Going towards the Florida Keys and getting near the end of the trip...

Will it bite? Have to admit, I did jump when I first saw this bronze alligator at a visitor's center in the Big Cypress National Preserve. 






Here are a few things we didn't see:
alligator nests
pink flamingos
sea turtles or babies hatching...
underwater viewing of coral reefs and fish along the Atlantic coast...
pythons, which are being hunted right now due to their impact on the
    native wildlife (thank goodness we didn't encounter any!)
and deer, panthers, wild boars and bear (?) which inhabit the Everglades regions. (How they walk through the swamps and mangrove forests is beyond me. I guess they stick to the higher ground!)
     Anyhow, this is a good reason to return, along with the fact that our friends, the Kolbs, have invited us to come back and stay with them at their lovely home on the Florida Keys.
 
      A ranger at the Biscayne Nat'l Park (1-15) on the Atlantic side of the state took time to explain how the "Underground Railroad" went as far south as Biscayne. Evidently slaves were smuggled out of the area on boats preceeding and during the time of the Civil War. A man who was caught taking out seven people by boat was branded with an SS on his hand (Slave Smuggler). The ranger had just discovered this information (from Google!) and was amazed to find out that it all had happened in his "park!"  It was nice that he took the time to share it with Al and me. Praise God for people who risked their lives to help those who were suffering unjustly and for those who still do!

More tomorrow, hopefully, before turning around and driving back to Miami on Friday (1-18) Parasailing from a boat???? We'll see! Pray for us!
P.S. Many thanks to Al for taking so many wonderful photos. The last two shown here are pictures of pictures on display at the Biscayne Visitor's center!

(Pictures by Al Lowery)