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A gator tale.
Apr 21, 2018 00:12:06   #
ghostgotcha Loc: The Florida swamps
 
As best my recollection it was around 1973.... I was on a leave -- having just returned from the US. Navy Underwater Combat Swimmers School. The Navy was closing up the school and moving a lot of the latest diving equipment over to the US Army SF Combat Swimmers School across town at the Navy Air field.

My work load never seemed to cease for me back then. I was young and wanting to save the world. My extended family was leasing a couple sections of land for cattle down in Collier County, so on a warm summer day I was driving down Alligator Alley (Towards Naples) in my trusty Jeep and my trusted Hound called (Bonz). This was in the early development of the alley. It was just a four lane road through the glades without any rest stops etc. Just a lonely but quick way to traverse the glades between Naples and Miami.


My project was to pull off the Alley and head into the swamps on access trails we had cut. I could then check out the water stations and look for any problems. The access roads were nothing more than a cut and fill. That means we ran in a backhoe and dug ditches and filled in the area we would drive on.... Even the roadway itself would be covered in about a foot of black swamp water, but if you stayed in the center you could stay out of the ditches on each side.


If you have ever been back in the glades you will understand that the area I was working that day was just overgrown with palmetto and pine. The cattle (and other natural inhabitants) roamed freely, and could be found near the water trough and feed bins at about any time.

Anyway; back to my little adventure this day. I was driving West towards Naples between my third and fourth (out of five access trails)
I was only doing about fifty when I spotted a young man and woman on the side of my road. They were jumping up and down, waving their arms and shouting something at me which I could not hear.

I pulled past them slowly while checking to make sure they were not armed or presenting a threat... The only weapon I had was a Ithaca 12 ga pump hung on the dash and my trusty Colt Python (357) on my hip. Had I spotted a threat I would have pulled over, spun the huge wheels and tires and thrown sand etc. in their face as I sped away.

As it turned out they were standing in the middle of a Mosquito swarm and felt they were being bled dry. In one quick leap they managed to scramble over the back of the jeep and make themselves at home without even a "please can we get a lift back to civilization" The girl kept shouting at me to speed away down the road because those sceeters were eating her alive and ruining her fair complexion.

I explained; "Yes I will drop you off at the Naples Toll booth when I get there but I still have a couple of stops to make first"- and in order to limit the blood suckers they should spread some of the mosquito juice about their bodies before we head back into the swamps.... I did not have the heart to tell the city girl the juice in the bottle was tobacco spit. It does the job quite well after all, and beside that. No Fla. Cracker would be so stupid to head back into the swamps in a tank top and shorts like they were wearing.

So off we went; driving slowely in about a foot of black water, when I spotted what looked like a Brahma Bull hung up on something.

I stopped the jeep and decided I should probably head over and check it out. Before I could even turn the wheel the girl in the back shouted "A cow. I have to pet it" and she jumped over the side of the jeep - landing in about four feet of water in the ditch beside the jeep and would you know it -- she landed on a small gator. Of course she scared the gator It shot out of the water and up into the palmetto bushes, leaving her on her head in the ditch with only her legs above the water and splashing water all over my trusty hound "Bonz" Bonz let out a howl which scared the bull and he also took of through the palmetto, jumping and kicking. That in turn scared up a big rattle snake which came shooting out of the bushes and heading straight for the girl. I though to myself, "this is not going to end well and I must take immediate action."

I grabbed the shotgun off the rack and shot the snake just as the girl was trying to escape back into my jeep. Her boyfriend was leaning over the side of the jeep and holding out his hand. The shotgun caused "Bonz" to let out another howl and the girls boyfriend got sick and vomited all over the girl. All this only took about as long as it just took you to read it through.

So; now to wind this short story up. Once I got to the cattle trough the girl was more than willing to jump in, move the cows aside, and kinda wash up. re-cover herself with my special anti-sceeter juice and continue on to the next turn off about three miles further down the Alley.

In the end. I managed to get them safely to the toll booth and heard the girl ordering the booth attendant to call her a cab which could take them back to NY City

I waved good by and Bonz gave them a tail wag as we headed home to Fort Myers. Dinner would be waiting and I did have a story to tell.

Hope you enjoyed it.

