On January 2nd, we took a trip out to Big Cypress to break down Nicky's hunting camp, since the regular hunting season has ended. We always enjoy going out there because it's so beautiful to us. So, this day I took lots of pictures of stuff to show you! Hope you enjoy it and learn something!
We usually enter Big Cypress National Preserve behind the Oasis Ranger Station on 41. This is what it looks like on the main Oasis trail as we head in. As you can see, the Cypress trees (Bald Cypress) are grayish looking with no real foliage. This is winter in the Everglades. The ground is dry and the cypress are "bald."
During the rainy season, this road is about 18-20" under water. In some of my pictures, you can see the water line on the trees. Anyway, in the picture below you can see how the rock in the road has been pitted because of the rain and water.
It's amazing to me that these trees, the cypress and the pines can survive the dry season when their roots are so exposed and they're so used to being under water.
This is the Oasis Trail marker. There are lots of markers on the trails so you can be sure to know where you're going and don't get lost. You can pick up a map at the Ranger Station and follow the trails and the markers.
There are bromeliads, also called air plants, all over the place. During the dry season, they look like they're dead or dying, but really they're just resting.
See them all over in the trees?
And, every now and then, you'll see one in bloom. Somehow it gets enough water to bloom.
Something that has always amazed me is the shapes of random pine trees. There are so very many that just stand straight up, as straight as an arrow,
and then all of a sudden, you'll see these just crazy shapes! Just like these..
HOW do these trees get this way?? What kind of injury or mutation did they get and how do they survive it? The resiliency of these trees is just unbelievable.
This is a spot along this trail where the Florida Trail crosses it. The Florida Trail is a hiking trail that is 1100 miles long and goes from the Everglades to Pensacola Beach, up in the Panhandle. This is Florida's Scenic Trail. The orange blazes mark the trail.
Trail marker for the Florida Trail.
Following the Florida Trail into the woods from the main buggy trail we are on.
There's lots of flowers in Big Cypress and the Everglades, even in the dry season. Here are a few of them.....
The Parks Department does miscellaneous studies all over the Everglades. Here is a bird house they had put up, specifically to study woodpeckers a while ago.
A random tree. I thought it looked cool.
Levi goes to all these little puddles in the road to see if any of the little fish in the puddles have been displaced and are flopping about on the dry land, then he saves them. He found a few little guys flopping about next to this larger puddle, so here he is putting them back into the water.
One of the flopping victims that Levi saved.
This was Nicky's hunting camp this past season. Yes, the sign says "The Krusty Krab." One of Nicky's hunting buddies always called him Mr. Krabs because he says Nicky's cheap. Lol So, he made this sign for Nicky to hang at his camp and he does, every year.
Nicky and Indy head out into the woods to retrieve some of their hunting stuff.
Like father, like son.
Levi and I took a hike on our own for awhile.
On the buggy, eating lunch.
Me and this handsome guy.
And this handsome guy.
Our ride.
We saw lots of game sign while we were out there. Here is a bear print Nicky found. Below, you can see the size in comparison to Nicky's hand.
We're not sure what these are.
But this one is a panther.
This is another trail marker for the Rock Road trail.
A feather Levi found.
Everglades Beauty.
I hope you have enjoyed this "tour" of part of the Big Cypress and hopefully you can see why we love it there!
