The first Florida GO Gathering was a successful fun-filled weekend.  Held at gay-owned Vitambi Springs Campground, approximately 30 miles south of Lake Okeechobee, it drew about 20 to 30 Gay Outdoors members for the three day MLK Weekend.  Florida weather at this time of the year was spectacular.  Warm sunny days were ideal for a number of outdoor activities, and the chilly nights offered the warmth of campfires.

Saturday was the first full day of activities, and this day started out early, at 6:45 a.m., to be precise, as we were invited to a wonderful morning of birdwatching at the STA 5 site.  STA stands for Stormwater Treatment Area, and these sites are part of the Everglades restoration project.  The huge restored eco systems offer birds an ideal habitat for breeding and most importantly, survival.  We were treated to hundreds of birds.  This is a partial list of the sightings:  Common Morehen, Purple Gallinule, Anhinga, American Coot, Roseate Spoonbill, Swamp Hen, three kinds of Heron, Ibis, and three kinds of Egrets.  Of note was the sight of the endangered Snail Kite, and the rare Caracara.

The afternoon was spent in a myriad of activities, from impromptu hikes on the grounds of Vitambi, to relaxing a the Campground's pool.

The day ended with a great dinner at Vitambi's Bolo Cafe, with live entertainment.  This was followed by a gigantic campfire, drumming, and viewing the stars through a gigantic telescope.

Sunday morning was spent at the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation.  We first visited a wonderful museum, where we learned much about the Seminole Nation.  This was followed by a walk through a Cypress Dome habitat.  Cypress Domes are important eco systems in the Everglades.  Being on slighter higher ground, these sites offered drier ground on which the Seminoles could live.  The walk took us through a restored Seminole hamlet, where two local ladies were making crafts in the old traditional way.  Several GO members were later observed sporting brand new beaded necklaces, which I think made them honorary members of the Seminole Nation.

The visit to the Reservation ended with a 15 - 20 minute airboat ride.  Our local guide displayed great skill in keeping us mostly dry, and managing to free the airboat quite easily, the few times it got stuck.

The afternoon was again spent in varied activities on the grounds of Vitambi.  And our last evening was again spent around the campfire, sharing stories, and making wonderful new friends.  Of note is that all of our events were augmented by non-GO guests of Vitambi, who upon finding out about our Club, eagerly sought our company, and were invited to participate in our activities.  A few even went ahead and became members of Gay Outdoors

The weekend ended all too quicly on Monday, Martin Luther King Day.  This was quite a successful first GO Gathering in Florida, and from the comments of the participants, it is likely to become a yearly event.

This event could not have succeeded without the great cooperation of the staff at Vitambi, who went beyond the call of duty to make our stay a success.  Details such as offering us box breakfasts for our very early Saturday outing, or Steve running over to our car caravan with a box full of bug repellent, making sure that each car had at least one spray bottle, made us all feel at home.

Much thanks also go to Brent for organizing activities, and for his snake handing abilities.  Thanks also to John for making our site as comfortable as possible, providing camplights, plenty of firewood, and a myriad of other amenities.

Lastly, much thanks go to all the GO members who participated in this Gathering and made it a success.

  There are 5 photos in Album (Note: Move mouse pointer over larger pic and click on NEXT for better viewing)