Reply
Apr 21, 2018 04:34:20   #
Dr. Evil Loc: In Your Face
 
ghostgotcha wrote:
As best my recollection it was around 1973.... I was on a leave -- having just returned from the US. Navy Underwater Combat Swimmers School. The Navy was closing up the school and moving a lot of the latest diving equipment over to the US Army SF Combat Swimmers School across town at the Navy Air field.

My work load never seemed to cease for me back then. I was young and wanting to save the world. My extended family was leasing a couple sections of land for cattle down in Collier County, so on a warm summer day I was driving down Alligator Alley (Towards Naples) in my trusty Jeep and my trusted Hound called (Bonz). This was in the early development of the alley. It was just a four lane road through the glades without any rest stops etc. Just a lonely but quick way to traverse the glades between Naples and Miami.


My project was to pull off the Alley and head into the swamps on access trails we had cut. I could then check out the water stations and look for any problems. The access roads were nothing more than a cut and fill. That means we ran in a backhoe and dug ditches and filled in the area we would drive on.... Even the roadway itself would be covered in about a foot of black swamp water, but if you stayed in the center you could stay out of the ditches on each side.


If you have ever been back in the glades you will understand that the area I was working that day was just overgrown with palmetto and pine. The cattle (and other natural inhabitants) roamed freely, and could be found near the water trough and feed bins at about any time.

Anyway; back to my little adventure this day. I was driving West towards Naples between my third and fourth (out of five access trails)
I was only doing about fifty when I spotted a young man and woman on the side of my road. They were jumping up and down, waving their arms and shouting something at me which I could not hear.

I pulled past them slowly while checking to make sure they were not armed or presenting a threat... The only weapon I had was a Ithaca 12 ga pump hung on the dash and my trusty Colt Python (357) on my hip. Had I spotted a threat I would have pulled over, spun the huge wheels and tires and thrown sand etc. in their face as I sped away.

As it turned out they were standing in the middle of a Mosquito swarm and felt they were being bled dry. In one quick leap they managed to scramble over the back of the jeep and make themselves at home without even a "please can we get a lift back to civilization" The girl kept shouting at me to speed away down the road because those sceeters were eating her alive and ruining her fair complexion.

I explained; "Yes I will drop you off at the Naples Toll booth when I get there but I still have a couple of stops to make first"- and in order to limit the blood suckers they should spread some of the mosquito juice about their bodies before we head back into the swamps.... I did not have the heart to tell the city girl the juice in the bottle was tobacco spit. It does the job quite well after all, and beside that. No Fla. Cracker would be so stupid to head back into the swamps in a tank top and shorts like they were wearing.

So off we went; driving slowely in about a foot of black water, when I spotted what looked like a Brahma Bull hung up on something.

I stopped the jeep and decided I should probably head over and check it out. Before I could even turn the wheel the girl in the back shouted "A cow. I have to pet it" and she jumped over the side of the jeep - landing in about four feet of water in the ditch beside the jeep and would you know it -- she landed on a small gator. Of course she scared the gator It shot out of the water and up into the palmetto bushes, leaving her on her head in the ditch with only her legs above the water and splashing water all over my trusty hound "Bonz" Bonz let out a howl which scared the bull and he also took of through the palmetto, jumping and kicking. That in turn scared up a big rattle snake which came shooting out of the bushes and heading straight for the girl. I though to myself, "this is not going to end well and I must take immediate action."

I grabbed the shotgun off the rack and shot the snake just as the girl was trying to escape back into my jeep. Her boyfriend was leaning over the side of the jeep and holding out his hand. The shotgun caused "Bonz" to let out another howl and the girls boyfriend got sick and vomited all over the girl. All this only took about as long as it just took you to read it through.

So; now to wind this short story up. Once I got to the cattle trough the girl was more than willing to jump in, move the cows aside, and kinda wash up. re-cover herself with my special anti-sceeter juice and continue on to the next turn off about three miles further down the Alley.

In the end. I managed to get them safely to the toll booth and heard the girl ordering the booth attendant to call her a cab which could take them back to NY City

I waved good by and Bonz gave them a tail wag as we headed home to Fort Myers. Dinner would be waiting and I did have a story to tell.

