After a day of storms and getting updates about "Matthew", we had our concerns heading south, but locals assured us that we were okay. So into the storm we went. In fact, when we got down to Chokoloskee Island, they knew nothing about Matthew.

We left around 8:45am heading first to Bradenton to the REAL De Soto National Memorial Park. We walked out of the film despising De Soto for the havoc he and his men wrought on the natives of southeastern United States. De Soto and his men were responsible for the dissemination of diseases and brutality that resulted in the deaths of 95% of the native population. We questioned why would a national monument be dedicated to him. We talked to the park ranger about it. The ranger, Michael, was very knowledgeable and told us it was because of the journals De Soto and his men left behind. The explorers provided a written and illustrated depiction of how the natives lived and went about life prior to the 1500s. Also, De Soto was the first European to cross the Mississippi...and a few other achievements.

We continued on down to Chokoloskee Island which is just outside of Everglades City. This was probably the most funkiest place that we have stayed so far. It was a fishing camp. There was no pool, the grounds were not groomed, and we even had a hard time finding the office. The boys thought about swimming off the deck, but that idea was immediately no more when they saw the sign, "No swimming - Alligators".

It was all about fishing for anything. While Walt and Barb were working on a masterful meai, Bob was relaxing and watching Fox News and I walked down and watched Robert, the property manager, fish for shark...yes, shark. I had visions of Jaws....and thought it best to watch from afar. Luckily, dinner was ready and I hightailed it off the deck.

Tomorrow, we explore the Everglades.