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