2/5/2015
Before leaving the Trail Lakes Campgrounds in Ochopee, I visited their animal sanctuary with my mother. The very first thing I did was hold a baby gator. The thing was so relaxed and cute. I could see why all the alligators by the road hardly moved. They were just laid back animals. Almost all the reptiles had the same demeanor. The birds however were very outgoing. A tiny, orange bird was very cuddly and friendly. When I stroked its neck, it closed its eyes and its feathers puffed. After spending the morning with Rick and the animals, I resumed the journey. Crystal and my mom stayed behind. I had asked Crystal if she would drop a couple letters at the Ochopee post office for me. I had passed it the previous day and discovered it was the smallest post office in the United States. People from all over the world go there for the famous postmark.
The moment I stepped onto 41/Tamiami Trail, I ran into gators. I should have known it was called alligator alley for a reason. Day 157 might have been the most beautiful run on the trip so far. Just off to my left where all the alligators relaxed, it looked like a tropical paradise. Very few cars passed until I began to approach Oasis Visitor’s center. It was sixteen miles from the campsite and they had plenty of alligators for tourists to see. I was very interested in their water fountain. The hot sun had me begging for water. When Crystal and my mom arrived I made sure to fill up our water jugs. A few people stared at me and one guy that saw me running on the road struck up a conversation. The entire time a ranger or visitor’s center employee sat in a golf cart behind me. I think he wanted to say something about me taking the water but he never did. When I returned to the trailer for lunch he followed with his golf cart and again said nothing.
Just after the visitor’s center street signs warned cars that animals crossed the road. I realized they weren’t a joke when, low and behold, a seven foot long alligator crawled into the creek right by my feet. My amazement continued and I missed the photograph of the journey because I was too slow to draw out my camera. Right by me a tiny baby alligator rested on the mother alligator’s head. When they heard the crinkling sound of the plastic bag which kept my phone dry, they darted back into the canal. The mother went under and the baby paddled. It would have been a priceless picture. We didn’t know where we would rest our heads but we found a quiet spot by the side of the road across from an Indian Village. Crystal had tried a little earlier to get a spot at a national park but they only had twenty-five spaces and all of them were full. We had food and company, the night was warm, I had survived another day.
All was good until maybe 4am. Torrential rain began to pelt the trailer and it sounded like we were under attack. The downpour ended quickly but more little bursts followed. When morning rolled around the trailer was surrounded by mini lakes. I threw on an old pair of running shoes without socks. This aggravated the mosquito bites on my left foot. I only prayed that the itching would subside once I got into my rhythm. Not having much knowledge of alligators, I wondered if they would be running about in the rain. Few gators showed. Paolita must have been their last hangout spot. I did miss their company while running but I was happy I got to run through the famous alligator alley.
Sprinkles kept me cool as I focused on putting one foot in front of the other. Ten miles later I hit the Miccosukee tribe’s restaurant. These Indians were famous for their bravery. I passed quite a few pictures of their men with their heads inside alligators’ mouths. Along with being brave, they were also very generous. The restaurant donated a meal to me, my mom, and Crystal. They had an amazing veggie burger but my real treat was the fry bread with cherry topping. I hadn’t had fry bread for many years. Every bite of fry bread had plenty of cherry in each bite. I knew I would be thinking of the treat for the rest of the day.
From that point on, the Everglade scenery became more of a canal. Airboat businesses sprouted up around every mile. The sun made an appearance but it couldn’t take the place of my beloved Everglades. We ended at Coppertown where the population was 0008 and the people were very friendly. They let us park in the lot of their airboat business. We were ever greatful.
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