Florida Everglades by Airboat

#Florida_Everglades_Airboat

Lesson to myself; next time make an effort to read up on the local airboat companies & do not assume everything is copacetic, why you ask
 To my amazement (as i was able to read the room quickly) on how disorganized this particular operator was with his only cash policy, no headsets for the noise, trying to overcrowd the swamp boat etc,
 Then i complained to all the various safety concerns in which we got things straightened out for myself & (at first) strangers but WE ALL ARE adventure travellers......so friends at the end of the tour
 
 So after i did a little research & found out between 2007 to 2017 there were 55 airboat accidents which unfortunately resulted in 2 fatalities plus 130 injured passengers or the drivers
 During the investigation it was found the causes were mostly due to excessive speed & inattention to fixed objects (mangrove islands, tree branches, stumps/roots or other airboats) 

 So after the State of Florida implemented a new set of rules & regulations (2019) to this growing industry to take it from its cowboy days to present times 
  What came out was the Drivers of Airboats, the Course Testing Providers, the Instructors & its Qualifications now all have to follow these strict guidelines.
But after all this the State of Florida still does not require airboats or their captains to carry insurance

KeyTip:  So with all that above information read the reviews & only use the most qualified companies so you can enjoy your Everglades experience without worry
 

 

The Florida Everglades is a subtropical wetland ecosystem spanning over two million acres covering across central & southern Florida
At one time the ecosystem of this area was connected by both wetlands & bodies of water, but since the 1800s that has changed
 As always, it was mankind sculpting the landscape through development with water diversions plus flood control structures
 The end result, the size of the National Park has been decreased  

Even after viewing the Alligator Farm & seeing these creatures up close, you REALLY still need to post this sign 
 No Swimming......Some Humans Are So Stupid 😂

As we follow another Airboat on the tour here are some interesting facts;

 A) The preferred choice is to use an automotive engine over aircraft because of the cost of the fuel which is much cheaper
 B) The hulls are all made from either aluminum or fiberglass
C) There are no brakes or reverse on these Fanboats plus they have no operating parts below the waterline
 D) The first Swamp Boats started in Florida in the 1930s & moving forward are now used for ecotourism, hunting, fishing & rescues
E) Airboats were used to save thousands during Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans
F) U.S. Special Forces & the Coast Guard  use this versatile craft

There is much diversity of plants in the Everglades; with Sawgrass, Cacti, Lichens, Wildflowers, Algae, Bromeliads & Orchids which actually are found up in the trees & get their nutrients through the aerial roots 
As for trees: many different types of Cypress with the most being the Bald & Pond species
Water Tupelo, Florida Royal Palm, Red, White & Black Mangroves, plus other hardwoods that are found on areas they call Hardwood Hammocks (islands) 

The Everglades has extraordinary wildlife with more than 360 Bird Species, Bottlenose Dolphins, West Indian Manatees, Florida Panthers (less than 100😢) both Alligators (that are colored black with U-Shaped snout) Crocodiles (color of a lighter grayish brown with V-Shaped front) & many different types of snakes

KeyTip; The best time to see all the wildlife is either dawn or dusk so try & book your tour then 

I could not post this blog without mentioning my local connection (Eastern Canada & my Province of Nova Scotia) with Alexander Graham Bell (yes the phone inventor) as he had his Summer Home built in my area of Baddeck, Cape Breton 
It was here he was always experimenting with many forms of transportation (first flight in Canada......the Silver Dart Plane for example) plus he became one of the pioneers of hydrofoil experimental prototypes
 The first was built in 1905 & it was called the Ugly Duckling
 Then in 1919 one of his fanboats travelled over 115kms per hour (70 mph) a record that withstood for almost a decade 

So with that history connection I HAD to do a ride on a Planeboat in Florida even though it is 3200 kms (2000 miles) away from my home of Nova Scotia

Camel Trekking the Sahara Desert

#Camel_Trekking_Sahara

The Sahara Desert is that large it covers 10 different countries of Africa (Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan & Tunisia) 
It has dry valleys, mountains, salt flats, barren & rocky plateaus plus sand dunes
On this adventure i will just touch just a small piece of it, but will still get a feel what its like to trek one of the worlds great natural spans 

