April 13th and 14th Wind finally calming down

Pics: Meridian irrigated with "reclaimed" water (stinks like sewer water) thats big all over Florida

Osprey nests everywhere: there is one that has a hunting perch right across from where we are keeping the boat and the other day it swooped down, hit the water, and flew off with a baby gator in its talons..... OKAY then they'll be no swimming here.

Brittany and her friend Zac

Land of the walking trees-Mangroves - interesting (click on it and it will get big so you can read it)

Brittany reading "Timeline" by Michael Crichton- she blew through it in 2 days

Looks like we're out of here tomorrow about 7 am. Gary and I have agreed that this is one of our favorite stops of the trip so far. Just a great place to unwind and swim in the pool, watch the air boats go by, fish, walk, ride bikes etc. Its the people that make or break a stop for me at least, and this one is a winner!!

This morning about 5 o'clock we shot out of bed at the sound of a cat fight! Misty was defending her territory from a smaller (would have to be Misty is literally the size of a basketball) younger (Misty is about 12) cat. I heard something in my unconscienceness (sp?) and started to wake. Cats rolling around the deck with the sound affects like something out of Jurassic park. Gary bolted up and out to the deck. Misty was inside just as I looked up the stairs . Then Eddie bolted up the stairs to put his 2 cents in. Then the cat was gone. Try going back to Rem sleep after that circus.
We tried to but it wasn't working for me so I got dressed and took Eddie for a walk. I walked up to the Swervin Ervin's Gator Express to get some money out of the machine. As I walked up there was FL Gary's truck parked outside. I went in and said my good mornings to Candy (Candita) behind the counter. Then I said, "Well good morning to our favorite good will ambassador of Everglades City!" Gary greeted me with his quick smile. Then I remembered to go to the circle K and use their machine instead, so "adios" and I was on my way again. Circle K doesn't charge for ATM transactions. It was a bit farther to go, but no problem. I try to walk for an hour.

I was almost back to the Rod and Gun club when I ran into Gary. So we walked back to the Gator express for coffee and a breakfast sandwich at the handy Subway thats right inside it. Then back to the boat to check on Brittany doing school work. She enjoys her alone time on the boat just like the rest of us. So off we went again this time on bikes. We peddaled over to the multi million dollar unfinished condos that went belly up. The hurricane finished em off. The only thing left besides 2 raw construction concrete buildings is a beautiful floating lower dock with a high end upper walking dock. That's it. We ran across the random snake and lizard but other than that the place is deserted. After greeting a lone NY fisherman we biked up the street to the Everglades National Park. That's:

http://www.everglades.national-park.com/

After reading about all the animals and mangroves we could stand, we biked over to the KNOWN THE WORLD OVER OYSTER HOUSE ! ! Where we enjoyed a 2.50 cent 24 ounce draft, some alligator appetisers and some excellent hushpuppies. I saved Brittany a sampling and headed back to the boat to check on her. We went back and forth as to who should get the computer and then Gary and Brittany went for a swim, I joined em a few minutes later. After showers Gary and Brittany took off on the bikes to get provisions for tomorrows lift off. We are to say the least antsy. As our friend Rick from the Island Breeze once said with a heavy German accent," After three days the anchor gets sour." Never a truer word was said. Ortencia's husband said that a famous person said," If your happy where you are, you don't have far to go." Another true statement.

Eddie got a Slim Jim as a goodbye token from the girl at the Choice Market. What a sweetheart.
If he gets "sick" at 2 in the morning, I'm not cleaning it.

Keep us in your prayers, your in ours
XXOO
VIctoria's Perspective