Shaking it in Shark Valley...

Shark Valley - Off Tamiami Trail, Miami

A few weekends ago, my Uncle was in town en-route from New Hampshire to Barbados. Unlike his 10 Bajan traveling companions, he was not in the mood to shop (we're similar that way), so I invited him to come on a bike ride I had planned the next day. He agreed. I picked him up from the hotel, and we took off for Shark Valley - a tram road in the Everglades National Park, about 25 or 30 miles outside of Miami.

First, I should probably tell you, the Everglades is NOT a swamp. Its a river... 'The River of Grass' as famously dubbed by Marjory Stoneman Douglas in her book The Everglades: River of Grass.

It's seasonally dominated by a shallow, slow-moving sheet of water that flows from Lake Okeechobee to the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Bay, and its home to a vast variety of plants and animals, though regrettably, no sharks;-)

The ride around the park is a leisurely 7 miles up to a -very space age looking - viewing platform, followed by a slog of the first degree back to the parking lot! Bring Water.. LOTS of it!

First up, were these little beauties.. aren't they cute?!

Then, this one.. 'scuse the shakes - I may have been a bit close! You're not supposed to go more than 10 - 15 ft away from the gators, but that is just impossible on this road! Plus, my brakes were not quite up to par...

I love this bearded old man! He may be my favorite. Hey.. it's thistle! The last time I saw you, I was in the Scottish Highlands! Who've thunk it?!

These 2 are older and wiser, and must be sick of the gawking! Either that or they're seriously lacking manners...

Buzzards.. did you know they smell sweet? Its true, I saw it on Animal Planet.

My true favorite, is this perfect pair...

























S-Bend plumbing.. via the Everglades!