Stalking
Alligators In Florida
By Steven Gillman
Alligators
were the furthest thing from our minds as my wife Ana and I
traveled along the coast of northern Florida. We had paid $23
to camp in our conversion van at a beautiful state park on the
beach the night before. In the morning we saw a dolphin swimming
near shore.
Then
we heard we could camp for free at the isolated campgrounds
which dotted the Apalachicola National Forest. Our frugality
sent us into alligator country.
We spent two nights in the dark woods next to the dark waters
of a slow river. Our only company was an old guy who seemed
to be living there, and a nice couple with their two-year-old
daughter. Lester was from England, Kari from Texas, and Indya
was born in Guatamala. They met in India, of course.
Our
little group circled the fire at night, trading stories, and
occasionally sneaking down to the water with flashlights to
look for the eyes of alligators. We heard splashes in the night,
but saw nothing.
Lake Talquin
When
the old guy told us camping was free at Wiliams Landing, on
Lake Talquin, we all moved up there for a week. The hot showers
convinced us. We continued trading stories around the fire each
night, but now we saw all kinds of wildlife. Armadillos walked
through camp, giant grey herons fished just offshore from the
van, and there were racoons, owls, squirrels, ducks, and turtles.
Then was also the "monster."
March
is a great time to get out in the woods in Florida, so I was
poking around near a corner of the lake, when I heard the splash.
There were no fish that big, I knew, and we had already seen
two small alligators sunning themselves the day before. This
one had to be a giant. Ana and I returned the next morning,
and again heard the splash. It was under the water before we
could see it.
In
the coming days, we visited the monster each morning once the
sun was high enough for him to come out and soak up the heat.
We caught enough glimpses to know he was at least ten feet long.
Kari and Lester made a "Crocodile Hunter" movie of
us stalking it.
In
time, it no longer panicked, but just slowly lowered itself
into the water, as if getting ready to hunt us properly. We
stopped trying to get so close to it. Our gang went to view
alligators safely after that, from the tour boat at Wakulla
Springs.
Steve
Gillman hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the United States
and Mexico alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with his wife Ana,
whom he met in Ecuador. Read more stories, tips and travel information
at: http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com