 

Fun Facts;

A) Only the deserts of Antarctica & the Northern Arctic (both considered dry regions) have larger masses, so that makes the Sahara the largest HOT desert in the World ( 9,200,000 sq kms / 3,600,000 sq miles.....as big as Continental USA)
 B) The Bedouins (meaning desert dwellers) live in the Sahara & survive by moving around by making tent camps near natural resources depending on the season
 C) The record high temperature recorded was 58C (136F) but depending on the time of the year its comfortable for us adventure travelers, for example when i was there 27C (80F) so normal for me
 D) Archeologists have found many wonders in the desert from Saharan Rock Paintings, Stone Circles & Dinosaur Fossils
E) The Sahara is 70% rock with only the other 30% being of sand 
F) The highest point in the desert is the Emi Koussi Volcano at 3400 meters (11,150 feet) which also has some hot springs if your in the area jajajaja
G) You think of the desert you think dry, not here 
 There are over 20 saltwater lakes with one exception Lake Chad (freshwater) plus over 90 oases
 (shade & rest areas)
But remember, it is spread over 4.8 million kms (3 million miles) so do not try to find these fertile spots on your own 😅
 H) The area in the Tunisian Sahara was used for the movie set of Star Wars many times
 Present Day; now the fictional birth village of Luke Skywalker has some remnants left behind for all the film buffs to visit

As we head out from Marrakesh with my group, i find out they are all from France (which at one time ruled Morocco 1912-1955) so French has been kept within the culture & still being one of the languages spoken here
So i knew my Canadian French (different grammar, vowels, vocabulary & pronunciations) is not like that of the Parisian French, but we managed 

My biggest concern was if i was hurting the camel as being a lover of all animals that would go against my principles
To ease my fears i was told these Ships of the Desert can carry 600kg (1300 lbs), travel 40kms (25 miles) plus go 10 days without water
Plus i also noticed the handlers were very good to their caravans..... as well as they should be as this is how they made their living off us tourists

  Some Ethical Guidelines to Follow;
 A) Go with tour operators that have animal welfare policies such as World Expeditions or Intrepid Travel
 B) Ask the operators how their camels are trained & treated
C) Only book camels in the environments they have evolved to survive in, the desert
For example if you see rides offered in tropical, humid or non-desert landscapes this is a red flag
D) Visual check on your part; the camels should look settled & calm, eyes should be clear, skin in good condition & no wear spots under the harnesses, saddles or halters
 E) Only one person per camel as the shady tour operators will double up to maximize profit
 F) Finally the multi-day safaris at a slow pace is much better than the quick turnarounds on the camels

As we wait for our Berber hosts i was told by our guides that some continue their nomadic desert lifestyle & others the tradition of farming with a culture that dates back for more than 4000 years

We are then served a Berber Tea (Atay) which is a mixture of green tea leaves, fresh mint leaves & lots of sugar, plus slices of bread with olive oil, jam & honey

As we take a break i noticed most of our transportation were of the one hump dromedaries & my handler tells me that when born, the calves have no hump until they start to eat solid food which eventually will grow into 80 lbs of fat, not water as what most people would of have assumed 

Yes i have ridden horses many times & a camel is a different experience, but not a difficult skill to learn very quickly
The only awkward moments for most novice riders i could see was the getting on/off part of the ride
KeyTip; it should not be filmed by your friends 😅

I was told Camels are sensitive creatures who will tell you when they are not comfortable with their passenger, but my Buddie liked the idea of me getting some extra grass & leaves
Also my guide told me Camels recognize poisonous plants growing in any area so will not eat them  Intelligent through social learning by watching what others in the flock have done

I was told the men cover their faces to show respect & modesty as the mouth is considered to be one of the most revealing parts of a mans body
But as you read below, it is also for protection from blowing sand, sun & insects

On the way back after my two day trek the hotel driver kept pointing at my face (he knew no English) So i put up my fingers to feel & to my surprise had a stinger, then i pulled it out & within minutes i could feel it swelling up

