The water
nearly covered the embankment, but the overhanging
branches of the Oak tree offered cool shade. From
under the trees we could observe the trails crossing
the plain and airboats passing by.
Eventually
we were ready to head back to camp. We took a
different trail than the one we had come in on just
to see what we would see. It wasn't a whole lot -
just a big, wet grassy plain. When the water is high
like this you don't even get to see many 'gators
- they are off exploring new territory themselves!
Once we
got up to the Cabbage Palms we were off the airboat
trail and on the Sweetwater Canal. There
was a foot of water over the land at the Cabbage
Palms so we didn't get out to stretch our legs
this time. We could have waded around a bit, but
snakes displaced by the high water are a very real
danger, so we didn't. There are snakes in the marsh
that are far more aggressive than any alligator
- and just as deadly.
I'm not sure
if it's worse to be eaten by an alligator or bit
by a poisonous snake, but if I have my way I'll never
have to find out!
Other
than being watched closely by a buzzard who
seemed to anticipate our imminent demise, the rest
of the trip was uneventful.
(I have a
great respect for buzzards - they do a wonderful
job keeping dead animals cleaned up - but it still
makes me uneasy to be watched by one. Maybe they
figure it's only a matter of time, or maybe they
know something we don't. Either way, I wish they
wouldn't do it!)
Other
than being watched closely by a buzzard who
seemed to anticipate our imminent demise, the rest
of the trip was uneventful.
