Town Canoe
Town Canoe

Taking the Tamiami Trail. Unique wildlife in the Florida Everglades
In the south west corner of Florida lie the Everglades, 7 million acres of low-lying wetlands, a unique and delicate ecosystem of huge ecological importance. Constantly under threat from human activity, the area supports a unique variety of animal and plant life.
Driving along the Tamiami Trail, beneath a dull grey sky, we were surrounded by an endlessly flat and seemingly uninspiring landscape. From Lake Okeechobee in the North, the land slopes only 2 inches per mile as it edges towards the Gulf of Mexico. But the mix of land and sea, salt water with fresh and the constant ebb and flow of the seasons make the Everglades dramatically surprising.
The rainy season begins in May, flooding the lake to create a sheet river system, which drains off slowly over a period of months. We went out canoeing in the peace and quiet of the mangrove swamps for a couple of hours, although the truly adventurous can take a week to navigate the Wilderness Waterway. Easily visible in the clear waters were the distinctive roots of the mangrove tree, adapted to survive in the watery, salty swamp where other trees would drown.
Turning off the Trail to the Everglades National Park we found deserted, dusty Wagon Wheel Road. This former logging trail, abandoned when logging was stopped in 1950, is now guarded by alligators. Hoards of these big reptiles float in the roadside river and lounge on the banks. I swear they watched our every step, and they moved horribly fast when disturbed.
We stayed in Everglades City, a former Pioneer camp consisting of a pub, a school and an ice cream parlour. The town has hardly changed since the 19th century but our accommodation in a log cabin was nicely cosy.
The next day we took a boat trip into the Ten Thousand Island Archipelago, finding amongst the tiny tree covered islands, snowy egrets, great blue heron and nesting osprey. We also saw dolphins, shy to perform here, but better by far than in a tank somewhere.
North of the town is Big Cypress Swamp, a huge area of sandy islands, wet prairies, dry prairies, marshes and estuarine mangrove forests. The cypress cover about a third of the swamp, growing in the big long strands which give the area its name. We took one of the area’s boardwalks skirting the edge of this huge, primeval area, looking out for a Florida panther or black bears. I’m not sure if I was disappointed to see only a couple of shy deer playing hide and seek as they watched us pass. We also saw mahogany, tropical hardwood hammocks and the alarming strangling fig. This last seeds itself in another tree then grows downwards to the earth, wrapping its unsuspecting host in a hand-like iron grip.
After only a couple of days we left the area, rejoining the modern world, a world which sadly exists in direct competition to the life of the Everglades.
About the Author
Anne is a food and travel writer whose book 'Early Vegetarian Recipes' came out in 2008. She also runs Hollyfoods, a small food company selling locally at fairs around London.
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![]() ANTIQUE OAK ASH CANOE SEATS PETERBOROUGH OLD TOWN US $19.99
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![]() Kayak Canoe Journeymans Paddle Leash Set Great Value US $11.99
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![]() 14 foot Old Town Canoe US $450.00
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![]() LITTLE BEAR CANOE NEW AND OLD CANOES FROM A SMALL TOWN US $250.00
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![]() Old Town Canoe Motor Mount US $24.99
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![]() Webbed bow Stern Old Town Canoe Replacement seat US $19.95
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![]() Original replacement Thwart for Old Town Canoes US $10.00
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![]() 2 White Ash beavertail Canoe Paddles US $57.95
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![]() Original replacement Yokes for Old Town Canoes US $14.95
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![]() Old Town Wooden Featherlite Boat Paddles 57 60 US $75.00
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![]() Old Town Transom Plate for Small Outboard Motor Like Nw US $88.00
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![]() Beautiful Old Town Stillwater 14 Canoe Gently Used US $550.00
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![]() OLD TOWN Discovery 119K 12 Canoe US $350.00
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![]() Old Town 16 Otca Canoe Vintage US $2,500.00
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![]() scale wooden paddles vintage old canoe medals etc US $40.00
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![]() Old Town Canoe 17 feet NO RESERVE US $750.00
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![]() Old Town St Charles Canoe US $530.00
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![]() Vintage 1953 Wooden Old Town Canoe Rare 15 ft AWESOME US $2,400.00
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![]() KEVLAR FELT SKID PLATE With Expoy Resin for CANOES US $69.99
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![]() Old Town Canoe Anchor Mount THE FISHING MUST HAVE US $85.00
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![]() OLD TOWN WOOD CANVAS CANOE 1945 BEAUTIFUL RESTORED US $3,500.00
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![]() Large 42 Kevlar Felt to Make Skid plate for Canoes US $32.99
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![]() Lightly Used Old Town Guide 14 ft 7 Canoe Red US $499.00
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![]() VINTAGE OLD TOWN BEAVER TAIL LONG CANOE PADDLE US $29.99
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![]() VINTAGE BEAVER TAIL OLD TOWN CANOE PADDLE LAMINATED US $49.99
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![]() Canoe Old Town Guide 160 green US $550.00
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![]() stn Webbed bow Stern Old Town Canoe Replacement seat US $19.95
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![]() OLD TOWN KayakCanoeBoat Decals 15 or 11 Pair US $11.95
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![]() Canoe Repair Skid Plates Kevlar Felt Old Towns others US $26.99 |
![]() Web canoe seatsyokethwarthandleshardware GREAT BUY US $99.00
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![]() Kayak Rack Aluminum Wall Mount Hanger Canoe Storage US $79.00
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![]() Old Town Canoes and Kayaks XT 106 Dirigo Angler Fishing US $949.46
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![]() Ash walnut stain web canoe seat fits most any canoe US $39.00
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![]() Morris Canoe Old Town Painter’s Ring deck Hardware US $85.00
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![]() Canoe Trolling Motor Mount Bracket Natural Finish US $55.00
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![]() 1937 OLD TOWN Canoes Boats Brochure CATALOG Designs NR US $9.99
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![]() Old Town 34 Ash Canoe Seat with Web Seat US $37.99
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![]() Old Town Adjustable Padded Canoe Yoke US $75.00
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![]() Kayak Rack Aluminum Wall Mount Hanger Canoe Storage US $119.00
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![]() NIB Old Town Canoe Padded Adjustable Carry Yoke Kit US $124.99
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![]() Outfitter Discount Canoe Skid Plates Kevlar Felt US $110.00
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![]() 1942 Old Town 12 Sport Boat Restored MINT CONDITION US $5,000.00
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![]() SKID PLATE for Canoe Kevlar Felt US $26.99
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![]() Maine Guide Square Stern Canoe 16 Wood Canvas US $3,950.00
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![]() White Ash beavertail Canoe Paddle US $29.95
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![]() Canoe repair KEVLAR FELT SKID PLATE US $26.99
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![]() Old Town Canoes and Kayaks XT 120 Dirigo Angler Fishing US $1,032.19
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![]() Old Town Canoes and Kayaks 10 XT Vapor Recreational Kay US $513.09
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![]() Old Town Canoes and Kayaks 12 XTS Vapor Recreational Ka US $708.48
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![]() Boone Blue Canoe Crib 2 Paddles Hanger US $47.70
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Old Town Canoe Motor Mount Bracket Kit List Price: $99.99 Sale Price: $37.00 Average Rating: ![]() |
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Are you tried of paddling your canoe? Well with this innovative new motor mount you can install a electric motor to do the work for you. This mount measure 28.5 inches long, which will keep the propeller away from the side of your canoe... |


US $19.99



















