What to do in Northwest Africa in this situation i asked myself
Well i remembered the old Indiana Jones movies 😂 so went to the local bar, asked for two whiskeys  (which got a stare from the bartender) & downed one, the other i pored on the wound
Next morning i was feeling a little off, not sure if it was the alcohol (as i do not drink hard liquor) or if it was the poison from whatever bit me
 But nonetheless was on the mend enough to do a hike of the nearby Atlas Mountains

Did this charcoal drawing  (saying thanks) to the great country of Morocco for this latest adventure

Hiking the Dolomites in Northern Italy

#Hiking_Dolomites_Italy

The Dolomites are one of the most accessible international destinations (fly into Venice or Milan) for these outdoor hiking adventures that fits all fitness & skill levels
 Once landed then travel north by bus or vehicle rental to the towns with the most tourist infrastructure to base yourself; for example that would be Bolzano, Trento or Merano

From your base you can do daytrips or multiple nights staying at rifugios (mountain huts) with most of the trails that are well developed, to some that needs a little experience & up to what i am doing known as Via Ferrata Lipella which needs expertise
Finally your best months to mountain walk here are from June to September with the longer days & warmer weather as the hiking season is short due to the long winters

 

Making my way along the Austrian Border (300 km /185 miles drive) to first visit my friends in Alta Badia in Northern Italy before heading to my next adventure taking on the Lipella Ferrata
This climb will take me through some historical landmarks, steep/difficult terrain, altitude up to 3200 meters (10,500 feet) & around 13 kms (8 miles)......i am excited 😀  

A reminder (as i drive past) of the World War which Italy suffered a great loss of life & damages
It started in 1915 when Italy declared war on Austria & Hungary which it soon became a stalemate struggle for all the countries involved 
 It was basically a trench warfare as troops from both sides had to deal with freezing temperatures, high altitudes & the instability of the mountains itself

The history of the Via Ferrata ( meaning iron treks....protected paths with iron cables, steps or ladders) began during the first World War & today there are around 600 trails within the Dolomites
All these routes have different grades & lengths (Google; Dolomites Via Ferrata to choose what is best for your comfort & skill level so you have the most enjoyable experience)
 that are constantly maintained by the Italian Alpine Club for safety, so we all can enjoy them

Originally these routes (that were made of iron) were created for the soldiers who carried heavy supplies during all times of the year.
After the war, some of the steel & wooden equipment was replaced with safer modern versions
That being said you need to be confident in your footing, be adventurous, have stamina & do not suffer from vertigo for the more challenging routes which is what i chose because of my experience

With over 1000 Mountain Huts (Rifugios) in the Dolomites you need to do some research but lucky for you i have taken some of those questions out of the equation;

A) They do not open until late June  because of all the snow (during the winter season) as they are at 2500 meters (8000 feet) so the danger of avalanches is a serious risk
B) Reservations are done by email only during the off season, once open you will need to call directly to reach anyone but be patient
 Please remember where these huts are located so cell coverage can be spotty
 C) A deposit of around 20 Euros will be subtracted once you arrive, also you will be sending that payment via E-Transfer so MAKE SURE you include your name & booking dates so you indeed get the credit plus reservation when you arrive
D) The cost per night is depending on your preference, so for example private huts are 70-80 Euros,
 just a bunkbed (4 to 10 people per room) would be 30 Euros PP which most times includes breakfast
 E) Bring your own sleeping bag liner plus pillow cover as linens are not washed daily
 F) Bringing your own food is frowned upon as these huts make their positive income from the meal service, but if you insist you will have to bring your own cooking equipment, utensils & eat away from the hut as your taking away a table space from other restaurant paying customers
G) Water is a precious resource as its collected in huge storage tanks from melting snow or rainwater, so please do not waste water with running the taps, flushing the toilets too many times & because of such, a five minute shower will cost you around 5 Euros 

Always Safety First;

