Shark Valley in the Everglades National Park is a neat place where you can walk along the trail and see dozens of gators lazing along side. We'd stopped to take a picture of one gator and noticed movement just beyond her in the grass and spotted these little fellows.
Eventually we noticed that there was another baby on the other side of the trail...and that we were standing right between it and its mother. At that point we got real nervous and decided to give the whole family its space.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Gator Babies
A good start...
Dawn of the first day of our Christmas vacation. Our hotel in Ft. Lauderdale is right on Pompano beach.
The weather forecast calls for sunny and about 80 degrees...pretty miserable but I suppose we shall have to make do somehow.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Kofi
The Memphis Zoo has a new baby reticulated giraffe. His name, Kofi, means "boy born on Friday." Those fortunate to be at the zoo on Friday, August 29th got to witness the actual birth as it took place in the viewing area.
This is Marilyn's first actual child. A couple of years ago she adopted another giraffe, Angela Kate, when her own mother (who was older) rejected her. Angela Kate didn't know what to make of Kofi at first and even seemed a bit frightened. She has since adjusted and now follows Kofi around everywhere and pokes and nudges at him. Kofi seems to bear this with an admirable stoicism.
Delicate
This flower was in a fountain in in a botanic garden in Dayton, Ohio. We were in town for a wedding of distant relatives that we discovered through genealogical research.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Losing our instinct
As I took this photo at the Memphis Zoo I was struck by how far we are removed from our primitive roots.
Cranberry (what an awesome name for a mighty polar bear) weighs in at well over five hundred pounds. Reason says that any mother should be utterly terrified to see her child just inches from such a powerful predator. When you stop and look at it, this picture should be frightening.
But no, Mom was tickled pink to see her child trying to 'pet' the cute polar bear.
Cranberry (what an awesome name for a mighty polar bear) weighs in at well over five hundred pounds. Reason says that any mother should be utterly terrified to see her child just inches from such a powerful predator. When you stop and look at it, this picture should be frightening.
But no, Mom was tickled pink to see her child trying to 'pet' the cute polar bear.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Primordial
There are still active volcanoes and vents on the southern end of the Big Island of Hawaii.
This area is near their sulfur vents boardwalk. You look off through this lush tropical vegetation and all you can see is tendrils of "mist" from the lava vents throughout the area.
As you gaze you almost expect to see a T-Rex come lumbering out of the smoke.
This area is near their sulfur vents boardwalk. You look off through this lush tropical vegetation and all you can see is tendrils of "mist" from the lava vents throughout the area.
As you gaze you almost expect to see a T-Rex come lumbering out of the smoke.
Rocks flow like water
The Big Island is Hawaii's youngest and the only one that still has active volcanoes.
The island is a great study in contrasts. Much of the eastern coast looks much like you would expect...a rich tropical island full of vegetation. In contrast, most of the western coast is raw lava with little bits of scrub grass. Between is an area that is not unlike the midwestern US with sparse grasses and a few low trees.
The southern part of the island is where the active volcanoes are. There you have fields like this of fresh lava looking like it just cooled yesterday.
The island is a great study in contrasts. Much of the eastern coast looks much like you would expect...a rich tropical island full of vegetation. In contrast, most of the western coast is raw lava with little bits of scrub grass. Between is an area that is not unlike the midwestern US with sparse grasses and a few low trees.
The southern part of the island is where the active volcanoes are. There you have fields like this of fresh lava looking like it just cooled yesterday.
Home from the Sea
Not far from our hotel on the Big Island of Hawaii is a beach called Anaehoomalu Bay. Its a beautiful sand beach that (as so rarely happens) includes world class snorkeling along with great swimming.
And, being on the west coast, it also gets some great sunsets.
As we were relaxing on the beach enjoying the sunset these canoers came in from an afternoon of boating.
And, being on the west coast, it also gets some great sunsets.
As we were relaxing on the beach enjoying the sunset these canoers came in from an afternoon of boating.
Wave after Wave
North of Helo, on the Big Island of Hawaii, is a short scenic drive which includes Onomea Bay. If you follow the trail down into the bay you reach this tiny black stone beach. In the afternoon the waves pound into the beach one after the other after the other after the other, so frequently and so loud that you can hardly hear yourself think. I've never been truly afraid of water before but the forces at work in this little cove were awesome and intimidating.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Not many pictures today
We spent most of Saturday on a snorkeling trip - hope the under water pictures turn out - then drove along the north coast of Maui.
Whale passing under our boat
The lady whale hid in the shadows of our boat for shade and to escape persistent male perusers.
Arizona Memorial
The Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor - The memorial is built over the sunken ship. The sailors that died that day remain entombed on the ship. Many of the survivors have been buried later with their ship mates.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Papali Pake (Chinaman's Hat)
According to Hawaiian legend, Mokoli'i is the tail of a nasty lizard slain by a god and thrown into the ocean. After the immigration of Chinese laborers it also came to be called Paple Pake (Chinamans Hat)
Byodo-in Temple
Byodo-in Temple is the center piece of the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. You ring a gong prior to entering, then visit the Buddha inside. The grounds have several Koi ponds, flowering plants, and different birds. Beautiful and peaceful.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Sunset over Waikiki
Most of the day was spent on the always pleasant experience of flying. About all we had time for after arriving was finding our hotel, getting checked out and finding a spot to see my very first Hawaiian sunset.
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