April 15 Sat Leaving Everglades City on to Shark River

Pics: It was a beautiful morning in this very isolated, wild place.
Brittany had helped her Father by hosing down the anchor like she
always does and then just stood and took it in.
Gary's catfish.......careful.....poison in those barbs
The entrance to Shark river......can you see it?


We left this morning at 7:30. There was a little anxiety
about getting off the dock. That lovely boat was docked
behind us and of course we don't want to hit it. The current
had slacked off some and we got off without a hitch. At the
captains orders I pushed the stern off the dock with the boat
hook and let the current take the stern away from the dock.
Captain Gary then hit the throttle and away we went. Piece
of cake.

We are looking around saying, "We are in the everglades!
Who'd of thought!" The Gulf of Mexico is quiet and calm
this morning, which is what we were waiting for.

While in Everglades City we learned that Okechobee
means "BIG WATER" in Seminole. Which is the indian tribe
that used to inhabit these waters. I got that info while at the
old Indian trading post 'Smallwood store" in Chokoloskee.
Before we left, one afternoon, police helecopters started
circling the town. We wondered what was going on but gave it
no more thought. Later at the Choice Market we learned that
a body had washed up in town. It was only know that the body
was hispanic. Decomposition had taken the identity and sex of
the unfortunate soul. Rumors circulated but when we left no
facts had been devulged.

Unrelated : We heard a story about a certain fishing trip off
shore about 20 miles that had an unexpected catch. Seems
some fisherman discovered a hand made raft with some 9
people on it. Four of them were children. They were totally
exposed to the elements, out of food and fresh water. Its said
that no matter how you feel about illegal aliens from a
distance, when YOU are confronted with a life and death
decision you act differently than you talk. But I digress. To
call the authority means a lengthy detainment and questioning.
Same thing happens if you find a body, so i've heard no
body sees anything at sea.
The illegals are then transported back to Cuba to a certain
death. Castro, still runs things his own way. Otherwise why
would you risk literally life and family to the uncertainty of
the sea. If it happened to me, I hand em water, food,
take em aboard and give em a ride to shore. Our shore. I read
somewhere that you can tell how good a country is by how
many are fighting to get into it.

As we meandered through this area called
Ten Thousand Islands , we discovered that there
are many islands. Some as small as a volkswagon and others
quite large. They're all made of Mangrove's. Amazing. While
passing through this area of Ten Thousand Islands who
overtakes us on our starboard (right) side? It's Franklin on his
Albatross II, his first mate was there and his charter of five
ladies. It's a great day to be out on the water.

Pavillion Key (island) is on our left which we are getting
ready to pass.

Gary and I have recently discussed the transition back into our
old life. Adjusting back into a house and work etc will be
difficult. No........ it won't be easy. How can we top this trip?
We've been bitten.

We just lost phone and internet service in front of
Ponce dl Leon Bay. Phone service will be sketchy probably
till we get to Marathon. By the way there is no short cut for
most boats to Key West (known as Key Weird to some who've
experienced it first hand on "Mardi gra day" Live sex acts
on parade floats etc. No thanks. Don't want to be there when
it gets hit by lightening.

We're five miles offshore and the water is only 10 feet deep.
Lostman's River is to our left and nothing but flat calm clear
green water on our right. Oh, and the occassional crab pots
are starting to show thier intermitten heads. Why would you put
ONE pot 5 miles offshore? How economical could that be?
The dolphins are more abundant and running in larger pods
now. It's fruitless to try and get a picture most of the time.

Little Shark River is right in front of of us now at red marker
#1. Whar a time we had locating it. All the Mangroves make
the shore look the same. But we got it. Trust your equipment
with a cautious eye. Doesn't look like Eddie or Brittany will
appreciate this neccessary stop. Eddie has no where to go potty.
Alligators would like for him to go ashore though! What a nice
quick, little brown snack. We'll need to keep a cautious eye.
Haven't seen any gators yet. Brittany (or I) will have no
telephone or internet service. Skipper Bob says about
Little Shark RIver,
that the wildlife is abundant and there is good fishing. He also
mentions that the mosquitoes are active at dawn and dusk.
Bring a ..... shotgun!!
It's 4:30 and Tarpon have jumped out of the water
around us, dolphins the same. We were the first to anchor
here today but have since aquired 6 new neighbors.

Keep us in your prayers, your in ours
XXOO
Victoria's Persective