Walking and Looping – Friday – February 22, 2013

Today, Nancy suggested that we WALK the trail at Shark Valley instead of riding our bikes.  We had no intention of walking the 15 mile trail, but thought it would be fun to walk a few miles and spend more time checking out the wildlife up close and personal;o)  Since Midway Campground is only about 15 miles east of Shark Valley we could get there at opening and beat any crowds out on the trail.

Midway is number 17 on the map and Shark Valley is just off the map on the right. On our way back to the campground, we would hang a left onto the Loop Road Drive and travel to #14-Monroe Station before turning right on the Tamiami Trail (Rt.41) and returning to Midway Campground.

Midway is a great campground to explore the Big Cypress National Preserve and the Northern Everglades. Wish they took reservations!!

 
Walking the Shark Valley Trail is a very different experience, especially during Alligator mating season!!!  We got out on the trail before anyone else.  Today, there were no crowds and the birds and alligators were everywhere.  We saw a couple alligators fighting some turf wars.  They do get pretty aggressive during mating season.  We saw one alligator along the trail bellowing to attract a mate or deter his rivals!?!?!  For the most part, we felt safe walking as we could see where all the animals were.  However, when we rounded a bend in an area that has thick vegetation along the trail, we were both startled by a VERY LOUD BELLOW right next to us:o(((  We were about two miles down the trail... we promptly did an about face and quickly headed back in the direction we had come from!!! 

 

Walking sure made all that nature feel real up close and very personal;o))

 

(click on any photo to enlarge)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early morning, during the week, is the best time to visit Shark Valley.  The park opens at 8:30 and the first tram does not leave until 9am traveling counter-clockwise, so you have about an hour before the first tram comes by. The birds were everywhere and we had them all to ourselves!!! 

 

Great Blue Heron

 

 

 

Little Blue Heron

 

 

 

Little Green Heron

 

 

 

Anhinga

 

 

 

 

Limpkin

 

    

 

 

Purple Gallinule

 

 

 

Snowy Egret – Love the Yellow Legs and Feet!!

 

 

 

 

White Ibis in their breeding colors and Juvenile just turning white!!

 

 

 

Black-crowned Night-heron                                                      Grebe              

  

 

 

Great Egret

 

 

It was almost 11:30am by the time we left Shark Valley.  We hadn’t packed a lunch, but still wanted to ride the loop road since it was on our way back.  Just a few miles west of Shark Valley you will see the sign.  Looking at the map, we turned at #18 and followed the paved and gravel road to #14.  Most people travel in the opposite direction, but it really doesn’t matter.  The beautiful section is the gravel road section!!

 

 

“Figuring out how to remove alligators from the roadway is not on the agenda of most tourists when they decide to take the Loop Road drive. Nevertheless, be prepared for anything on this wild, spectacular 25-mile trip through Big Cypress National Preserve deep into the Everglades.” For even more information check out the rest by clicking here...article on the Loop Road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The loop road took much longer than we expected…that’s a good thing.  It’s like going on your own jungle adventure ride and we highly recommend it.  You won’t find a lot of info on the loop road, so it isn’t crowded.  However, it is a great ride though amazing natural habitat. 

 

We ended our ride at the Monroe Station end of the loop.  It was close to 2pm and we still hadn’t had lunch.  So we decided to check out Monroe Station on another day.