Some of the photo’s I’ll publish this month, or have already published, will come from along the W.J. Janes Memorial Scenic Dr in the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, part of the Big Cypress National Preserve, just off Florida State Road 29. I thought a little recap of our experience might be appropriate.
It was morning and there had been a hard rain and thunderstorms the night before, the clouds were starting to clear with sunshine breaking through. Finding a sign for Janes Memorial Scenic Dr we turned onto a shell and crushed rock road, barely 2 lanes wide and on this particular day, a minefield of large and small potholes filled with water of various depths. Eleven miles, how bad could it be and how long could it take?
Recent rains have brought the water level to the edge of the roads drainage ditches giving a feeling of being very much in the midst of things.
Two deer were first seen far ahead but as we approached they faded off into the surround wetlands. Slowly inching by where they had been we looked to see signs of them but they seemed to have disappeared. It was only after we’d pass a short distance that I saw them in the rear view mirror drift back out onto the road behind us from the very spot we’d searched. It was while taking photos of them with a long zoom lens that another car first appeared far behind us.
The smaller alligators most often quickly slipped back into the waters but the larger ones, feeling less threatened and rightly so, chose to keep their place and let us pass watchfully. Two in particularly stood out by sheer size and attitude. The largest was laying on the left shoulder of the road and had to be at least 9-10 feet long. As the car eased by him I was taking photos out the drivers window no more then 6 feet away. The other, probably 8-9 feet long, was laying across half the road. As we eased passed him I was again taking photos out the window while Bonnie reached over and guided the car. I could have touch his tail with a yard stick — amazing.
Oh…those vultures, no easy pickings this time.
Note: My dear wife, Bonnie, get credits for some of these S90 photos.
Glad you enjoyed Jane’s! Fakahatchee is a true gem and is so often missed by visitors who spend more time in Big Cypress and elsewhere. The post brought back great memories of this winter…
Drew
Drew, thanks for keying me into Jane’s Scenic Dr before I left! It was definitely one of the highlights of the trip and is on my revisit list should/when I make it back that way.
A great story and equally great images!
Steve, thanks and I hope you’ll enjoy some of the other photos and posts I’ll be doing on this trip. Always good to hear from you! :-)
A fine series of this interesting place. Fine narrative to explain and elaborate on the pictures too. Well done.
don, I don’t that the photos were anymore then simple snapshots but I’ll be posting some I feel are better as this month progresses — I hope you’ll enjoy them as well. Thanks for the kind comment.
Earl, thanks for the interesting story. I’m glad that that swampland is taking back the streets and byways. Those gators, birds, fish, and others need a place, too. Go gators! :-)
Paul, thanks, and I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Ummm…are we talking about the same gators??? ;-)
Very nice story and great images. Last time I was down I went to the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, I will have to seek this out.
Don, I’d certainly strongly recommend this 11 miles scenic drive if you’re anywhere near the area. I’ve got the feeling one could drive this road often and have a new experience each time. I’ll be posting some better photos of the area a little later on. Thanks!
Great shots, Bonnie! :-) This looks like a place I’d enjoy visiting, so now I have another one to add to my list, thanks. Looking forward to more images to follow.
Monte, I’ll pass you’re compliment along to Bonnie. :-) If you’re ever in the area it would be easy to spend a day or more exploring Jane’s Scenic Dr. and surrounding areas — highly recommended! I just posted follow-up photos of our White-Tailed Deer encounter.
Good to read this as there’s few useful information on these parks. I’m planning to do the same trip this July – taking W.J. Janes and entering Picayune Strand via Stewart Blvd. I assume you took Everglades blvd North to exit the park. I could not find any information whether these roads can still be used. Happy to hear that you managed, even that they were paved with a picture as proof. Thanks for your story and photos. I’m looking forward to visit this part of one of the most beautiful pieces of nature in America.
Koen, yes Picayune Strand is a story unto itself. No problem with the roads but it’s not a place I’d want to break down at…miles and miles of road. Have a great time.