 A)  Always wear a climbing helmet as your not the only one scaling here as the group above you could dislodge some loose rocks onto you
B) A new climbing harness & not secondhand, as the expire date with regular use is around 36 months so there is really no way to check that.....if buying used
 C) Lanyard with four main components; strong loop to attach to your harness, energy absorption system & two carabiners
D) Climbing Gloves as your in constant contact with steel cable with that wear plus it could have some loose wire sticking out for a nasty gash
 E) Stay Hydrated as you climb higher you exhale & sweat twice as much
F) Cell Coverage is good, if you have an emergency call 112 which is the Pan-European Emergency Number where the operator will redirect your call to the proper authorities or call 118 which is the direct number for Medical Emergency & Ambulance in Italy

The Lagazuoi Tunnel was built during World War One by the Italians with the idea of blowing up the Falzarego Pass 
 Why you ask; during those times it was an important passage way for supplies of the Allied Troops of Austria & Hungary

 It is now one of most extensive in the Dolomites (thanks to the European Union grant) plus is the most well preserved & safest to hike (1km/ 0.6 miles)
Bonus, it is also where you can see the trenches, machine gun posts, barracks etc  from the past & its setup like an open air museum

What to wear you ask;

 A) I would recommend covering up your legs with hiking pants to prevent nicks & cuts from the rocks B) Wind & Rainproof Jacket plus maybe a down vest (in your backpack) for the higher altitudes
 C) UV Sunglasses plus lotion on any exposed body parts 
D) Hiking Boots that has a good grip & most importantly are comfortable

As i leave the Dolomites here are some facts;

 A) The nickname is the Pale Mountains due to its composition of dolomitic limestone
 B) It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site  because of its natural beauty
C) Home to the Ladin people since 5 BC (during Roman occupation of this area) the locals adopted the rough Latin language spoken by the soldiers & magistrates into their own plus
  other traditions that have been kept alive through the educational system, culture & cuisine 
 D) Evidence proves that the Dolomites were once underwater with the discovery of fossils, corals & through the various formations
 E) Powdered dolomite from the mountains (when grounded up) has be proven to be an effective medicine to deliver both calcium & magnesium to help strengthen human bones

Key West Florida

#Key_West_Florida

I am making my way to Key West on US Highway1 (past Miami 266kms / 165miles) which is an archipelago of the Florida Keys with 1700 islands but only 43 are accessible by bridges or causeways

Because of hurricanes, the area was very isolated until 1912 when it was connected by rail but then in 1935 another tropical storm destroyed much of the Overseas Railway
Finally the US Government rebuilt (1938) the rail route plus added an automobile highway as an extension of route number 1

KeyTip; Hotels / Activities can be expensive here because of the small size of the island with limited accommodations, plus its a popular destination for special events like weddings, festivals & cruise ships
 
But here are some ways to save money;

A) Avoid Peak Season & visit say between October to December plus look online for budget hotels, AirBnB, VRBO etc 
 B) You really do not need a vehicle rental here, instead rent a pedal bike or walk plus bonus; some hotels or vacation rentals offer free bikes or shuttle service
 C) Visit at no cost the Hemingway House, the Little White House or Audubon House plus walk Duval Street or Mallory Square that has lots of free Street Performers 
 D) Sunset Celebration 😎 everyday at Mallory Square for this event
E) Key West Historic Marker Tour is a self-guided walkabout that takes in 50 locations that provides information of its history & culture
 F) Butterfly & Nature Conservatory ($15 US) with hundreds of different species of butterflies & birds plus tropical plants

 

The Overseas Highway is made up of 42 bridges of 180 kms/113 miles of pavement that connects mainland Florida to Key West which runs over the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay, through the Keys & the Gulf of Mexico
Now next time you watch any of these flicks try & notice this engineering marvel that was featured
A) True Lies
B) License To Kill
 C) 2 Fast 2 Furious
D) Mission Impossible 111
 E) The Haunted Mansion

The Seven Mile Bridge newest version was completed in 1982 with the original being built in 1912 & called the Eighth Wonder of the World
It was at first a private railroad then in 1935 it was sold to the government which turned it into a roadway 
The project was finished in 1938 & the Highway of Mirrors finally opened
 (because of the narrow road forced passing cars to get so close, side mirrors were knocked off )

