2006 Year End TR, Kissimmee Prairie Pres erve SP

“Friday my daughter, granddaughter and I drove to Kissimmee Prairie Preserve SP.

The Park has three camping areas. The Family area, with water and electicity, was full for the weekend. We set up camp in the Equestrian Campground. There were 15 sites and across a double, divided, shell road, each site included a large, paddock for horses. A walk-in camping area was about 2-miles from a trailhead. It included three separated, large sites and one of the sites had a shelter. However, campers have to backpack their water to the location. I talked to one couple, who were just starting their backpacking careers. They had spent two nights at the remote sites and enjoyed it very much. They may visit TT.

Saturday morning my daughter needed some things from a store, so we drove south to highway 98 and then a short distance west to a small store, gas station and restaurant called, "Cissy's Cafe." This was definitely a backcountry area and close to being a redneck site, We enjoyed Cissy's coffee and rolls. Back at the campground we paid for an afternoon trip, before having lunch. Then we spent most of the afternoon on a Swamp Buggy. It had large wheels and elevated seats, five in front and four behind. It was powered by an old, Oldsmobile, 6 cylinder engine. The Park, with 54,000 acres, is considered a Dry Prairie. However, even though things were exceptionally dry, we did have to cross about a quarter mile of water. The water varied from one to four feet deep. Before the crossing, the driver dropped some sort of shield that protected the motor from the water. During the guided tour we saw lots of prairie, hammocks, an alligator about 15' long, , some Florida grasshopper sparrows, swamp hawks, blackbirds, a raccoon, deer and a golden orange spider. The tour lasted almost three hours.

During the tour I inquired about canoeing and kayaking in the nearby Kissimmee River. Our guide said, "It would be OK, if you want a boring trip. The river was straighten years ago, but they are now trying to restore it." Actually, years ago this area was part of the source of the largest river in the country. At least it was quite wide during the rainy season as it flowed down to the Everglades. So the government, in a big mistake, decided to drain it. For that they build one canal to the Gulf of Mexico and another to the Atlantic Ocean. Then they built a lot of connecting canals, which helprf to drain the area and gain some farmland.

This changed things dramatically in the Everglades. Also, the seepage and pressure from the weight of the water provided fresh water in a large aquifer way underground. Without the pressure, the ocean's salt water has been creeping back into the aquifer. The aquifer provides the drinking water for most of the area north of Miami.

Admitting their mistake, the government is now trying to reverse things. Canals are being filled and the government is trying to buy back the land, so that the area can once again be a flood plain. People are reluctant to yield their land, so it is slow going.

Also, during the weekend, we saw one of those big, orange ants, fire ants, turkeys, plus some horses and dogs. Heard some owls. Four of the turkeys, returning from a visit to the paddocks and alarmed by a man walking, took to the air and flew below some trees and right close to my head and into the woods behind our site.

Sunday morning my daughter and I were both real tired, so we went to Cissy's for breakfast. My granddaughter kept us awake for hours after we had retired and again in the early morning. She wanted us up, while we needed to sleep. During the day we took a few short walks, but passed on hiking a scenic trail. Monday, we packed our gear and, again went to Cissy's, but the place was closed for the Holiday. So we headed towards home, stopping to eat at a roadhouse in Yeehaw Junction. It was an interesting place and a redneck establishment, previously a brothel.
Unfortunately, I picked up something and felt a little ill with some of the runs during the rest of the day

Happy New Year.”

“Matt, could you please teach nowslimmer how to properly use Fuego? ;-)”

“In 1948, Congress authorized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct a system of roads, canals, levees, and water-control structures stretching throughout South Florida. This was intended to provide water and flood protection and to help preserve the Everglades. However, the alteration of the wetlands—combined with increasing population—damaged the natural system.

Who was the administration in Control in 1948????? (There lumber that ought to solve the problem ) (LOL)”

“Zac, why do you hate freedom?”

“Is zac repressing nowslimmer's Freedom of Speach??????
;-)”

“"Speach"?

good luck with that academic career”

“Good thing I'm a very highly paid Engineer, isn't it? ;-)”

“LOL...Engineers...don' have to worry about spulling, just make sure the danmed thing stands until the warranty runs out”

“Nowslimmer, did you like it?I live close but i still hate fl for camping.We call that the chow hall greasy spoon....great for a burger after a hangover plus you get to meet some real pretty women.”

“Cissy's was fine. I got sick from something at the Desert Inn. The campground was fine, except for my granddaughter preventing us from getting enough sleep.
last edited: 1/05/07 12:15:38 AM”

“Arrgh...now I feel your pain, I have a friend who took her 5 year old son camping with us. Starting at 3 AM junior began playing DRUMS on the side of the tent....”

“Great TR, Nowslimmer. Love the added flare. ;)”

“Yeehaw Junction is the turnpike exit I took enroute to Lake Okeechobee.

It'll be a great moment when the Glades ecosystem is returned to it's natural state. I'll prolly be dead and gone by then, tho...”

“What natural state are you talking about.....how far back do we want to go...the BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF YEARS AGO WHERE IT WAS A ROLLING MASS OF MAGMA? (LOL)”

“XL400236 - Why do you post such ridiculous stuff as just above in your last post here? If you're trying to prove how much of an [deleted] you are, you have already demonstrated it, over and over again! You know what time frame is being discussed, since you posted the following, informative information:

"In 1948, Congress authorized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct a system of roads, canals, levees, and water-control structures stretching throughout South Florida. This was intended to provide water and flood protection and to help preserve the Everglades. However, the alteration of the wetlands—combined with increasing population—damaged the natural system.

Who was the administration in Control in 1948????? (There lumber that ought to solve the problem ) (LOL)"
XL40023

But, if you really want to play dumb, just search on Google with"

1. Kissimmee River Restoration Project
2. Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration

Here are two of the many informative sites that you will find listed.

Kissimmee River Restoration Project

Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration:”

“Nice report Slim!”

“LOL...thanks for making my point.”