| After my rather quaint and leisurely scenic | | | | that the Water Management Authority uses |
| boat ride through Winter Park, a rather | | | | their airboats because they virtually float |
| different boating experience was in store for | | | | on the water and are less invasive to plant |
| me: a high speed airboat ride through Lake | | | | and wildlife than regular propeller driven |
| Tohopekaliga, provided by Boggy Creek Airboat | | | | boats.In addition, the company has added |
| Rides.We got started early in the morning and | | | | swamp buggy rides to their offerings about 4 |
| took the first tour out. The temperature must | | | | months ago. The swamp buggy was completely |
| have been about 45 degrees Fahrenheit or so, | | | | custom built by a company that regularly |
| and in wise anticpation we both wore our | | | | builds monster trucks. We entered this |
| Canadian winter jackets. Good thing, because | | | | monster vehicle from its rear end over a ramp |
| it gets pretty darn cold zooming along at | | | | and started our swamp buggy tour.Chad, being |
| high speed on the airboats.We were the first | | | | the all-round talented individual that he is, |
| ride out of the gate, and fortunately we were | | | | also took us out on the swamp buggy, this |
| provided with white blankets which kept us | | | | custom-built monster contraption. We went |
| reasonably warm. Off we went on our | | | | through some solar-powered remote controlled |
| 6-passenger airboat, exploring the coastline | | | | gates onto a working cattle ranch. Florida |
| of Lake Tohopekaliga, getting a glimpse at | | | | actually still has a pretty sizeable cattle |
| various types of wetland birds, including | | | | industry, and the historic term for Florida |
| bald eagles, ospreys, egrets and cranes that | | | | cowboys actually is "cow men".On our swamp |
| live here in the Central Florida Everglades. | | | | buggy ride we saw a variety of wildlife, |
| The name of the lake means "sleeping tiger" | | | | including cattle and some awefully cute baby |
| and it extends over 11,968 acres.Our captain, | | | | cows. We also caught a glimpse of the very |
| "big and beefy Chad", took us around to give | | | | tail end of an alligator, who was doing its |
| us an idea of an authentic Florida lake | | | | best to hide itself under the leafy |
| experience. At one point he drove the airboat | | | | vegetation surrounding a little pond. We also |
| onto land and got out of the boat to take a | | | | saw some deer and a whole range of different |
| picture of us. After the picture he really | | | | birds, including the tall sandhill cranes who |
| cranked it up as he went northwards on Lake | | | | seem to be totally unafraid of human beings. |
| Toho. At the northern end of the tour he took | | | | The ground was pretty wet in some areas, and |
| us into some sidearms of the lake where we | | | | I was amazed that our vehicle was capable of |
| got see the marshy wetlands up close. On the | | | | plowing through all the muck - we even |
| way back he took his foot off the brake and | | | | crossed a river!Boggy Creek Airboat Rides and |
| firmly put it on the gas pedal. He mentioned | | | | Swamp Buggy Tours is a great family outing, |
| that airboats can reach speeds up to 65 miles | | | | and the high-speed experience will even |
| per hour, I think we must have been pretty | | | | soothe teenagers' cravings for high |
| close. He even did some gentle turns with the | | | | adrenaline fun. Airboat tours are generally |
| boat which turned into an exhiliarating | | | | half an hour long, are offered every half |
| high-speed slalom experience for all us in | | | | hour and don't require reservations. In the |
| the boat.I looked over at my husband, and he | | | | summer, the company offers night rides that |
| had a strange smile on his face. After the | | | | are an hour long. Michelle mentioned that on |
| ride was finished he admitted that he was | | | | one of the night tours last summer she saw 17 |
| really scared, for one thing he doesn't swim | | | | alligators, who are nocturnal creatures and |
| and he was worried about exiting our | | | | come out in full force at night time.Well, we |
| high-speed vessel. But not to worry, Chad | | | | didn't really get a good view of any |
| brought us back safely, and I for one, being | | | | alligators, but the combination of airboat |
| a bit of a high-speed freak myself, was | | | | ride and swamp buggy tour really kick-started |
| glowing with the experience - I truly had a | | | | our engines for the day!Susanne Pacher is the |
| blast!According to Michelle Peters, who works | | | | publisher of a website called Travel and |
| at Boggy Creek Airboat Rides, the company was | | | | Transitions ( Travel and Transitions deals |
| founded by her sister and brother-in-law, | | | | with unconventional travel and is chock full |
| Margie and Chris Long, in 1994 and operation | | | | of advice, tips, real life travel |
| was started with one 6-passenger airboat. | | | | experiences, interviews with travellers and |
| Today, the Boggy Creek Airboat Rides are | | | | travel experts, insights and reflections, |
| among the top 10 Orlando attractions | | | | cross-cultural issues, contests and many |
| according to the Orlando Business Journal. | | | | other features. You will also find stories |
| The company now has eight 18-passenger boats | | | | about life and the transitions that we face |
| and two 6-passenger boats.The company is AAA | | | | as we go through our own personal life-long |
| approved and all of its captains are Master | | | | journeys.Submit your own travel stories in |
| Captains who have to undergo a one-year | | | | our first travel story contest ( and have a |
| apprenticeship. The Coast Guard does surprise | | | | chance to win an amazing adventure cruise on |
| inspections to ensure compliance with all | | | | the Amazon River."Life is a Journey Explore |
| safety regulations. Michelle also mentioned | | | | New Horizons". |