We are settled in at Big Cypress!!

Dec 15, 2015.  Well it was very foggy this morning when we got up.  We departed at about 8:45 for our final destination.  Big Cypress National Preserve, Midway Campground.  We got to Headquarters at about 10:30.  Got some of our paperwork out of the way then it was time for their Holiday luncheon!  Famous Dave’s catered the meal along with some homemade sides and deserts.  We were able to meet a lot of the other volunteers and staff.   

We left the party so we could get set up at our site:

 Nice Campground, nice people.  We went to pick up our shirts etc. at the Visitor Center about 3 miles from our campground.

Sat with the other 3 volunteer  couples for a bit before the rain chased us all inside.  2 couples are campground hosts,  one couple from Maine the other from North Carolina.  The other maintenance volunteer couple (Larry and Ruth) are from Michigan.    We have good TV but will set the satellite up sometime this week.  No phone or Internet.  Not sure how that will work for 3.5 months!

Dec 16:  Larry and Ruth took us around the camp to show us how to clean, pick up trash and check the water.  We then went to meet with the volunteer manager, signed a bunch of papers, got a bunch of information then off to Everglades City:

Lunch time at:

fried grouper and shrimp..  both very very good.  we Have to try the Stone Crabs someday.

Then into Naples, found the Ford Dealership to have our truck serviced, found Walmart and other stores before heading back.  We did stop a few times for a bit of hiking and birding.  

some of the trails are a bit wet..  we turned around

this is the country's smallest Post Office and it just so happens it is our Post Office!

Very nice day..  tomorrow is our 1^st work day. 

We were looking for a booster for our internet and cell phone but no luck yet.  We will have to find Best Buy or Verizon to get a good one next week. 

Thurs- Sun

Our uniforms: 

We worked Thurs-Sun this week.  Basicly our job is to keep the camprounds and bathrooms cleans.  It takes about an hour to do both, so we head out to the road to walk a mile there picking up trash.  We have met some really nice people camping at our campground.   we can leave the campground for a bit during our shift or after..  we did hit a few trails

On Sunday we volunteered for the Christmas Bird count.  seen 2000 Tree Swallows!

The weather has been unseasonably hot and humid.  Which is the exact opposite of what we encountered on our journey down here.  We have had the A/C on since we set up .  not complaining, just saying…. 

Going to Naples tomorrow (Monday) to get the truck serviced, hopefully get a booster, bird walk and some shopping...