Image courtesy of Florida Fish and Wildlife at Flickr.com
To begin, we should be at the entrance to the dam L29, which is on the Tamiami Trail, a mile and a third west of Krome Avenue, almost in front of the SW 187th Ave. Right across, the Everglades National Park ends. The exact place, other than WCA 3B, is called Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area. There we will see a big gas station and a ramp for hovercrafts. Many people come here on weekends to fish or just go eat with their family countryside.
Once on the dirt track, we will go east for a short space until the confluence with the L31N canal, then the only alternative is to go north along the Krome but without ever leaving the paved avenue. After driving behind the Miccosukee Casino and after about 14 miles escorted by endless bogs, we will be arriving at the north end of the dam. Here several river routes and roads meet, as well as high and rusty pylons which follow their long evolution to the north of the peninsula.
On the bike, we must pay special attention because we could easily divert. We must take Danell Lane, a distance of two miles parallel to the Miami River, where we will see many signs with jokes, indications and warnings that are populating each of the power poles, ending at Mack's Fish Camp, a historic fishing resort. Some of these signs contain jokes such as "The free beer day was yesterday." Almost all of them refer to the so-called redneck satire and culture.
On the bike, we’ll be in a lane wide enough to fit a couple of vehicles at the same time. A pair of wooden crosses covered with flowers on the edge of it indicate the danger and consequences that sometimes the reckless driving of motorcycles or SUVs represent. Soon we’ll enter Mack's Fish Camp, going in front of the cabins and facilities such as a grocery store, the only accessible one throughout the journey, and a restaurant. The buildings here are colorful and rustic and are located along the river.
The atmosphere is reminiscent of the typical American movies and, of course, the soundtrack is made out of country music. This place exists since 1937, operated continuously by the Jones family. For several generations, these Gladesmen have survived ferocious hurricanes, floods and forest fires in this remote location, on the border of Broward and Dade, between the past and modernity, in an enviable oasis at the style of the pioneers who settled in the Sunshine State. Here you can find accommodation, a tour of the Everglades, fishing areas and tournaments. The site has been chosen multiple times to shoot several films such as “The African Queen” with Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn in 1951 -for which the former won an Academy Award-; Cape Fear with Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte and Jessica Lange in 1991; Drop Zone with Wesley Snipes in 1994 and several other performances of other Hollywood luminaries.
On the opposite shore we will see several airboats moored and despite the thick vegetation we will find a path that moves away into a kind of promontory purposely created to house a VORTAC or communication tower to facilitate the interaction of aircrafts with the airport of Miami.
Once on the dirt track, we will go east for a short space until the confluence with the L31N canal, then the only alternative is to go north along the Krome but without ever leaving the paved avenue. After driving behind the Miccosukee Casino and after about 14 miles escorted by endless bogs, we will be arriving at the north end of the dam. Here several river routes and roads meet, as well as high and rusty pylons which follow their long evolution to the north of the peninsula.
On the bike, we must pay special attention because we could easily divert. We must take Danell Lane, a distance of two miles parallel to the Miami River, where we will see many signs with jokes, indications and warnings that are populating each of the power poles, ending at Mack's Fish Camp, a historic fishing resort. Some of these signs contain jokes such as "The free beer day was yesterday." Almost all of them refer to the so-called redneck satire and culture.
On the bike, we’ll be in a lane wide enough to fit a couple of vehicles at the same time. A pair of wooden crosses covered with flowers on the edge of it indicate the danger and consequences that sometimes the reckless driving of motorcycles or SUVs represent. Soon we’ll enter Mack's Fish Camp, going in front of the cabins and facilities such as a grocery store, the only accessible one throughout the journey, and a restaurant. The buildings here are colorful and rustic and are located along the river.
The atmosphere is reminiscent of the typical American movies and, of course, the soundtrack is made out of country music. This place exists since 1937, operated continuously by the Jones family. For several generations, these Gladesmen have survived ferocious hurricanes, floods and forest fires in this remote location, on the border of Broward and Dade, between the past and modernity, in an enviable oasis at the style of the pioneers who settled in the Sunshine State. Here you can find accommodation, a tour of the Everglades, fishing areas and tournaments. The site has been chosen multiple times to shoot several films such as “The African Queen” with Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn in 1951 -for which the former won an Academy Award-; Cape Fear with Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte and Jessica Lange in 1991; Drop Zone with Wesley Snipes in 1994 and several other performances of other Hollywood luminaries.
