Apollo & Thunderlips hiking to Linville Falls Plunge Basin.

Thunderlips thought this tree looked like a different kind of lips.

Thunderlips showing off.

Apollo stops off to admire the incredible Linville Gorge.

Getting closer to the lower falls plunge pool.

Trying to get as close as possible to the falls. Linville Falls has some mean ass power.

Ahh. Enjoying Linville Falls from the bottom.

The Wiseman looking back up at his view.

Thunderlips wants to go even closer.

Linville Falls is a must-see waterfall if you’re in Western North Carolina.

Apollo impressed with the massive power of Linville Falls.

Trying to get even closer.

The awesomeness of Linville Gorge.

Thunderlips asked Apollo “What the fuck is this shit?”

Well the achilles heel for Apollo & Co. More fucking steps.

More info on Linville Falls Plunge Basin

Who should hike this trail

While not a killer hike, people who are a bit out of shape may want to stick to the popular upper falls and Wiseman’s View trails. The Linville Falls Plunge Basin Trail starts up and ends down, meaning you have to hike back up hill to get back to your car. During Apollo’s visit, he did come across a few retired couples who were really huffing it coming back up the hill.

When to visit

While the section of the Blue Ridge Parkway that passes through Linville Falls is usually open during snow and bad weather (because people live off the Parkway around these parts), Apollo has seen this trail get quite icy and slick during the winter months. People visiting from Asheville must keep in mind that Linville and the Grandfather Mountain area does get quite a bit more snow as its good bit higher in elevation here.

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The Camp Murphy Site info sign at Jonathan Dickinson.

The sign says: In 1942 the federal government opened Camp Murphy. It was the home of the Southern Signal Corps School during World War II and served as a U.S. Army base for instruction in radar operation in the early course of the war. The post was named in honor of Lieutenant Colonel William Herbert Murphy, a pioneer in the development of radio beams and equipment for military aircraft. Camp Murphy consisted of 11,364 acres and accommodated 854 officers and 5,752 enlisted men. The camp had close to 1000 buildings that included a bank, movie theater, church, and bowling alley. Camp Murphy was officially decommissioned in 1944 and used for migrant housing during the fall and winter of 1945. Buildings not already dismantled after the camp’s deactivation were sold and carted away beginning in 1946. On June 9, 1947, the property was transferred from the U.S. Government to the State of Florida for a State Park. In 1950 Jonathan Dickinson State Park opened to the public.

The view from the top of Hobe Mountain Tower probably kicks some ass.

Apollo has a hell of a time dealing with all the steps leading up to the Hobe Mountain Tower. Damn these steps.

Overlooking the incredibly flat Jonathan Dickinson State Park.

The Hobe Mountain Tower offers the best overview of the entire Jonathan Dickinson State Park. The views are spectacular, especially from one of the highest points in South Florida! While there are a few steps, its not really that bad, and absolutely worth burning the calories to go to the top. Just keep in mind, if you’re visiting in summer (11 months out of the year) it will be HOT and you will want some water when you get back down to your car. Bring beverages, sunscreen and sunglasses!

Lots of saw palmetto in Jonathan Dickinson State Park.

The uber-rare Jonathan Dickinson Sand Pine.

The coast is not far from Jonathan Dickinson.

The Sand Pine is rather awesome.

Storm about to dump on Apollo and his camera equipment. Time to bug out.

More info on Jonathan Dickinson State Park

When to visit

Jonathan Dickinson State Park is open year round, although as in typical Florida fashion, the summer months are HOT! If you can manage the heat and stay hydrated, its an amazing place to visit.

Who should visit

Jonathan Dickinson State Park is loaded with history that the old timers will find very interesting. The kids will love the Hobe Mountain Tower, as it gives an outstanding view of the park and surrounding areas.

Jonathan Dickinson is also excellent for bicycling. They have tons of good bike trails, and even a bicycle skills course that lets you practice and develop awesome mountain bike skills. Apollo is ashamed he forgot his bike, although he could have rented one at the park.

Websites with more info

• Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Official Florida State Park page

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Apollo starts off on the Pink Beds Loop Trail.

Pink Beds Loop Trail was flooded, but that never stops Apollo.

This is a well-used trail and is quite easy to follow. Ideal for all types of hikers.

Apollo checks out the Barnett Branch Trail Boardwalk, very cool!

Apollo appreciates the work that was done on the Barnett Branch Trail Boardwalk. Its pretty bad ass.

Apollo forges the creek to return back to the car.

