Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve

 This was another interesting place which we visited during our second week in Florida.  It is within Fort Myer's city limits, and is over 3,500 acres of protected wetlands and uplands. It received its name in the early 1900s when travelers in wagons on their way to Fort Meyers would get stuck in a low swampy area (known today as the Slough).  When that happened they knew from experience that it was six more miles to town.  By the way, a slough is a forested wetland with slowly flowing freshwater.  A boardwalk was built over the slough in 1991, and is 1.2 miles in length.  Walking it we passed the largest body of water, called Gator Lake.

There really is a gator in the above picture!   We also passed by Otter Pond, and stood there for awhile looking for otters, but none made an appearance.

What did surprise us was a large water snake, hanging out in the water near the boardwalk.  We also saw a fair number of turtles, anhinga, herons and egrets.  Pictured below is a black-crowned night heron.  I was so pleased that I spotted him, he was a bit hidden.

My next picture here is of a sign I noticed by the bathrooms.  It sure gave me a chuckle!

Our last adventure in Fort Myers was an air boat ride.  In the past an boat ride meant a certain amount of time sitting quietly in a bayou or swamp looking at the wildlife surrounding us.  The air boat ride this time had only the purpose of giving us a wild experience; zipping among many mandrake groves at a rapid speed.  I did not appreciate it at all and felt sorry for the wildlife we were frightening.  And there were two other air boats near us also going at that speed!  Once we even got drenched with a big splash of water.  As we were leaving the boat later I saw a great blue heron sitting quietly in the water.  In the Slough I saw a quote which said: "Falling in love with the earth is one of life's greatest adventure" (Steve Van Matre wrote this, an environmental activist).  I have found, in our travels, that seeing any creature in its natural habitat is an awesome moment for me.