Black Point Marina – On an airboat ride in the Everglades!

How do you like our pilot?

No visit to the Everglades would ever be complete without taking an airboat ride! They draw about 2.5 inches of water and are driven by a V-8 engine attached to a propeller, just like on an airplane. We headed north to the Tamiamt road on the northern edge of the Everglades National Park (airboat rides are not permitted inside the park) and found many places where such rides were given. We skipped all the tour buses and settled on one run by the Miccosukee Indians, a local tribe. We were the only three on the boat and had a blast. The sensation is one of being in an low flying airplane, skimming over the water, banking in all the turns as the boat skids sideways before gathering its new heading in a turn. I took videos but bandwidth doesn’t permit me to upload them yet – perhaps later. The price was right too at only $10 each.

Almost ready...

We had intended to stop by the Snake River Everglades Park but it was full and no more cars were allowed in. I guess we should have guessed that since it was a Saturday, sunny and with temps in the mid 70’s – plus a three day weekend.

Meanwhile, I finally got a photo of the crocodile that inhabits our marina here. He’s across a 5 foot wide creek that borders on the boat launch area. We’re told that he comes out in the evening to feed on the fish pieces left over after the fishermen clean their catch. According to the locals, he’s between 10 and 12 ft long. One time he pulled himself up on the launch ramp and they had to call the local conservationists to urge him back into the water – which they did using hoses, he didn’t like the wash of cold water. I’ll see if I can get a better picture later.

The marina crocodile

It’s back to the Everglades one last time at a different spot on Sunday before doing laundry and getting the boat read to move. We now plan to move along on Tuesday morning. There’s a 2 ft tide at 8:20 am on Tuesday which we’ll use to get over the 4 ft spot at the end of the exit channel (hopefully!)