March 8, 2006

Our bike club, The Pelican Pete Pedlars, rode out to Everglade City yesterday south of Naples in the heart of the everglades. We saw a great deal of remaining damage from the hurricanes of last season and the year before. They have been battered pretty badly there. I did learn that we only have 25% of the everglades remaining now since our government drained much of the swamp years ago before we realized the importance of this ecosystem. Then the infringment of developers has taken a great deal of the marshland. What remains is teaming with wildlife though. At least that is what we saw but I am sure that much has been lost. We had lunch next to the tiny post office at a Cuban restaurant. The grouper sandwich was the best I have ever had and was served with some Cuban coleslaw and chips. There are a couple of charming galleries that sell local indian beadwork, paintings and pottery. The wind was in our faces all the way back and made it difficult. But as I glanced in the creek that flows along the road, there were two manatees. We had taken the boat trip from the State Park out to the Gulf of Mexico. There were many Dolphins playing around the boat. A few pelicans too. We didn't see any Bald Eagles but they are seen regularly on that trip. I will post some pictures of this fragile, battered but still beautiful area. Today I begin packing things up in anticipation of leaving on Monday. I have mixed feelings - a desire to get moving, to see my family but also sad to leave this area that has been my home since Dec.