DAY 2

Port of the Islands is a strange hotel - they do not do breakfast. So we had to drive to Everglades City to start the day. And they only have one diner where everyone goes. We then set outnto do The Loop; a 23 km road which goes through some swampy parts off the Everglades and back onto the Tamiami Trail. We have done this road twice before. The first time there was so much wildlife, the second time less so. Today it has even diminished further. It is now a fairly busy unmade road, but when we first drive it we only met one vehicle coming the other way, I think it used to be a bit of a secret but not any more. We still saw alligators as you can see by the image. Not so many birds and no roseate spoonbills!

We visited Clyde Butcher’s Gallery on the way back. You do not really need to go anywhere else. It is surrounded by alligators and various birds including ibis, egret and wood stork. A beautiful place. Went for a couple of walks around the marina this afternoon and ended the day with dinner in the Vietnamese and French restaurant in the hotel.

It was in the 70s today with hardly any cloud in the sky. Not so good for photography but good for the soul.

We move on tomorrow to Naples, via a byway to Marco Island to see if we can find any burrowing owls.