More Pink Beds Loop Trail info

The trail is an easy trail, although a bit lengthy. People with kids that complain should potentially consider a shorter trail, as kids will probably get a little bored with this trail. There’s not any mega uphills though, and aside from the occasional flooding, it makes for good easy to moderate hiking.

Apollo Creed Travels mentioned.

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Apollo enters Gorges State Park.

Apollo overlooks the amazing Horsepasture River in Gorges State Park.

They maintain Gorges State Park quite nice these days.

A small little waterfall on the Horsepasture River.

Behold, the dangerous Rainbow Falls.

Visiting Rainbow Falls, Gorges State Park

Rainbow Falls – Waterfall Safety

People have died on Rainbow Falls. Generally this is a case of playing in the smaller waterfalls and drops upstream of Rainbow Falls, succumbing to the strong current and being swept over Rainbow Falls. The Horsepasture River is an amazing river, and plenty of dummies spend their days playing in the falls upstream of Rainbow. DON’T BE ONE OF THEM DUMMIES! Stay out of the river and stay alive.

Who should visit

Most folks should be able to make the hike to Rainbow Falls. The last time Apollo visited, some family members tagged along and grumbled the entire way back. If you’re going hiking with a grumbler, maybe leave them in the car or plan a different hike.

Websites with more info

• Gorges State Park official NC State Park page
• Gorges State Park Wiki

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Apollo Creed visits Carl Sandburg & his Neighbors

This is what Carl Sandburg’s neighbors got to see everyday. One of Carl Sandburgs neighbors once said, “Carl Sandburg must be an idealist. I don’t know where he’s going, but he’s probably on his way.”

Former lawn chair of one of Carl Sandburg’s neighbors mysteriously wound up in Carl Sandburg’s huge ass backyard.

These… these are Carl Sandburg’s neighbors.

Apollo wonders how much of an inspiration this tree had on Carl Sandburg. I mean it looks just like…

Apollo Creed visits the Carl Sandburg Home in Flat Rock, NC

“There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud.” This is what Apollo was thinking as he sits and pees in Carl Sandburg’s pond.

More Info on the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site Location

Websites for more info

• The official National Park Service website for Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
• Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site Wikipedia
• Carl Sandburg Wikipedia
• Carl Sandburg Historic Site Association

Who should visit

Carl Sandburg’s house is pretty sweet, and would make a great several hour excursion that is well suited for families. Apollo thinks that kids won’t really ‘get’ the whole thing, and its probably best suited to the older folks who can appreciate Mr. Sandburg’s amazing life. While Apollo was visiting, most of the people there were of the older crowd and generally had white hair on their heads. The various trails are mild, and easy walking.

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Apollo went to Gator Park, one of the several roadside tourist attractions with airboat rides and everything alligator-related under the sun. Apollo totally had a blast, and definitely recommends the hour or so pit stop to check it out.

Apollo decides to stop off at Gator Park Airboat Tours for a kick ass airboat tour of the Everglades.

First ones on the boat, last ones to get off.

Apollo Creed ready to go for his airboat ride.

Earplugs for the wife and kid? Check.

German husband dudes earplugs in? Check.

Thunderlips earplugs in? Check.

Apollo Creed doesn’t need any stupid ass earplugs he’s just ready to get this show on the manmade waterway.

Right out of the gate, Apollo spots a couple of really big turtles.

Unfortunately Apollo’s photographer knows not the workings of his camera and fails to capture any real proof of the turtles.

Mostly, the airboat tours stick to the manmade canals, and not so much the ‘true’ Everglades.

Nevertheless, the airboat tours allow you to see all the wildlife you’d typically see in deep in the Everglades. Here, Apollo pretended to throw a rock at this 3 foot long alligator.

Apollo spots a Grackle.

Bald eagle spotted by Apollo, no proof on camera. Fuck.

Apollo is tired of puttputting along and is ready to tell Harry to drop the hammer.

The Ultimate Male concurs. Time to go fast.

Apollo takes it upon himself to drop the hammer down.

Now we are getting somewhere. Apollo can only wonder how many hapless gators and turtles just putting along in their own meager reality get totally destroyed when a flockload of tourists tag them with these environmentally-friendly airboats. Hmm.

Regardless of the health and well being of these creatures, Apollo totally loved hauling ass doing water donuts in the Everglades.

What goes fast, ends fast. Before you know it, the fun is over and its back to the manmade waterway. Only this time you’ve long since scared off any prayer of seeing anything other than a dragonfly at this point.

It’s of Apollos professional opinion that all visitors to the Everglades should take an airboat tour. The German family all had a really good time, and Apollo kept bumping into them over the course of the next two days. Apollo states a new law of nature: There are some Germans that visit the Everglades that are indeed good people.

