Exploring the Everglades...

Set off today on an adventure... headed into the heart of the Everglades. The lady at the Collier County Museum had suggested a very interesting trip. She advised us to head down the US 41 (the Tamiami trail - connecting Tampa and Miami), cross the Turner River , carry on until Monroe Station then turn right and carry on round the Loop Rd.
We followed these instructions and had a wonderful trip! We were out in the wilds! The Loop Rd was not tarmacked and alligators lounged in the pools at the side of the road. We were 3 or 4 feet away from them. We saw trees full of vultures, beautiful butterflies, buzzards, turtles and amazing insects...
If anyone is minded to follow this route, a word of advice... dowse yourself in good quality insect repellent first! You really are in the Everglades here...
As I blipped an alligator yesterday, I decided to blip this little critter today...
On the way back to Everglades City, we passed an Old Timer's house beside an old petrol station. It would have made a wonderful Blip, but the old dude was outside his house and I was seriously concerned we'd get a bullet through a window! He had an old army truck parked beside his ramshackle house, a gun above the door of the service station, and a big sign saying "No trespassing - we don't call 911". To top it all off, he had a burnt out Dodge car in the yard, with a mannequin's head in the driving seat which looked really macabre! How weird is that! Wish I'd snuck a photo, but, at the time, it didn't seem worth the risk!
We had a lovely lunch in Everglade City then headed out to Chokaloskee where we visited the fascinating Smallwood museum...
Later, back in Naples, we watched the sunset at the Naples Beach Hotel then had dinner then and enjoyed the live entertainment.