EVERGLADES February 9, 2009

The moon was just setting before the sun got up. We took one look and decided it was too early to get up yet. After all, we are retired!
Mid morning as we left Catrina in Tigger to explore the everglades, we looked back. We discovered that many open waterways from our home for the night.

Water, Snack Bars, Bug and Sun Cream, Camera, and Apples - Oh, yes, Hats and Rain Gear, and we are off. We had selected a circular route along narrow canals for our morning adventure. Mangroves were everywhere. We had read that hardwoods were in the Everglades but we did not find any.
The mangroves on Little Shark River LSR grow out and up. They are not short and could be called trees!
The tide was flowing out and the many mangrove roots showed. Roots were caked with mud. At Low Tide, this group of Mangrove Roots look like a sci-fi back drop.

Part of our trip took us to Ponce de Leon Bay which opens on to the Gulf. The trees along the Bay were dead and we wonder if a hurricane has passed a number of years ago.

We arrived back at Catrina to find the tide was pulling her in the opposite direction. Our two anchors had dug in and with Debbie cleating one line on the wrong end, we had a major job pulling them up. Finally after many words and lots of muscle work, the anchors were up and we moved Catrina just off the entrance to the LSR. That would subtract 10 miles from our trip tomorrow.
Tom added side lines in addition to the Bow and Stern Anchors. The Stern picture shows the two lines to the banks. We hope this will stabilize our satellite contact.

Tom also attached the two traveler cam cleats which has ripped out a few days ago when Debbie back winded the main. A big puff lifted her into the air, removing both cleats and depositing her on her back on the transom. The traveler allows the angle of the boom to be adjusted windward or leeward. Debbie was holding it windward to trap more air and give us forward momentum.

After lunch on Catrina, we were off in Tigger up the LSR. We ran all the way to Oyster Bay, which is on the Wilderness Trail (a boat/canoe path through the Everglades from Everglade City to Flamingo). We bounced quickly along on the waves being kicked up by the wind on this wider section of LSR.
On the way home we picked a more gentle speed and side canals. We stopped for snacks up a narrow route between the mangroves. It was close to high tide and we were right up next to the mangrove roots.

We found an entrance to this secret spot where no one passing could see us easily.

The mangroves formed a canapé over our heads

We ran down to the entrance of LSR and four boots were already in residence. A black Cat Boat from Ontario was headed north from the Keys. The Gemini 150 MC also was traveling north and had dropped anchor right in the middle of the River. He was from Ohio - Lake Erie.

Back home we treated ourselves to showers. Tom tried a little fishing until the gnats got him and Debbie made the dinner of fresh Tomatoes and Onions, Carrots, Tuna Salad and Baked Beans.