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| Rachel's alligator! |
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| In the Wilderness Waterway on Chokoloskee Bay, The Everglades |
This afternoon we returned home from a
week long trip covering almost seven hundred miles (on near deserted
roads) down to the Florida Keys and back via the Everglades – it's
been the 'big trip' of our exchange and has been a real joy.
Perhaps the two highlights were the trips out from Key West to a coral reef where all four of us went snorkelling in the warmest possible sea – surrounded, I may say, by many jelly fish! - and the boat journey yesterday afternoon in the Everglades as we meandered along the Wilderness Waterway of Chokoloskee Bay. We saw manatees pushing their snouts above the waterline, ringed kingfishers darting from the mangroves whilst ospreys sat majestically on dead trees as kings of all they surveyed – and then there were two 'up close and personal' encounters with alligators by the water's edge – our twenty one year old pilot had the eternal optimism of youth on his side as he made us linger a little longer than I felt comfortable alongside these fine creatures! However, we made it back in one piece with all our limbs in tact – the only trophy we brought home was Rachel's photo of the alligator perched in the water.
It's just been fascinating to listen to so many rangers on these tours as they have talked to us about the fragile ecosystem of the Keys and Everglades. One thing we learnt was just how catastrophic has been the release of pet Burmese Pythons into the swamp areas. These snakes are not indigenous yet they have thrived in the Everglades so much that they now threaten even the alligators. As we sing All Things Bright and Beautiful this Harvest my mind will recall these rangers' talks and their appeal to us to try to understand our natural world a little better.
We have seen such a variety of life this week: there was a moment when we got lost on the outskirts of Miami and I could see the city sky scrapers ahead, the flat bottomed boat trip from Key Largo to a coral reef, the hour at the Turtle Rescue Centre, the bohemian atmosphere of Key West and listening to a soul singer at the end of the pier as we watched the sunset, the swim in the Gulf of Mexico and then looking an alligator in the eye!
It's good to be back at Dell and Diane's beautiful home – the fridge has been restocked after a visit to the wonderful Walmart store this afternoon – the boys are in the pool and I'm just about to go through the sermon I'm preaching at Living Waters Lutheran Church here in North Port tomorrow.
Perhaps the two highlights were the trips out from Key West to a coral reef where all four of us went snorkelling in the warmest possible sea – surrounded, I may say, by many jelly fish! - and the boat journey yesterday afternoon in the Everglades as we meandered along the Wilderness Waterway of Chokoloskee Bay. We saw manatees pushing their snouts above the waterline, ringed kingfishers darting from the mangroves whilst ospreys sat majestically on dead trees as kings of all they surveyed – and then there were two 'up close and personal' encounters with alligators by the water's edge – our twenty one year old pilot had the eternal optimism of youth on his side as he made us linger a little longer than I felt comfortable alongside these fine creatures! However, we made it back in one piece with all our limbs in tact – the only trophy we brought home was Rachel's photo of the alligator perched in the water.
It's just been fascinating to listen to so many rangers on these tours as they have talked to us about the fragile ecosystem of the Keys and Everglades. One thing we learnt was just how catastrophic has been the release of pet Burmese Pythons into the swamp areas. These snakes are not indigenous yet they have thrived in the Everglades so much that they now threaten even the alligators. As we sing All Things Bright and Beautiful this Harvest my mind will recall these rangers' talks and their appeal to us to try to understand our natural world a little better.
We have seen such a variety of life this week: there was a moment when we got lost on the outskirts of Miami and I could see the city sky scrapers ahead, the flat bottomed boat trip from Key Largo to a coral reef, the hour at the Turtle Rescue Centre, the bohemian atmosphere of Key West and listening to a soul singer at the end of the pier as we watched the sunset, the swim in the Gulf of Mexico and then looking an alligator in the eye!
It's good to be back at Dell and Diane's beautiful home – the fridge has been restocked after a visit to the wonderful Walmart store this afternoon – the boys are in the pool and I'm just about to go through the sermon I'm preaching at Living Waters Lutheran Church here in North Port tomorrow.
Good night from Florida!
With best wishes,
With best wishes,
Ian
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