Local eatery – Squid lips –
Conch fritters, crunchy fish BLT wrap, fish and chips, plus key lime pie to go. It is a delicious stop.
More beach time – sunrise and sun time. Waves are still high. We never get beyond knee deep but it is beautiful.
Some walking – Indian River lagoon Preserve – ok walk. Maritime Hammock Sanctuary – great shady stroll.
Driving the Cruise Jungle Trail – it’s an old route along Indian River Lagoon that now winds among oaks and mangroves in a narrow undeveloped zone between huge homes and condos and the waterfront. It is cool and amazing that it still exists.
The Sebastian Inlet area stays on or list of places we might return to in Florida. Next time we hope for calmer winds. It would be great to get out in the kayaks and a little further into the surf.
The beach is deserted except for one lone fisherman. It is high tide and a strong wind out of the east brings surf much too rough for me to do any more than get my feet wet. We find a comfy log and take a seat well beyond the waves. Bright sun. Crashing waves. Salty spray. Soft, smooth sand. It is a feast for the senses.
We just have to stop to check out the one that got it started. The main birding trail weaves through the mangroves and is a nice walk. We spot a few snakes and egrets. We come across an open view into a shallow bay and enjoy watching what looks like a collaborative fishing effort of brown pelicans and dolphins. On the lagoon side of the refuge an observation tower provides a nice view of Pelican Island
and a great spot to watch wood storks show off their magnificent soaring and banking ability as pelicans patrol the waters. A few Roseate spoonbills sit in the treetops on the island. Later a Roseate flies right overhead.
long-planned hotel has resumed. The concrete pillar foundation now supports a shipping-container-style construction. They are adding the roof now with posted completion this summer. Looks unlikely to me. The restaurant section is even further behind.
We can’t pass up a tasty version of a Rueben from the lunch truck at the Marina. Pastrami and kraut on rye with lots of mozzarella all grilled to gooey perfection. Delicious. Low light pollution and a late rising moon bring us a marvelous dark night sky. It is a nice ending for the stay.
(4 miles) was easy on the way out but across a moderate chop coming back in. It seemed like the wind blew from every direction and the waves formed like pyramids that the boat slid off of in every direction. The last mile was a challenge. Out at the far end of the lake we wound through a shady, quiet mangrove tunnel. It had one “limbo tree” to get under but we made it through. You can get all the way out into Florida Bay if you continue another 4 miles or so but there was lots more open water ahead and the wind was kicking up so we turned back. Overall, a good trip but watch the wind forecast if you have plans to head out this trail.
An immature bald eagle glided overhead, the first we have seen here. 3 miles out plus a little loop in Coot Bay then we start back. Not surprisingly, we paddle against a headwind. 
We are entertained by the acrobatics of swallow-tailed kites and catch a look at an open-mouthed croc sunning among downed limbs.
A couple manatees, the baby osprey, and a crocodile all made an appearance. We checked out the marina store and visitor center then gathered up Kent to head back to Long Pine with stops at a few high points along the way. It was getting pretty late in the day so it was hot and humid but we walked the West Lake and Mahogany Hammock boardwalks and did a bit of bird watching at a couple other stops. We delivered Carol home and polished off her leftovers for lunch. We were all looking forward to some relaxation in the air conditioning. We headed back to Flamingo for one more day in the park before we start our journey north. So long Carol. Current plans have us crossing paths next in NY for Miss Willa’s b’day.
have to say about the terrain and the wildlife. We spot a nice selection of wading birds, a purple gallinule, and Carol gets to see her first gators and even a croc. We check out a couple visitor centers as we headed back home. It is a great outing.
a barred owl patiently posing just off the trail. Cypress trees are just greening up with tiny soft needles all along the branches. Wildflowers dot the trailside and marsh. We start on spongy soft soil. It transitions to gooey mud squished all around a labyrinth of pot holed limestone (they call them solution holes). A few inches of elevation change and we find ourselves weaving through a maze of cypress knees. It is all treacherous underfoot but cool to see. At one mile in we encounter the ultimate obstacle, standing water about knee deep. Time to retrace our steps and say so long to this swamp. A records check says we got turned around in that same place back in 2017.
loop drive and encounter the local flagman…must be just in time for shift change.
Check out some pics. It is after 1 o’clock and just passed 90 degrees. We head home for some shade time and to clean up. Carol and I go on an airboat ride this afternoon.
airboat ride through the mangrove tunnels. We idle a bit sight-seeing and looking for wildlife but the real focus is highspeed turns through the tunnels. It is great fun! We traveled with Josh, captain for Everglades City Airboats. Dinner is at The Island Café in everglades City: Crab Cakes, a shrimp basket, and scallop dinner. We top it off with some great, tart key lime pie. Delicious.
We come to the wall of trees and spot the tunnel opening. Just as we turn in, we hear a great clattering and splashing then catch sight of a photographer gathering tripod and equipment to clear the tunnel path. He’s been out taking pictures to catch the morning light through the mangroves. We maneuver by and continue on zigging and zagging a winding route under the mangrove canopy. We certainly won’t be sneaking up on anything! Kent has a brilliant idea, take the paddles apart so we can use a 5-foot oar instead of a 10 feet paddle. Much better in this tight space. We combine the shorter paddle and some hand over hand directly in the mangroves and successfully emerge from the far end of the tunnel. Frustrating sometimes but a fun paddle. We make a turn in open water then dive into tunnel number 2. It is a mess, heavily overgrown and lots debris just under the surface. We make it through but it is not really fun. Can’t wait to meet the tour groups as we try to make our way back through on the return trip! We are in open water again sliding along between the grasslands (a recent burn) and mangroves again. It is quiet and lovely. 
A flock of rosette spoonbills swoops by. There are red shoulder hawks and lots of ibis. Kayak hips are complaining a bit. Time to turn around. We are a bit better at the mangrove maneuvering and all goes smoothly as we meet only a few outbound boaters. Overall, it’s a great trip. Glad we did it.
adult and juvenal. A group of racoons make an appearance. Anhinga, egrets and lots of herons are hanging out.
This time we try Joanie’s Blue Crab Café on 41 right in the park. Carol’s neighbor highly recommended it so how could we not? Check out this pic. Quite the place. Throw in a tornado watch and rain blowing sideways to add some more local flavor. I go all in and
order a Swamp Combo – gator, shrimp, grouper and frog legs – all fried or course and delicious. Carol gets a beautiful bowl of she-crab chowder. It is not just what she expected but tasty. Kent enjoys his grouper basket. More key lime pie and we are stuffed. I have a big box of leftovers!
view then start the long hard pedal into the wind back to the start. Yep, its pretty hard work and yep that was a pretty long ride (15.4 miles) for out of practice. You would think we would remember that from last time. We’d do it again…..after a few days.