Moving forward; the new Overseas Highway was opened that runs parallel with the original, which still has 23 bridges standing that some have been converted into fishing station areas

This monument is called The Wreckers 
Why you ask to erect this structure; it was for a historical importance, as it was the first industry of this boisterous, bustling sea town of Key West
Because of the salvage operations of the vessels that would ground on the reefs many individuals got rich; from the wrecking captains & crews, lawyers, clerks, dock hands, insurance agents & other businessmen (The Florida Keys Shipwreck Trail has approximately 1000 sunken boats from Key Largo to Key West)
 
So lucrative the business was that Key West became the richest city (per capita) in the United States during the 1800s

During my walk of Old Town you find the simpler times of shopping without the on-line clicking 😉

Pan American Airways got it start in Key West & was doing regular flights to Havana Cuba before it became the first Airline to offer world wide service, pioneered the computerized reservation systems, cabin pressurization & jumbo jets
Fun Fact; Kelly McGinnis (Top Gun actress fame) owns the house where the Pan Am plane tickets were sold, which she now turned into a bar called First Flight

  With another Cuban connection to Key West;
 It happened in the early 1800s when the revolution on that island caused thousand to escape to here which brought the cigar making culture that was started in 1831
American businessman William H. Wall took advantage of this fact & opened the first cigar factory by importing raw ingredients from Cuba & employed 50 rollers from this area

Key West was originally called Bone Island 
Spanish Explorer Ponce de Leon discovered the area in 1521 during his quest for the Fountain of Youth  His settlers called the area Cayo Hueso  with their grim discovery of all the bones from the deceased Calusa Indians who had previously lived in the Florida Keys area

The Key West artistic scene comes to life with many diverse art forms & many galleries to view here;

A) Alan S. Maltz Gallery; he has been recognized as the Official Wildlife & Fine Art Photographer for the State of Florida 
 B) Gallery On Greene; it has exhibit works by 37 prominent artists such as Jeff MacNelly, Annie Dillard, Mario Sanchez & Tennessee Williams
C) Gingerbread Square Gallery; the oldest private gallery since 1974 with original paintings, sculptures & art glass
 D) Guild Hall Gallery; featuring local talent in the mediums of sculptures, ceramics, photography & printmaking
 E) Art @ 830;  it has locally sourced masterpieces, glass sculptures, watercolors & handcrafted jewelry

Found this rad bike during my walk, & no i did not wait for the owner to return 😂

Key West is famous for its Key Lime Pie as its a Southern Classic
 But since the hurricane of 1926 that wiped out the Florida Keys lime crops, the citrus fruits are imported from either Mexico or the Caribbean 

Much history has happened in this wooden duplex that was designed in 1889;

 A) First use was for the Naval Station Headquarters in 1890
B) The first President to stay at the site was William Taft in 1912, then continued his journey to Panama to inspect the canal construction project
C) Then during World War Two, Thomas Edison lived here for six months to help with the war effort
which he perfected 41 underwater weapons during his stay
D) The house remained a command headquarters through to the end of War
 E) Harry S Truman started visiting in 1946 on doctors orders from the physical exhaustion from the job which turned into an annual visit every year
F) Dwight D. Eisenhower used the building in 1949 to form the Department of Defense
 G) John F. Kennedy & British Prime Minister Harold MacMillan had a one day meeting here in 1961 H) In 1974 the submarine base closed as the Navy converted from diesel to nuclear & in 1987 it was deeded to Florida as a public museum

Because of its military importance Key West (even though it was Americas southern most city) it remained part of the Union during the entire Civil War

There are four Naval Forts in the Key West area
 A) Fort Zachary Taylor
B) Fort East Martello
 C)West Martello Tower
D) Fort Jefferson on nearby Dry Tortugas which is the starting point for the 350 mile Florida Keys Reef Tract ( third largest coral reef system in the world)
Read about Fort Jefferson in one of my other travel posts

