Saturday, May 30, 2009

"Life in Plantation: Big Cypress National Preserve"

Another nature adventure that you can do in Florida: the scenic drive through Turner River/Upper Wagonwheel/Birdon Road Loop Drive, which cuts into the Big Cypress National Preserve. Take I75 south, then US41 west. The Loop Drive takes you by open prairies and popular wading bird feeding areas.

This place is pretty hard to find. Even with Fren2 beside me, we missed it and had to do a turn. The Loop is off the main road, and chances are you'd drive past without even noticing it. When we finally got there...

cy1
Yes, DON'T feed the alligators. Man, who'd want to feed gators?? Imagine u give food to it, then wat happens if the gator chomps down ur hand also?? Sig..

cy2

At the entrance is a board walk, pretty safe. But as you drive into the Loop, there's no more barriers or anything. See pic below:

cy4

You can imagine how close we were to the gators! But still must take pics :P

cy3

Fren2 say dun turn ur back to the gator. Well, if I saw him running when he took my pic, then I know I have to run too :P

cy5

The loop drive.. driving in the open field. The volumes of clouds are just amazing. As we drove further, there wasn't much to see alrdy. THEN..


cy6

White birds! (Duno wats the name :P )

Ok, that's the other activity, bird watching. Man, they just don't stay still. Everytime we come close, they fly away! Eventually frustrated dy, just watch from inside the car :-S

cy7

The open skies. The landscape in Florida is so flat (as in no mountains/hills), that you always get to see the wonderful clear blue skies.

cy8

Is this place worth going? Well, recommended if you're a nature person. For me, it's a bit disappointing (most brochures in US are like that: the way they market it is like so great, but then when u go there, lemah dy!)

Oh, and on the way back, we saw the entrance to Shark Valley, another part of the Everglades National Park. Hmm.. Nahh... enough of gators dy!

No comments: