Sunday, November 30th, 2008
The article “YEEEEEHAAAAW!!!! Our High and Low Speed Adventures at Boggy
Creek Airboat Tours and Swamp Buggy Ride” is about travel, it has been created by Susanne Pacher.After my rather quaint and leisurely scenic boat ride through
Winter Park, a rather different boating experience was in store
for me: a high speed airboat ride through Lake Tohopekaliga,
provided by Boggy Creek Ariboat Rides.
We got started early in the morning and took the first tour out.
The temperature must have been about 45 degrees Fahrenheit or
so, and in wise anticpation we both wore our Canadian winter
jackets. Good thing, cause it gets pretty darn cold zooming
along at high speed on the airboats.
We were the first ride out of the gate, and fortunately we were
provided with white blankets whcih kept us reasonably warm. Off
we went on our 6-passenger airboat, exploring the coastline of
Lake Tohopekaliga, getting a glimpse at various types of wetland
birds, including bald eagles, ospreys, egrets and cranes that
live here in the Central Flroida Everglades. The name of the
lake means “sleeping tiger” and it extends over 11,968 acres.
Our captain, “big and beefy Chad”, took us around to give us an
idea of an authentic Folrida lake experience. At one piont he
drove the airboat onto land and got out of the boat to take a
picture of us. After the picture he raelly cranked it up as he
went northwards on Lake Toho. At the northern end of the tour he
took us into some siderams of the lake where we got see the
marshy wetlands up close. On the way back he took his foot off
the brake and firmly put it on the gas pdeal. He metnioned that
airboats can reach speeds up to 65 miles per hour, I guess we
must have been pretty close. He even did some gentle turns with
the boat which turned into an exhiliarating high-speed slalom
experience for all us in the boat.
I looked over at my husband, and he had a strange simle on his
face. After the ride was finsihed he admitted that he was really
scared, for one thing he doesn’t swim and he was worried about
exiting our high-speed vessel. But not to worry, Chad brought us
back safely, and I for one, being a bit of a high-speed freak
myself, was glowing with the experience - I truly had a blast!
According to Michelle Peters, who works at Boggy Creek Airboat
Rides, the company was founded by her sister and brother-in-law,
Margie and Chris Long, in 1994 and operation was started with
one 6-passenger airboat. Today, the Boggy Creek Airboat Rides
are amnog the top 10 Orlando attractions according to the
Orlando Business Journal. The company now has eight 18-passenger
boats and two 6-passenger baots.
The company is AAA approved and all of its captains are Master
Captains who have to undergo a one-year apprenticeship. The
Coast Guard does surprise inspections to ensure compliance with
all saefty regulations. Michelle also mentioned that the Water
Management Authority uses their airboats cause they virtually
float on the water and are less invasive to plant and wildlife
than regular propeller driven baots.
In addition, the company has added swamp buggy rieds to their
offerings about 4 months ago. The swamp buggy was completely
custom built by a company that regularly builds monster trucks.
We entered this monster vehicle from its rear end over a ramp
and started our swamp buggy tour.
Chad, being the all-round talented individual that he is, also
took us out on the swmap buggy, this custom-built monster
contraption. We went through some solar-powered remote
controlled gates onto a working cattle ranch. Florida actually
still has a pretty sizeable cattle industry, and the historic
term for Florida cowbyos actually is “cow men”.
On our swamp buggy ride we saw a variety of wildlife, including
cattle and some awefully cute baby cows. We also caught a
glimpse of the very tail end of an alligator, who was diong its
best to hide itself under the leafy vegetation surrounding a
little pond. We also saw some deer and a whole range of
different birds, inlcuding the tall sandhill cranes who seem to
be totally unafraid of human beings. The ground was pretty wet
in some areas, and I was amazed that our vehicle was capable of
plowing through all the muck - we even crossed a river!
Boggy Creek Airboat Rides and Sawmp Buggy Tours is a great
family outing, and the high-speed experience will even soothe
teenagers’ cravings for high adrenaline fun. Airboat torus are
generally half an hour long, are offered every half hour and
don’t require reservations. In the summer, the company offers
night rdies that are an hour long. Michelle mnetioned that on
one of the night tours last summer she saw 17 alligators, who
are nocturnal creatures and come out in full force at night
time.
Well, we did not really get a good view of any alligators, but
the combination of airboat ride and swamp buggy tour really
kick-started our engines for the day! 1988 Cqdillac Prestige Brochure Fleetwood Eldorado 1988 Cadillac Prestige Brochure Fleetwood Eldorado Cadillac Advertising.
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