The sun had set and Miami was retreating nicely in the rear-view mirror. The road ahead (US41) was arrow straight for the next 40 miles and Miami doesn’t quite so much as retreat, but stops dead as though hitting an invisible barrier that prevents its sprawling outwards.
That barrier is the Everglades.
There was not much on the road. A few roadworks with workers holding Stop/Go signs (Sorry, Stop/Slow signs) covered from head to toe in anti-mosquito clothing. This should have given us a hint to leave the air-con on and not open the windows to let the cool evening breeze blow away the cobwebs. In a few seconds, with windows open, our forearms were looking like pepperoni pizzas and Arkwright was almost battling to find a windscreen scraper to clear the glass INSIDE the car. We shut the windows!
Stating the obvious. Why did they use Stop & Slow wording on signs that were red on side and orange the other. From a distance I could hardly see the difference. The European system of two different colours (Red and GREEN) with words that looked at least a little different (Stop & Go) seems a trite obvious.
Occasionally we were treated to a bit of excitement…….a ‘curve’ in the road. Wow! that livened things up. Though by now the Mkomazi snorty grunt f**k pig was starting to gear himself up.
It did occur to me though that it was a good thing that, like ‘Daleks’, Alligators are lousy jumpers and no-good at climbing over small hurdles/barriers. Otherwise most of Florida would be littered with squashed ‘gators and the truck repair-bills would be astronomic. Maybe that’s why they drive such big trucks??
…….possums and armadillo’s, though, are adept at crossing roadside obstacles…..
nearly two hours and four bends in the road later we came to our first road-junction. Turn left. Everglades City.
Not a big place but it still took us a good few minutes to find away South to Glades Haven.
Ever since Miami there had been no street-lighting and there was not that much in E City, but we were there and on locating Glades Haven Cozy Cabins we checked in and sought out our ‘cozy’ cabin.
My garden shed is bigger
Though admittedly, my garden shed doesn’t have beds, a shower, toilet, fridge and TV (but my wife is looking into that!!). but it was cozy and more than enough to meet our needs. We unpacked and sorted out our stuff before deciding on what to do next, i.e. get some food. It was nearly 9 pm (Eastern Standard) and the local hostelry stopped food at 9, so we had to hurry.
Firstly though we had to sort out the air-conditioning. We couldn’t work out whether it was making our Cabin hotter or colder. Having come from -4 in the UK we were sweltering in the humidity.
Just before we set off for the Oyster Bar, there was a knock at the door.
‘The local mossies had heard there was some new meat fresh off the boat’
Mole Valley to ? 