{"id":7894,"date":"2018-01-22T13:47:47","date_gmt":"2018-01-22T18:47:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/richard.rathe.org\/?p=7894"},"modified":"2018-01-24T13:59:12","modified_gmt":"2018-01-24T18:59:12","slug":"south-florida-january-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/2018\/south-florida-january-2018","title":{"rendered":"South Florida Trip January 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

We were planning to take a three day trip in the Everglades<\/strong> last week, but the weather did not cooperate, very windy with three to five foot seas<\/em> and eight foot waves<\/em> possible! No thanks… We decided to car camp, taking day trips to the Turner River<\/strong> and three state parks we had not been to. [Gallery<\/a>]<\/p>\n

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We got a few miles down the Turner through very low mangrove tunnels. We stopped where a canal historically merged with the river. On the way back we encountered an eight to ten foot alligator<\/strong> sunning himself.<\/p>\n

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We tented at Collier-Seminole State Park<\/strong> with temps down to the low 40s. We spent a few hours on the scenic drive through\u00a0Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve<\/strong>. [Panorama<\/a>]<\/p>\n

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We then visited Myakka River State Park<\/strong> on our way home. They have several nice nature walks including this eighty foot tower and canopy walk<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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There were lots of birds including\u00a0Bald Eagles, Black Stilts\u00a0<\/b>and these\u00a0Roseate Spoonbills\u00a0<\/b>feeding in a small stream.<\/p>\n

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They look like vacuum cleaners in this video<\/a>.<\/p>\n