We have travelled from Naples to 5 miles outside of Everglades City and anchored at Russel Bay. We then took the dingy into the City to look at the Famous Rod and Gun Club, and scope out the town. I was REAL happy not to have gone in with Eagle Heart. Even at high Slack water, when everything should be still, there was a 6 mph current ripping through the town waterways. With the dingy I could speed up to 15 mph to get out, not so with the Eagle Heart. Could have been Ugly.
At the entrance to the town there are big docks, and now I know it is for the trawlers!
This town is Airboat heaven. There were at least 30 airboats lined up waiting to be chartered. It also is a fishing mecca, going back hundreds of years, with the natives first, and since 1872 a sports-fishing vacation destination. The Rod and Gun club was built as a private mansion around 1890, and around 1910 became a private fish and game club. Some of the biggest fish in the record books have been caught in this area. There are two Tarpon mounted on the wall about 5 feet long! It was purchased in 1971, and became a resort destination. There are numerous home to rent, rooms in the hotel, and a beautiful RV Park with a dock at each site. It was notable that only the big bus RVs were in the park. No 5th wheels or trailers, or even class C motorhomes!
Susan and I wandered around for 10 minutes, but cut our visit short as rain clouds were forming. We made it back to the boat in 20 minutes, and 30 minutes later it was raining. Got to watch the weather out here!