A slog through a slough. I experienced the untamed Everglades, at least for a little while. I joined a Ranger led hike through saw grass prairie and the cypress domes. It was kind of dirty and a bit muggy and lots of scratchy stuff to wind our way through but it was a lot of fun. There was muck deeper than knee deep. I managed to limit my experience to about mid-shin deep. Airplants are in bloom with red, purple and yellow flowers much like the tropical bird of paradise. Woodstorks soared over head. Tiny frogs hurried away from our boots. White, spiny balls that are the blooms of the buttonwood bounced on boughs above my shoulders. Apple snail shells littered the ground where the kites and waders had dropped them. We explored a gator wallow, no gators were home but lots of fish and frogs and bugs appreciated the gator’s handiwork. My shoes went straight to the garbage but it was well worth it. It was a unique perspective and an adventure I would surely recommend.