The Ernest Hemingway Spanish Colonial house in Key West & in 1958 it was designated a National Historical Landmark
He lived here for 10 years & now is a museum with some of his memorabilia (typewriter, books & photos)
  Some of his most significant work was penned in this home;
 A) For Whom the Bell Tolls
B) The Snow of Kilimanjaro 
 C) A Farewell to Arms 
 D) The Green Hills of Africa

In 1982 Key West declared secession from the United States calling itself the Conch Republic
It was just a symbolic protest about a Border Patrol roadblock at the entrance to the US Route1
but it wanted to prove its point about being treated like a foreign country

Now its become a proud part of the history here in so much the locals call themselves conchs & for those who reside here but were born elsewhere are called fresh-water conchs 😄 

But each April everyone is welcome ( friends, fans & tourists) to the ten day bash for the fictitious Conch Republic Independence Celebration

Watching one of the famous sunsets here in Key West, as i eat a Fish Taco with a Ybor Gold Beer, cannot get any better than that. 

Running the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

 

#Running_Golden_Gate

Here we are in San Francisco with my goal to run the famous Golden Gate Bridge (2.7kms or 1.7 miles)
The day i head out for this challenge it was typical weather for the City by the Bay, as in damp, foggy & windy.
 What i did not realize was how much care was needed once on the span; as with the crosswinds plus the wet surface & tourists (who cut you off as they only see the picture they want to take & not you) so easily you could get knocked over the 1 meter/3 foot high railings
With all of those factors you really needed to run with focus plus heavy feet ( so to speak 😄) & plant your runners into the decking for balance as its a long way down to the water. (75 meters/245 feet) 

 KeyTip; If you do not want to walk or run the Golden Gate you can rent a bicycle at the Fishermans Wharf & cycle over the bridge to the ferry pier in Sausalito then take the boat back or cycle the roundtrip at a cost of around $20 US for a hybrid bike 

There are rules to cross the span;
 A) All pedestrians are only allowed on the east sidewalk (the side facing the city)
 B) Cyclists must yield to pedestrians; this is especially important around the towers because of the limited space
 C) There is a 15mph limit for bicycles 
 D) Finally eBikes have the same rules to follow as pedal bikes

There is new construction at nights for a Suicide Deterrent System ( netting)
 as unfortunately the bridge (remember i mentioned the short railings on the Golden Gate) has averaged 30 deaths per year for the last twenty years 😞 

Some Fun Facts on the Golden Gate;

A) The color of the bridge (International Orange) was widely used in the aerospace industry (lighter than what you would see on an astronauts suits)
 It is formulated to be rust resistant because of the ocean spray plus the color makes the bridge more visible in the thick fog that is too common in San Francisco
B) When the one billionth vehicle crossed the bridge (1985) the driver was gifted a case of champagne & a hardhat, now that number has surpassed two billion crossings
C) During the 50th anniversary & celebration of the Golden Gate there were 300,000 people that crowed onto the bridge which temporarily flattened the curved arch by 2.1 meters / 7 feet
 D) The Golden Gate was hit by an earthquake in 1935 but withstood it because of the parallel wire construction
 E) The only other bridge in the world painted in International Orange is in Portugal (Abril Bridge)
F) The Golden Gate is the most photographed bridge in the world plus has been featured in films like James Bond (A View To A Kill) & The Rise of the Planet of the Apes 

Things to do once your in Sausalito;

A) Stroll along the Bridgeway which is the street that runs along the waterfront
 B) Go to the Visitors Centre at Historic Ice House to start your self guided tour
 C) Around 3 miles from the ferry are the famous floating homes (houseboats) of Sausalito that has been part of the waterfront scene since the 1880s. 
 D) There is a old schooner ship (Freda B) that offers cruises
E) In the same area as the houseboats there is a 1.5acre 3D model (that was built for the army in 1957) of the San Francisco Bay.
It was to test the impact of suggested changes of the waterways nearby & now is an interactive exhibit for all us visitors which is free to view 
 F) Seaplane Tours that you would see Baker Beach, Pt. Bonita Lighthouse, Alcatraz, Angel Island, AT&T Park & Golden Gate Bridge
 G) Gallery 111 Art Studios with the works of around 85 local jewelry makers, photographers, painters, sculptors & weavers