On the opposite shore we will see several airboats moored and despite the thick vegetation we will find a path that moves away into a kind of promontory purposely created to house a VORTAC or communication tower to facilitate the interaction of aircrafts with the airport of Miami.
Image courtesy of Florida Fish and Wildlife at Flickr.com
Without detouring, we’ll continue to advance once the camp ends. The landscape will become greener as we move into Broward County, as the grass begins to grow a little taller. On the left we will see the channel that is the extension of the Miami River. On the right is the endless sawgrass, the distant forests and bogs. It is definitely an exceptional place to observe wildlife.
After a while we’ll get to the end of this segment, finding another great canal, L67A. Here, we are near the crash site of flights Eastern 401 in 1972 and Valujet 592 in 1996. Flight 592 plunged after a fire a few minutes after takeoff and none of its 110 occupants survived. It is no coincidence that these and many other disasters have occurred in this area of the Everglades because it is the path followed by almost all planes that will land at the Miami International Airport.
From the point where we are to the west, the WCA 3A begins, which we can not access by land. This other area for water conservation is the only one not completely surrounded by dikes and is much greater than we are visiting, with an area of 786 square miles. On the ground, we will go southwest in the longest and most impressive part of the journey, crossing 21 miles further towards the Tamiami Trail at the height of what would be the SW 297th Avenue. This thresher is about three meters wide and about three above the level of the bogs. On that same one, we’ll also get back into the Miami Dade County. Looking at both sides, the landscape will not change even though it will now be adorned by thousands of alligators, an experience sometimes not suitable for everyone because the distance is extremely long and loneliness is absolute.
Two and a half miles from the US 41 the road will be diverted south and we will be in a small forest where wildlife changes radically. Here deer and several other critters like raccoons and foxes begin to appear. Soon, we will be on the northern dike right at the Tamiami Trail where we’ll go left on the last leg of the route.
After a while we’ll get to the end of this segment, finding another great canal, L67A. Here, we are near the crash site of flights Eastern 401 in 1972 and Valujet 592 in 1996. Flight 592 plunged after a fire a few minutes after takeoff and none of its 110 occupants survived. It is no coincidence that these and many other disasters have occurred in this area of the Everglades because it is the path followed by almost all planes that will land at the Miami International Airport.
From the point where we are to the west, the WCA 3A begins, which we can not access by land. This other area for water conservation is the only one not completely surrounded by dikes and is much greater than we are visiting, with an area of 786 square miles. On the ground, we will go southwest in the longest and most impressive part of the journey, crossing 21 miles further towards the Tamiami Trail at the height of what would be the SW 297th Avenue. This thresher is about three meters wide and about three above the level of the bogs. On that same one, we’ll also get back into the Miami Dade County. Looking at both sides, the landscape will not change even though it will now be adorned by thousands of alligators, an experience sometimes not suitable for everyone because the distance is extremely long and loneliness is absolute.
Two and a half miles from the US 41 the road will be diverted south and we will be in a small forest where wildlife changes radically. Here deer and several other critters like raccoons and foxes begin to appear. Soon, we will be on the northern dike right at the Tamiami Trail where we’ll go left on the last leg of the route.
Image courtesy of Justo Ruiz at Flickr.com
When we begin to move eastward, the first thing that will come our way is the monument dedicated to those killed in the crash of the Valujet flight 592, which is composed of 110 columns which represent each of the victims. On the left side, with the Tamiami Canal in the middle, we’ll see swamps, some recreational facilities, restaurants and shops called Tourist Traps and Airboat Tours in Cooperstown, the Everglades Safari Park, Gator Park and some houses of the Miccosukee Indians along the next 11 miles. A little later we will go through one of these villages of no more than 15 houses where young and old share the same physical features. A ghost town called Frog City was also one of these tourist attractions and today it’s fenced and entry is forbidden. In the end, the point where the route began is the same where it ends after a few hours of travel by these hostile places.