Hope you enjoyed it.
As best my recollection it was around 1973.... I w... (show quote)


That must have been a sight to see😀

Reply
Apr 21, 2018 08:00:11   #
Big dog
 
ghostgotcha wrote:
As best my recollection it was around 1973.... I was on a leave -- having just returned from the US. Navy Underwater Combat Swimmers School. The Navy was closing up the school and moving a lot of the latest diving equipment over to the US Army SF Combat Swimmers School across town at the Navy Air field.

My work load never seemed to cease for me back then. I was young and wanting to save the world. My extended family was leasing a couple sections of land for cattle down in Collier County, so on a warm summer day I was driving down Alligator Alley (Towards Naples) in my trusty Jeep and my trusted Hound called (Bonz). This was in the early development of the alley. It was just a four lane road through the glades without any rest stops etc. Just a lonely but quick way to traverse the glades between Naples and Miami.


My project was to pull off the Alley and head into the swamps on access trails we had cut. I could then check out the water stations and look for any problems. The access roads were nothing more than a cut and fill. That means we ran in a backhoe and dug ditches and filled in the area we would drive on.... Even the roadway itself would be covered in about a foot of black swamp water, but if you stayed in the center you could stay out of the ditches on each side.


If you have ever been back in the glades you will understand that the area I was working that day was just overgrown with palmetto and pine. The cattle (and other natural inhabitants) roamed freely, and could be found near the water trough and feed bins at about any time.

Anyway; back to my little adventure this day. I was driving West towards Naples between my third and fourth (out of five access trails)
I was only doing about fifty when I spotted a young man and woman on the side of my road. They were jumping up and down, waving their arms and shouting something at me which I could not hear.

I pulled past them slowly while checking to make sure they were not armed or presenting a threat... The only weapon I had was a Ithaca 12 ga pump hung on the dash and my trusty Colt Python (357) on my hip. Had I spotted a threat I would have pulled over, spun the huge wheels and tires and thrown sand etc. in their face as I sped away.

As it turned out they were standing in the middle of a Mosquito swarm and felt they were being bled dry. In one quick leap they managed to scramble over the back of the jeep and make themselves at home without even a "please can we get a lift back to civilization" The girl kept shouting at me to speed away down the road because those sceeters were eating her alive and ruining her fair complexion.

I explained; "Yes I will drop you off at the Naples Toll booth when I get there but I still have a couple of stops to make first"- and in order to limit the blood suckers they should spread some of the mosquito juice about their bodies before we head back into the swamps.... I did not have the heart to tell the city girl the juice in the bottle was tobacco spit. It does the job quite well after all, and beside that. No Fla. Cracker would be so stupid to head back into the swamps in a tank top and shorts like they were wearing.

So off we went; driving slowely in about a foot of black water, when I spotted what looked like a Brahma Bull hung up on something.

I stopped the jeep and decided I should probably head over and check it out. Before I could even turn the wheel the girl in the back shouted "A cow. I have to pet it" and she jumped over the side of the jeep - landing in about four feet of water in the ditch beside the jeep and would you know it -- she landed on a small gator. Of course she scared the gator It shot out of the water and up into the palmetto bushes, leaving her on her head in the ditch with only her legs above the water and splashing water all over my trusty hound "Bonz" Bonz let out a howl which scared the bull and he also took of through the palmetto, jumping and kicking. That in turn scared up a big rattle snake which came shooting out of the bushes and heading straight for the girl. I though to myself, "this is not going to end well and I must take immediate action."

I grabbed the shotgun off the rack and shot the snake just as the girl was trying to escape back into my jeep. Her boyfriend was leaning over the side of the jeep and holding out his hand. The shotgun caused "Bonz" to let out another howl and the girls boyfriend got sick and vomited all over the girl. All this only took about as long as it just took you to read it through.

So; now to wind this short story up. Once I got to the cattle trough the girl was more than willing to jump in, move the cows aside, and kinda wash up. re-cover herself with my special anti-sceeter juice and continue on to the next turn off about three miles further down the Alley.

In the end. I managed to get them safely to the toll booth and heard the girl ordering the booth attendant to call her a cab which could take them back to NY City

I waved good by and Bonz gave them a tail wag as we headed home to Fort Myers. Dinner would be waiting and I did have a story to tell.

