Who'd have guessed this idyllic spot at Everglades National Park presaged terror just minutes later? My Portuguese friend Marcos and I rented a 2-man kayak to tour nearby estuaries, knowing the waters harbored crocodiles but having been told not to fear. We paddled in peace then turned into a secluded canal only to be rocked by a leaping croc that hit my arm, nearly capsizing the boat and scaring us silly. We survived unscathed with a priceless story to tell the rest of our lives. Journey on!