Land of the Free

Well here we are at Fort Bohannan, in Pembroke Pines, Florida, USA.

The thing that struck me the most on our arrival is ... well how BIG everything is.

It's not just the size of the cars (although that was amazing at first) but the way everything is spread out - it's mile after mile of suburbs, malls, more suburbs, more malls, and big things.

The dependence on cars here is phenomenal - everyone has a car - and frankly, everyone needs a car - the public transport isn't really accessible (e.g. it's only for the poor people) and stuff is way to far away to walk (and it's stinkin' hot!). Big sure is better here...

So before leaving Canadia we visited Banff and Lake Louise.

It's weird seeing ski towns off-season - the same losers are there, but there's no snow.
We climbed Tunnel Mountain, and I nearly needed an ambulance to carry me to the top.

Some obligatory nature pictures (of course): This is obviously a deer of some description.


This is a squirrel. I think it's a cousin of the stuffed squirrel that Ben has at home...


This is me. I am tired after climbing the measly 2.5km elevation. Not sure how it was trail-wise, but it felt like a LONG LONG WAY. I am a FAT FAT MAN.


Continuing on the nature tip - Sean and Julia took us (among other things) to the Everglades. We went on an airboat ride - even in nature, Americans find a way to have a big loud engine.

The boats were kind of cool - they are flat bottomed, so have to be steered like a rallycar on ice....

The Everglades are filled with these lily-like plants - I think they're from AU.


A little baby alligator. So cute!!!


Some scenery.


Some more scenery. Please note the artistic reflection of the sky in the water.


This is literally the mother of the baby in the picture above. Picture courtesy of Sean.


A bird. There are normally two. They pair for life....

Another baby croc - a sibling of the one above!


And the most important news of all. Today we took partial possession of our new RV - courtesy of one of Sean's brothers. He calls it "the turd" due to its brown colour.

Its decor is firmly in the mid-80s but it's very comfortable, the AC works, and it's definitely big enough for us!!! I was really surprised at how much I liked it - so that's a WIN! Tomorrow I will take some photos of it, and the shitter cable....

Later y'all....