Hope you enjoyed it.
As best my recollection it was around 1973.... I w... (show quote)


That's a great adventure. Gotta love some of the little things in life.
I was telling my Honey about the giant alligator gar I surprised (and surprised me) when I was canoeing on lake Drummond in N.C. back in '77. Not as good as your story though.

Reply
 
 
Apr 21, 2018 10:52:14   #
lindajoy Loc: right here with you....
 
ghostgotcha wrote:
As best my recollection it was around 1973.... I was on a leave -- having just returned from the US. Navy Underwater Combat Swimmers School. The Navy was closing up the school and moving a lot of the latest diving equipment over to the US Army SF Combat Swimmers School across town at the Navy Air field.

My work load never seemed to cease for me back then. I was young and wanting to save the world. My extended family was leasing a couple sections of land for cattle down in Collier County, so on a warm summer day I was driving down Alligator Alley (Towards Naples) in my trusty Jeep and my trusted Hound called (Bonz). This was in the early development of the alley. It was just a four lane road through the glades without any rest stops etc. Just a lonely but quick way to traverse the glades between Naples and Miami.


My project was to pull off the Alley and head into the swamps on access trails we had cut. I could then check out the water stations and look for any problems. The access roads were nothing more than a cut and fill. That means we ran in a backhoe and dug ditches and filled in the area we would drive on.... Even the roadway itself would be covered in about a foot of black swamp water, but if you stayed in the center you could stay out of the ditches on each side.


If you have ever been back in the glades you will understand that the area I was working that day was just overgrown with palmetto and pine. The cattle (and other natural inhabitants) roamed freely, and could be found near the water trough and feed bins at about any time.

Anyway; back to my little adventure this day. I was driving West towards Naples between my third and fourth (out of five access trails)
I was only doing about fifty when I spotted a young man and woman on the side of my road. They were jumping up and down, waving their arms and shouting something at me which I could not hear.

I pulled past them slowly while checking to make sure they were not armed or presenting a threat... The only weapon I had was a Ithaca 12 ga pump hung on the dash and my trusty Colt Python (357) on my hip. Had I spotted a threat I would have pulled over, spun the huge wheels and tires and thrown sand etc. in their face as I sped away.

As it turned out they were standing in the middle of a Mosquito swarm and felt they were being bled dry. In one quick leap they managed to scramble over the back of the jeep and make themselves at home without even a "please can we get a lift back to civilization" The girl kept shouting at me to speed away down the road because those sceeters were eating her alive and ruining her fair complexion.

I explained; "Yes I will drop you off at the Naples Toll booth when I get there but I still have a couple of stops to make first"- and in order to limit the blood suckers they should spread some of the mosquito juice about their bodies before we head back into the swamps.... I did not have the heart to tell the city girl the juice in the bottle was tobacco spit. It does the job quite well after all, and beside that. No Fla. Cracker would be so stupid to head back into the swamps in a tank top and shorts like they were wearing.

So off we went; driving slowely in about a foot of black water, when I spotted what looked like a Brahma Bull hung up on something.

I stopped the jeep and decided I should probably head over and check it out. Before I could even turn the wheel the girl in the back shouted "A cow. I have to pet it" and she jumped over the side of the jeep - landing in about four feet of water in the ditch beside the jeep and would you know it -- she landed on a small gator. Of course she scared the gator It shot out of the water and up into the palmetto bushes, leaving her on her head in the ditch with only her legs above the water and splashing water all over my trusty hound "Bonz" Bonz let out a howl which scared the bull and he also took of through the palmetto, jumping and kicking. That in turn scared up a big rattle snake which came shooting out of the bushes and heading straight for the girl. I though to myself, "this is not going to end well and I must take immediate action."

I grabbed the shotgun off the rack and shot the snake just as the girl was trying to escape back into my jeep. Her boyfriend was leaning over the side of the jeep and holding out his hand. The shotgun caused "Bonz" to let out another howl and the girls boyfriend got sick and vomited all over the girl. All this only took about as long as it just took you to read it through.

