Jeff wrote:
"Rosalie B." wrote in message
http://www.sv-loki.com/where4.jpg

Well I don't recognize it but there's a lot of those spots that are
named for animals that don't life there - Flamingo, Shark Valley, and
Alligator National Wildlife Refuge

You were closer than you think, Rosalie. This is the southern tip of
Florida, the southernmost point on the mainland US. On the west side
is Cape Sable - the East Cape and the Middle Cape are visible, the NW
Cape just got clipped.

That was a kind of non-guess guess, but I have never been there by
boat and not to that particular area, so I've never looked at those
charts. It also looked a bit like the Bahamas to me.


About 10 mile east of East Cape is Flamingo Outpost, part of
Everglades National Park. There is a small marina there, a busy
launch ramp, a small grocery store, a motel, lots of alligators and
crocodiles. Its one of the few places where crocs and gators coexist,
and we saw both within 100 yards of our slip, where Arlo went for a swim.

We have never been in Florida Bay by boat except up by Miami. I took
a trip there this last winter by car
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/602d8/#TL and we stayed in
Flamingo for a couple of days. I did see those crocodiles
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tp/10ca5a/

Florida Bay is to the south, but the eastern Bay is too shallow for
most craft. You have to go down roughly to Marathon and then turn
north. (Shallow draft boats can cut the corner a bit.) If you enjoy
wildlife, and especially birds, Flamingo is a worthwhile stop. Just
make sure you do it before mosquito season, about April.

North of Cape Sable is the Shark River and Ten Thousand Island area,
also interesting stops on the way to Marco, Naples and the rest of the
West Coast.

We also visited Shark River
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/6265f/#TL and then went over to
Ft. Myers on a whirlwind trip on the way home.


grandma Rosalie