here". After a short introduction and explanation of the schedule of the day, the adventure started. First of all, the hiking in the "domes" of dwarf and bald cypress. We saw beautiful flowers, frogs and an owl. We waded along a gator hole and finally we met "Princess", Garl's favourite gator.
Then it was time for the Freshwater Paddle. We paddled with our double kayak through the amazing tunnels of arching mangroves. Because it was wet season, we didn't see American alligators on the banks.
The highlight of this excursion is undeniably the Saltwater Paddle that started in Flamingo Visitor Center. In Flamingo Marina we saw some huge manatees. After a quick lunch, our paddle tour began. We paddled the shoreline of the Florida Bay estuary. We saw lots of wading birds (binoculars are very useful) and we just missed a crocodile sliding into the water.
By the evening, sharks came into the estuary and we saw lots of fish. By sunset, Garl offered us a rosé wine. Very nice! He hoped that dolphins would come into the estuary, but this was "wishful thinking". This would have been "the icing on the cake".
Our conclusion: this kayaktour was a unique experience and one of the highlights of our roadtrip through Florida.
Ruth and Marie Fincken, Belgium