So; now to wind this short story up. Once I got to the cattle trough the girl was more than willing to jump in, move the cows aside, and kinda wash up. re-cover herself with my special anti-sceeter juice and continue on to the next turn off about three miles further down the Alley.

In the end. I managed to get them safely to the toll booth and heard the girl ordering the booth attendant to call her a cab which could take them back to NY City

I waved good by and Bonz gave them a tail wag as we headed home to Fort Myers. Dinner would be waiting and I did have a story to tell.

Hope you enjoyed it.
As best my recollection it was around 1973.... I w... (show quote)


Ghost, you do have a way with words!!!

What a fun filled challenge you got for your kindness in helping mankind out.... lololl

Any number of area’s made me chuckle with a visual of it all as I read.. Rather intiquing your writing skills, ghost!!!

Those gator do not look all inviting other than perhaps to grab a leg and drag you into the water ..

I wonder if that girl realized you just saved her life while her boyfriend extended his hand to her, vomiting in the midst of death knocking on the door.. He was scared too much to even be able to help..lololo.. She was very lucky it was you to help...

Familiar with the glades, having dart about in an Air Boat more than a few times.. Saw plenty of gator, pelicans, snakes, birds, turtles, and even saw a panther as we were going through the ever glades.. Scared me as I just knew he was going to pounce and all you could do then was jump into the gator invested water and if you survived that taken away by the mammoth mosquitos!!! Low and behold there were two guns on the boat!, and I clearly was Thankful to our good Lord above for them!!

I didn’t know of your tobasco repellent, we used believe it ot not Skin So Soft completely dousing all exposed skin and frequently applying it.. Not too bad because we were going most of the time at a pretty good clip...plus you get an excellent tan using it.. lolol young and foolish, killin memories now though.!!! You brought some happy time memories right on up !!!

Ever plane an airboat??? Lolololll, now that’s sic😎🙃👍 what fun they are!!

Reply
Apr 21, 2018 14:15:48   #
ghostgotcha Loc: The Florida swamps
 
lindajoy wrote:
Ghost, you do have a way with words!!!

Ever plane an airboat??? Lolololll, now that’s sic😎🙃👍 what fun they are!!


Thank you for your kind words linda, yours do bring joy.

Actually; I have little experience with "air boats" even though I have been around many in my lifetime. Even did a little hog hunting off one. Yet I have never owned one or spent time running one. Not even enough to bring one up on plane.

I am quite sure I am telling you what you already know, but just in case - here goes....on the west coast we have very little "saw grass" swamp to run them upon. EXAMPLE: If you were to take a trip down US 41 from Naples to Miami you would first pass through miles and miles of pine and palmetto, -- my country -- eventually running into cypress and then mud flats as far as you could see. As you drove nearer Miami you would soon see the sawgrass and there you find the airboats. In our neck of the glades we primarily use either modified jeeps, or swamp buggies.

Other than hunting and recreation there is the swamp buggy races down in Collier County. If you ever get down here I would be honored to nominate you for the high position of "Swamp Buggy Queen" That in itself is quite the cats meow with only one downside. The winner of the race gets to throw you in the swamp for a romp.


Reply
Apr 22, 2018 08:24:22   #
America 1 Loc: South Miami
 
ghostgotcha wrote:
As best my recollection it was around 1973.... I was on a leave -- having just returned from the US. Navy Underwater Combat Swimmers School. The Navy was closing up the school and moving a lot of the latest diving equipment over to the US Army SF Combat Swimmers School across town at the Navy Air field.

My work load never seemed to cease for me back then. I was young and wanting to save the world. My extended family was leasing a couple sections of land for cattle down in Collier County, so on a warm summer day I was driving down Alligator Alley (Towards Naples) in my trusty Jeep and my trusted Hound called (Bonz). This was in the early development of the alley. It was just a four lane road through the glades without any rest stops etc. Just a lonely but quick way to traverse the glades between Naples and Miami.


My project was to pull off the Alley and head into the swamps on access trails we had cut. I could then check out the water stations and look for any problems. The access roads were nothing more than a cut and fill. That means we ran in a backhoe and dug ditches and filled in the area we would drive on.... Even the roadway itself would be covered in about a foot of black swamp water, but if you stayed in the center you could stay out of the ditches on each side.


