Airboat with Captain Gator Bruce

By: Kellie Archuletta

Wow! What a ride, 90 minutes of amazing scenery, wildlife, and fun. As we were riding out to our embarkation point my mother was so excited she said “I can’t wait to get on the boat, it will be loud but I want to go where airboats go.” When asked where airboats go she said, “I don’t know, but they take you where you can’t go by foot.” That was a prophetic statement.

Captain Gator Bruce introduced himself, and reminded us that we were 5 minutes late. We boarded the boat with 2 other tourists, put on our earmuffs to block out the roar of the airplane engine powered motor, and away we went.

As soon as we got started it was an amazing ride. I felt like I was in a Hovercraft. We just skimmed over the water and water grass. We would buzz within feet of alligators and watch them dive in the water. If they chose not to dive into the water we would get some amazing pictures. We saw all types of birds and wildlife, we even saw cows on the patches of marsh grass. (Florida at one time was the second largest cattle producing state in the union.)

Wow! What a ride, 90 minutes of amazing scenery, wildlife, and fun. As we were riding out to our embarkation point my mother was so excited she said “I can’t wait to get on the boat, it will be loud but I want to go where airboats go.” When asked where airboats go she said, “I don’t know, but they take you where you can’t go by foot.” That was a prophetic statement.

Captain Gator Bruce introduced himself, and reminded us that we were 5 minutes late. We boarded the boat with 2 other tourists, put on our earmuffs to block out the roar of the airplane engine powered motor, and away we went.

As soon as we got started it was an amazing ride. I felt like I was in a Hovercraft. We just skimmed over the water and water grass. We would buzz within feet of alligators and watch them dive in the water. If they chose not to dive into the water we would get some amazing pictures. We saw all types of birds and wildlife, we even saw cows on the patches of marsh grass. (Florida at one time was the second largest cattle producing state in the union.)

When we stopped deep in the Cypress Marsh off the St. John’s River , Captain Gator Bruce gave us a brief overview speech and opened up for questions. My most pressing question was “Why don’t the gators eat us?” Captain Gator Bruce explained that the gators were much more scared of us in an airboat since we were bigger than they were. He proceeded to tell me that he wouldn’t let my 12 year old son swim among the gators at night but we were O.K. (Whew!) I then asked why the gators didn’t eat the cows, (I saw cows and gators only 10 feet away from each other in some areas), and Captain Gator Bruce said that the 13 foot alligators could put down a calf but not a cow. I guess it was the same analogy that applied to my son and me. Captain Gator Bruce also explained that if a gator did eat a cow the cow would be digested whole, bones and all. Gators are like snakes in that respect.

Reservations are required for a ride with Captain Gator Bruce. The ride is $35.00 per person and worth every cent. You can contact Captain Bruce by phone (407)568-7601 or visit the website www.airboatride.com.
When we stopped deep in the Cypress Marsh off the St. John’s River , Captain Gator Bruce gave us a brief overview speech and opened up for questions. My most pressing question was “Why don’t the gators eat us?” Captain Gator Bruce explained that the gators were much more scared of us in an airboat since we were bigger than they were. He proceeded to tell me that he wouldn’t let my 12 year old son swim among the gators at night but we were O.K. (Whew!) I then asked why the gators didn’t eat the cows, (I saw cows and gators only 10 feet away from each other in some areas), and Captain Gator Bruce said that the 13 foot alligators could put down a calf but not a cow. I guess it was the same analogy that applied to my son and me. Captain Gator Bruce also explained that if a gator did eat a cow the cow would be digested whole, bones and all. Gators are like snakes in that respect.

Reservations are required for a ride with Captain Gator Bruce. The ride is $35.00 per person and worth every cent. You can contact Captain Bruce by phone (407)568-7601 or visit the website www.airboatride.com.

Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com

Kellie Archuletta is a senior at UNLV majoring in Marketing, the president of the PTSA at Knudson Middle School the magnet for the performing arts and a former 5 time Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier who still enjoys running and coaching. Her husband Jaime is a United Airlines Pilot. Her son Charlie is a 13 year old aspiring actor and musician. You can contact her by e-mail kellie.archuletta@cox.net

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