February 13-14, 2018 Bonita Springs, Florida

We are back in civilization in Bonita Springs. Took about 3 hours to drive 70 miles in traffic. On our way out of the swamp not one but two different cars were stopped half in the lane, half on the narrow shoulder, with cars coming the opposite direction. Then some  idiot passed  a camper in the oncoming lane on a double yellow line and John saved up by slamming on the brakes and swerving onto the narrow shoulder (half in the lane). John saved my life again. Into civilization it was stop and go, terrible traffic. 85 degrees with high humidity, it is brutal.

We are camped in the Gulf Coast Camping Resort, a 55 and older adult community. We were in luck, tonight is bingo night! Tomorrow is a valentine's day dance. Saturday is the garage sale and bake sale day, maybe I can sell some jewels and baskets. It was almost impossible to find a place for the holiday weekend, we were lucky to get this place. 

Our view at sunset. All is quiet in the Gulf coast camping resort this evening. Camping resort?? We are in the middle of a city, in the industrial area in packed southern Florida in winter. They do have full hookups, a pool, a fishing lake, and are close to the beach. The sites are large, we have a picnic table and trees and it is quiet. 

Today we went to the Corkscrew Swamp. It is a towering stand of old-growth Bald Cypress trees--the largest known old-growth cypress population in North America. Some specimens are more than 500 years old and are well over 120 feet tall.We walked 3 miles of boardwalk, the map is above. This is an Audubon preserve and very well done. They say it is seeing the landscape of Florida from long ago. All but a few stands of cypress were clear cut when the white man arrived.  The swamps were drained for condos and agriculture.  John on the boardwalk in pond cypress. 

Lots of greenery and ferns. The first photo is the new growth bald cypress and second photo is entering the old growth area. There is a cool aura in old growth forests-a feeling of timelessness.

Blooming air plant quill leaf, huge fern, ibis and they call this purple flower alligator flag here, but my book calls it pickerelweed.  The boardwalk in the old growth area. These trees where here before Columbus discovered the new world. It was stunning. 

John in the old growth area. Green anoles, the male has a bright dewlap under his chin. He extends it when he is trying to attract a mate. These are what they sold us as chameleons when we were kids. The brown anole is not native and is taking over their territory. It has a bright orange dewlap. Yellow crested night heron and a great white heron.  Lettuce lakes, named for the lettuce that grows on it's surface.

Lettuce lakes, named for the lettuce that grows on it's surface.  Lots of wildlife here. Red lichen, little blue heron, lettuce on the water and a wood stork grabbing lunch.  

This wet prairie or marsh is the transition zone between the cypress swamp and the pine flatwoods.   These two flowers look pretty similar and grow in the same habitat, Lance leaf arrowhead and brazilian elodea. This section closed for Irma repairs, and Wood storks nesting, quiet please.

 Sunset tonight. We had a rip roaring Valentines day celebration. First we had heart shaped meatloaf sliders at home and then John took me to the Valentine Dance here at the over 55 RV resort. We really know how to have a good time.