Yep its confirmed. Almost back to the dock and after whizzing in circles for 10 minutes like mad crazies there is officially no sign of anything alive.

More info on Everglades Airboat Tours

When to visit

Airboat tours in the Everglades run year round.

Who should visit

Airboat Tours are great for the entire family. On Apollo’s airboat ride, there were a bunch of kids that had an absolute blast. One kid was bitching that it was very loud, but thats why they give you earplugs.

Everglades Airboat Tour Websites

• Gator Park Airboat Tours – Apollo recommended!
• Loxohatchee Florida Everglades Airboat Rides
• Everglades Airboat Tours in Everglades City
• Captain Doug’s Air Boat Rides

 Attention Airboat Operators!

If you run an airboat tour that Apollo missed, please contact him and let him know! We’ll get you added to the list pronto!

The post Apollo airboats at Gator Park Everglades Airboat Tours appeared first on Apollo Creed Travels.

Kirby S. Storter Park within Big Cypress National Preserve.

Apollo tries to cover a few miles of boardwalk walking before the sun goes down on Big Cypress.

Losing daylight in Big Cypress National Preserve.

Apollo meets an alligator in Big Cypress National Preserve.

Apollo turned the corner off-trail and came across this massive ass 12 foot gator. The gator was keenly aware of Apollo’s presence, but realized for his own sake that he better leave well enough alone, and just go ahead and allow for a quick couple of pictures.

Sunset over Big Cypress National Preserve.

If you see an alligator in Big Cypress National Preserve

Coming across a gator in Big Cypress or the Everglades is a common occurrence. If you’re on land, chances are you are somewhat safe as the gator isn’t gonna run you down to eat you. The common myth of running zig zag is a bunch of shit. If the gator is coming at you, run like hell. Gators can’t run for long distances and typically don’t chase down prey on land. This is especially true in Big Cypress National Preserve where much easier food (fish, birds, stuff like that) is readily available.

If you’re in the water, however, your odds of escape drop considerably. For the two of you that haven’t seen Crocodile Dundee, alligators grab onto you in the water and perform a death roll, which Paul Hogan described in good detail. If the gator has you in the death roll, you’re probably fucked. You could try stabbing the gators eyes out with a knife or with your fingers. Punching the gator Van Damme style is probably not gonna work. Go for the eyes. Create absolute commotion screaming and kicking. After you get away, then you can focus your efforts on kicking the shit outta the gator.

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Apollo & Thunderlips visit the Everglades & Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area.

There wasn\’t jack shit anything inside this tube.

Caution: You may be riddled with bullet holes if you stop to read about the Melaluca control project in marsh areas. While boaters must watch out for tree stumps along the water line, readers must watch for bullets hitting them near caution signs.

Apollo and Thunderlips checking out the silt fences that help regulate the Everglades bowel movements.

Contrary to Apollo’s current knowledge, redneck behavior is not limited to North Carolina.

Thunderlips stops at the water gauge ruler to measure the length of his pee pee.

Map of the Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area

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Thunderlips admires the vast, open expanses of Everglades National Park.

Sometimes its really hard to take pictures of turtles. With that said, here is a picture of Apollo and a turtle.

Thunderlips works on his South Florida tan.

Here Apollo spots a bunch of ass fish.

Apollo spots a gator under the sawgrass.

Everglades kicks major ass.

Thunderlips spots a bald eagle. Apollo is too fucking slow with the camera. Shit.

Map of Everglades National Park

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Alligators and shit do not intimidate Apollo Creed. This big ass ten-footer named Larry was consistently ridiculed and mocked by Apollo and Thunderlips. Pussy.

Larry told Thunderlips that he looked like that asshole on TV renting vcrs with Troy Aikman. Thunderlips vowed to kick the shit out of the next 150 American Alligators he crossed path with and did not tip the guy who actually did all the work. Word for the wise: If you go to the Everglades, make sure you bring a few bucks cash with you so you can tip these people. Apollo felt like a piece of shit that he didn’t tip the guy. Oh well. In terms of AU’s, what difference does it really make.

This mother fucker is crazy. Apollo loves it.

Ok, close the alligators eyes, jump on its back, and hold its mouth shut. Check. This shit is easy.

Apollo’s turn to knock the balls off this bastard.

Thunderlips conquers a littler ass alligator instead.

Apollo and Thunderlips now believe they have the skills necessary to destroy gator on their own now, and will take their newfound skills deep in the muck of the Everglades and Big Cypress paradise of South Florida and find some serious wildlife. Thats a big red neck hell yeah.

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