Miscellany: Shark Valley

Sometimes, when the workday world hems you in, it's best to get somewhere with wide-open spaces and hungry critters. That's why I visited Shark Valley, a site in Everglades National Park, and bicycled along its famed 15 mile tram road: 

There are trams for those physically unable to bike the path, but if you can do it, I recommend cycling. That way, the only sound you hear is the whir of your tires on the pavement.

Confusingly, Shark Valley is not really a valley, and it has no sharks. There are plenty of other animals, though.

If you go during the right months, you are guaranteed to see gators - lots of them. I saw several sunning themselves by the road, and one of them in the road. Needless to say, steer clear of the gators unless you want to reenact that scene from "Eraser."

At the halfway point, there is a tower that provides spectacular views of the surrounding park. You can see for miles on a clear day:

All in all, it's a great trip. In the early morning, before the crowds come, it might be the closest you get to being all by your lonesome in South Florida.