Oleta River State Park

Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, 2010, I left Key West for Miami. Actually, North Miami, destination, Oleta River State Park. But first, a stop at Joe Robbie/Pro Player/ Dolphins/Landshark/Sunlife Stadium for a 1:10 Brewers v. Marlins ballgame. Left my sister's at 9:40, figuring 3.5 hours was plenty of time. Took a few pics out the car window as I drove the Overseas Highway. Old Bahia Honda Bridge

Pigeon Key, old Seven Mile Bridge.

The trip went well for the first 73 miles. That is the mile marker for a gas station in Islamorada, where I filled up. 11:15 am. Back on US 1, I went another 10 miles. In over an hour. No accident's that I saw, just holiday congestion. They only bright spot, I was behind a car, West Virginia plate. A kayak specialty plate. A photo taken through my dirty windshield did not turn out. Just as on Labor Day, the toll on Card Sound northbound was suspended. The ball game began as I was still had a long way to go. I decided to just listen to it on the radio and head straight to Oleta River State Park. So I reset the GPS. Which was cranky. It would not show the route to the park. But, I remembered the exit number, so I got off. Only it was the exit for the Stadium. I went into the parking lot, it was the seventh inning. Got the GPS working, and headed to Oleta River State Park, on the northwest side of Biscayne Bay. The Brewers lost. More heavy traffic as I approached the Park. Upon arrival, orange cones blocked the entrance, as the Park was full. I said I had a cabin reservation, the cones were removed, and I drove in. As I registered in the ranger office, a long line of cars rolled in. I asked it they were all in some large group with a reserved picnic area. No, just people coming in. Looks like the cones being removed for me opened the flood gates.
I got away from the crowd by heading on the road marked "Registered Cabins Only" There are only 14, I had cabin 12.

Bunks, a small double bed. Vinyl mattresses, bring your own sheets and pillow. A small, built in to the wall, desk/table. Two lights inside, six electrical outlets. Two windows, and widow air conditioner in the back wall. The AC worked fine. Not sure how it would be with a full house of four people in the small space. A lot more room outside.


Down a slope in front of the cabin is a little water, but not enough to paddle. So I drove to the main launch area at the rental concession. There a few narrow channels to explore, leading into a small bay, then into Biscayne Bay. Which, on the holiday was full of all manner of boats. Condo towers across the Bay. Miami skyline to the south. I expected to see Crockett and Tubbs. And I did. No longer on the Vice beat, but Marine Patrol. A patrol boat blew its horn and had two jetskiers speeding through a Manatee Zone come over for a chat.



As you can see, it was rough on Biscayne Bay, so I paddled back, past the Park beach, first photo in this Tale, into the sheltered smaller bay. Up one channel, which went past the other side of the cabins. Now I knew I could put in near my temporary home. Into another channel. Green heron and camouflage green iguana.


Oleta River must be a prime spot for dumbasses to leave exotic pets they no longer can handle. That's what you get for having a Park in the middle of a major metropolitan area. On the other hand, you also have a grocery store a few blocks form the Park entrance. I biked to a Winn Dixie. Picked up streak for the grill. Or, Carne, as it read below Meat. Another section Dairy, (Leche) Something to go with the steaks. Looking for beans in a pop top can. No opener. A customer speaking to an employee in Spanish. May as well go native myself. A can of Goya black beans. Biked back to the Park, roads wet, shower blew through as I shopped. Fired up the grill, had my steak and bean dinner. Then, watched the raccoons come out. And bugs, with green glowing eyes. I had no neighbors, other than the campground host. One, maybe two cabins on the other end of the cabin loop seemed to be occupied. No one in the bath house as I showered before bed. Day one at Oleta I learned the lay of the land. Day two I hoped to explore it more thoroughly.