Panther sighting on Alligator Alley

[Streakn1]

On Friday morning about 6:30 am a panther showed up and stopped in front of our T/T while we were parked at our favorite layover spot on Florida's Alligator Alley. Its the rest area at the 36 mm. Before I could get dressed and go outside, it was gone.

I did see the driver get out of his Panther van and look over towards our rig. Had I been quicker getting outside to check our freight I would have said hello and offered up some freshly brewed java.

We were loaded with two General Electric CFM-56 jet engines that we were to deliver mid morning at Miami International Airport. From there they were to be flown to Chile aboard a cargo jet. Funny thing, when airport security escourted us onto the flightline to get unloaded, after we had been staged they quickly had to move us over approximately 75' from our original spot. Reason being that there was a 767 cargo jet that had just landed bound for that spot in a matter of minutes to be unloaded. This would have put us directly under the port wing and in the way of all of the service vehicles and cargo lift used to unload the cargo of fresh produce onboard.

We got to watch as they unloaded a full plane load of cargo, fuel, refresh the holding tanks and clean the cabin in a matter of minutes before returning it to flight. Got some great photos. I'll try and post them over the weekend.

I must say, I think the wife and I have one of the coolest jobs!!!

 

[layoutshooter]

I thought you meant a Florida black panther. I was lucky enough to see one of the first 4 they re-introduced back into the Everglades when I was fighting forest fires there back in 1973. It had been two weeks since thier release and it was the first sighting since they were let go. I saw another while I was fishing for "Oscars" and "Pea**** Bass" in the cannals outside of Holiday Park last summer. It came down over the levee, saw me, and stopped and looked at me for the longest time. It was a young cat. It finally gave up looking at me and hunted it's was out of sight. They are so cool to see and I am happy to see them brought back from the brink of extinction. Layoutshooter

 

[chefdennis]

I was heading north out of fla on fri, seen a southbound Panther Van and had parked at the same Wally world the night before with a panther Straight truck. I know Bolt had 3 Vans in fla mid week last week....we all ended up in Jackson GA on Fri afternoon!!! We get down here on a regular basis from what I can see...

 

[hondaking38]

Ya my driver is in a cargo van in Indiantown florida...delivers monday. then will probably head up to orlando,and try to get a load out of there....

 

[Falligator]

Hey streakn....that was me you seen. I had just taken a load from the Florida Keys and was headed home. I seen your rig, but didn't realize u was with panther...lol what a coincidence since it was so foggy out that morning

 

[Streakn1]

I seen your rig, but didn't realize u was with panther...lol what a coincidence since it was so foggy out that morning

Hey Falligator, when we were looking to leave the FED we were actually seriously considering leasing our ER unit on with the Black Cat. Afterall, we were seeing more and more black cats picking up the same freight at the same places we had been loading with the FED. Thought maybe it was a sign of things to come.

Our hearts were more into trying out the aviation side of Expedited freight than to continue hauling drugs, computers, and artwork. So instead of putting the Black Cat on our truck we opted for a 747 jumbo jet! LOL Best choice of my life.

Next time stop by!

 

[Falligator]

U in Ocala? You'll have to send me a pm since I'm still here in Floral City and bored....little cloudy today...but still better than freezing up north

 

[Streakn1]

Naw, we left the warmth of Florida Friday evening bound for Indy with a couple of engines going back to a repoed corporate 737 jet. We just got to the Flying J in Whiteland,IN where we'll stay the night and then deliver in the morning. It's 36 degees!!!
After that we have an engine onboard to take to Quebec.

Did you see the cool photos I posted in the thread "A day in the life" from the run you saw us waiting to deliver?

 

[Falligator]

Quebec!!?? Geez....talk about extremes....lol. I'm still here in Florida waiting for a load. 1st on the Tampa board and hopefully something will come along.....<<no more loads to the keys please!...I went to Key West and what a tourist trap. I even tried to get a campsite and there is an 11 month waiting list just to get one. Tried at Bahia Honda Key. No luck there. Good luck out there...