Volunteers for the Friends of Seminole-Collier Park lead educational canoe trips down the Blackwater river that flows into the gulf. From the park we paddled about three miles using the tide and wind to push us along. Periodically we would stop to learn about the Mangrove swamp that we are traveling through, how is filters out pollutants, protects the barrier island from storms and provides a sheltered home to many birds. The mangrove tree grows many roots into the sand and in some process discards the salt to the outsides of the leaves and keeps the fresh water for itself. Because of its many roots, the sand is captured and held in place. Birds like to roost in the trees' high limbs or feed need its roots.
We saw crabs (very small), heron, vultures, mullet/jumping fish, ibis, and wood storks. We learned some about the Seminole Indians and how they lived and survived in the mangroves and on hammocks. Then the paddle back was long with no rest as we were working against the tide and wind.
After the canoe trip we drove to Naples to find a whole foods store because we like their dry aged meat. Then we had dinner on Marco Island at a really nice seafood place.
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