We are in a string of 90+ degree days.  South might not be a great decision but we are set for some Everglades time so here we go, straight south to Monument Lake campground in Big Cypress Preserve.  We make our first high cost fuel stop. $4.99/gallon for diesel.  We bad-mouth the 15-20 mph headwind that we face nearly the whole trip but travel is uneventful and we settle in to our site fronting the lake (all sites here front the lake).  Carol arrives nearly the same time to find that her site could not possibly be further from us.  She is directly across the lake.  We will get in some extra mileage to hang out.  Hosts and signs warn of gators in the lake.  We see them within minutes of arriving.

Now that we are settled in, we are all enjoying that wind out of the south as it keeps the heat tolerable and is blowing the mosquitoes to somewhere in Georgia!