This  is our site at Collier-Seminole State Park in Florida.  We’ll be leaving in the morning going further into the Everglades on Highway 41, also known as the Tamiami Hwy.

Collier-Seminole State Park, #76

Yesterday, as we were driving here we drove past some nice upscale resort communities and golf courses. Then we started seeing “Panther Traffic” signs.. huh?  Was this an attempt at senior citizen humor?  Watch out for white-haired old people driving golf carts?  “Traffic”??  Panther traffic?  We envisioned panthers (the four-legged kind) at stop lights and in turn lanes.

Panther Traffic

As it turns out we really are in panther territory, the four-legged kind.  I “borrowed” this picture off the internet:

Florida Panther

Not too far from here is the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge.  We decided to check it out.  As we neared the refuge we saw “Panther Crossing” signs and a tall barbed-wire-topped fence barrier along both sides of the road.

Panther Crossing

When we arrived at the entrance we found a small parking lot, an information sign, and the trail head.  Entrance to the trail is through a door in this Jurassic Park looking fence.  The sign tells us to watch for bear, deer, and panther tracks on the trail as we walk it. hmm. There is a short trail and a long trail.  We decided on the short trail.

Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge

We looked, but saw no signs of any bear, deer, or panther tracks.  But it was a very nice walk on the well-groomed trail through the dense foliage.

Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge

It was another 80 degree and humid day, so back to the air-conditioned RV.

• Gasoline Expense:   none
• Lodging Expense:   $24