Memorial Day: Part 2

For the second half of our day we went to Shark Valley, part of the Everglades National Park.  There is a 15 mile loop that you can walk, bike, or take a tram.  We brought our bikes and trailer.  We were limited on time, so we went 4 miles and turned around for a total of 8 miles!  We saw a lot of animals!  We saw 6 or more large alligators, turtles, and birds.

This is a great Blue Heron.  We saw quite a few of these.  They stand about 3 feet tall.

This is a soft shell turtle out sunning.

This was my view: Brent and Wes.  Usually Wes was in the lead.  Janiel pedaled a lot on her kind of small bike.  Time for a bigger bike, I think!

We saw 6 baby alligators in this little section.  Mama wasn't around when we saw them, but some others standing there said that they saw her!

 The three little ones were troopers.  We make them squish in a two seater trailer.  They are getting too big, I think this was our last ride with the trailer...at least with three girls.  

When we got to the park entrance, the ranger asked if we had helmets.  No.  By Florida Law, anyone under 16 has to wear a helmet.  Even the girls in the trailer.  So she handed us 5 helmets, all the same size.  Poor girls.  The helmets lasted for about 45 minutes.  Kara was the worst-trying to get it off.  Ashleigh was a trooper but couldn't see most of the time!  We let them take them off and they felt a little better about the ride.  

Brent had some of his blue surgical towels with him.  He got them wet and we wore them around our necks.  It did help us to feel cooler!  Wes wouldn't wear one out of pride's sake.  It looks dumb!

Starting out---not so happy.

Ending up even more unhappy!

Janiel started out with a smile on her face.

 This was the best shot yet!  This guy was just laying by the pathway.  

 I told Janiel she needed to steer a little more to the left!  Not so CLOSE!

 It was a fun adventure to the Everglades.  We've got to get it in while we can!  

(Just a year left!!!!)