If you have ever been back in the glades you will understand that the area I was working that day was just overgrown with palmetto and pine. The cattle (and other natural inhabitants) roamed freely, and could be found near the water trough and feed bins at about any time.

Anyway; back to my little adventure this day. I was driving West towards Naples between my third and fourth (out of five access trails)
I was only doing about fifty when I spotted a young man and woman on the side of my road. They were jumping up and down, waving their arms and shouting something at me which I could not hear.

I pulled past them slowly while checking to make sure they were not armed or presenting a threat... The only weapon I had was a Ithaca 12 ga pump hung on the dash and my trusty Colt Python (357) on my hip. Had I spotted a threat I would have pulled over, spun the huge wheels and tires and thrown sand etc. in their face as I sped away.

As it turned out they were standing in the middle of a Mosquito swarm and felt they were being bled dry. In one quick leap they managed to scramble over the back of the jeep and make themselves at home without even a "please can we get a lift back to civilization" The girl kept shouting at me to speed away down the road because those sceeters were eating her alive and ruining her fair complexion.

I explained; "Yes I will drop you off at the Naples Toll booth when I get there but I still have a couple of stops to make first"- and in order to limit the blood suckers they should spread some of the mosquito juice about their bodies before we head back into the swamps.... I did not have the heart to tell the city girl the juice in the bottle was tobacco spit. It does the job quite well after all, and beside that. No Fla. Cracker would be so stupid to head back into the swamps in a tank top and shorts like they were wearing.

So off we went; driving slowely in about a foot of black water, when I spotted what looked like a Brahma Bull hung up on something.

I stopped the jeep and decided I should probably head over and check it out. Before I could even turn the wheel the girl in the back shouted "A cow. I have to pet it" and she jumped over the side of the jeep - landing in about four feet of water in the ditch beside the jeep and would you know it -- she landed on a small gator. Of course she scared the gator It shot out of the water and up into the palmetto bushes, leaving her on her head in the ditch with only her legs above the water and splashing water all over my trusty hound "Bonz" Bonz let out a howl which scared the bull and he also took of through the palmetto, jumping and kicking. That in turn scared up a big rattle snake which came shooting out of the bushes and heading straight for the girl. I though to myself, "this is not going to end well and I must take immediate action."

I grabbed the shotgun off the rack and shot the snake just as the girl was trying to escape back into my jeep. Her boyfriend was leaning over the side of the jeep and holding out his hand. The shotgun caused "Bonz" to let out another howl and the girls boyfriend got sick and vomited all over the girl. All this only took about as long as it just took you to read it through.

So; now to wind this short story up. Once I got to the cattle trough the girl was more than willing to jump in, move the cows aside, and kinda wash up. re-cover herself with my special anti-sceeter juice and continue on to the next turn off about three miles further down the Alley.

In the end. I managed to get them safely to the toll booth and heard the girl ordering the booth attendant to call her a cab which could take them back to NY City

I waved good by and Bonz gave them a tail wag as we headed home to Fort Myers. Dinner would be waiting and I did have a story to tell.

Hope you enjoyed it.
As best my recollection it was around 1973.... I w... (show quote)


Ghost, great story.
Reminds me of Carl Hiaasen, Randy Wayne White and a few others.
Consider writing books.

Reply
Apr 22, 2018 09:30:34   #
SilentGeneration Loc: Michigan
 
I'll be chuckling over this story for a while.

Reply
 
 
Apr 22, 2018 21:25:09   #
ghostgotcha Loc: The Florida swamps
 
America 1 wrote:
Ghost, great story.
Reminds me of Carl Hiaasen, Randy Wayne White and a few others.
Consider writing books.


Thank you. I have met Randy White on a couple of occasions.

Reply
Apr 22, 2018 21:26:28   #
ghostgotcha Loc: The Florida swamps
 
SilentGeneration wrote:
I'll be chuckling over this story for a while.


Well thank you. That is quite a nice thing to say. Glad you picked up on my humor.

Reply
Apr 23, 2018 08:43:12   #
SilentGeneration Loc: Michigan
 
ghostgotcha wrote:
Well thank you. That is quite a nice thing to say. Glad you picked up on my humor.


You're welcome.

Reply
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