Myakka

We went to the Myakka State Park which is centered around a huge lake that feeds the Myakka River. The park has an airboat and a tram ride which we took. The airboat isn't the type you imagine since it's top speed is 10 mph.














But it takes you out in the middle of the lake

where you see alligators galore

Some pretty big - the distance in inches from the nose to the eye gives you the length of the gator in feet - This one is about 9 feet long.














The lake is only 8 feet deep at the center so the shores allow plenty of room for all types of birds and the gators don't eat them - This is a Great Blue heron.















The center of Florida used to be all prairie like this but man stopped the annual burning and trees and palmetto came in.














They also had a tower (192 ft tall) and a sky walk. We did it but in the 90 degree temperature it wasn't worth it.














Polly is really affected by the heat. After we did the tower the buzzards kept following her around.














The Myakka is down near Saratoga so on the way home we decide to take a look at the Sarasota Beaches. Never found them but came across this big statue with a wedding couple having their picture taken in front of it. Reminds me of that famous newspaper picture at the end of WWII.