Category: adventure

'scene' along the way, adventure, boats, friends, fun, kayaking, nature, perseverance, photography, sky, weather

A day on the water…

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Off we went to Hog Island to launch the kayaks on an absolutely perfect day. A little relief from the miserable heat we have ‘enjoyed’ all summer, and a blue sky with lovely clouds instead of thunderstorms. Even the water itself cooperated. A glassy surface with wonderful reflections. Sunburned knees were a small price to pay for such a perfect day…

This last one reminded me of the snow capped mountains in the Tetons. But it has already snowed there, so I guess I need to appreciate all that we have to enjoy here at home.

'scene' along the way, adventure, bugs, butterflies, Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Preserve, Florida landmarks, Florida wildlife, nature, perseverance, photography

Into the woods…

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I tagged along with my friends into the woods at the Chassahowitzka Wildlife preserve yesterday, which always involves lots of fun. And bugs, lots of bugs. We took pictures of some of them and swatted many more.

And not only bugs, we also found a deer, a fox squirrel, and we had to search but we did find the baby alligators we were looking for. I can almost say that they are cute, but they are alligators so they won’t be cute for long. And they were calling for their mother, I think we were distressing them. We didn’t see her though, but chances are good that she wasn’t far away.

You do have to wonder what happened here. Maybe someone was extra anxious to jump in the water at Eagle’s Nest for some scuba diving. Or something like that…

'scene' along the way, a second look, adventure, Florida wildlife, following the rules, Just do it, nature, perseverance, photography, Rise and shine, sunrise

Aripeka redux…

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On my way home from Cedar Lakes Woods the other day I happened to notice the turn off for Aripeka. I hadn’t thought of going there for the sunrise since I got back from the Tetons. It wasn’t the 6 months away that I first imagined when I began to think of myself as a snowbird, but you’d think I was away that long for how thoroughly my mind has remained somewhere in limbo since I got back. But when I checked the weather yesterday morning and rain was a possibility for all afternoon into Sunday off I went for the sunrise. The feature photo was my first stop, the first bridge that I arrive at when I approach Aripeka from the south. It was still dark so the three exposures for HDR seemed to take forever to finish, but that first shot is the feature photo. You should have heard the splash under the bridge as I stood there on top, waiting for the last exposure. It must have been a big fish, but at least I don’t still imagine an alligator that might, in my mind at least, creep up on me on the bridge and gnaw off my foot.

I then moved just up the road to the next bridge, where I can never resist taking an HDR photo of the little bait shop. Plus the possibility of seeing One-Foot Fred dawned on me also.

I moved back and forth across the bridge, loving the pretty sunrise and the reflections on the west wide of the road. I must have been lost in thought because the voice surprised me when I heard someone say that I could get a shot of One-Foot Fred. It was Ray, the guy I’ve talked with before, who said that Fred had followed him over to the bridge. I was happy to see Fred again, and it’s nice to have someone to chat with as well. Ray told me of a new spot to go for sunset pictures, and said the if anyone gives me a hard time for parking there I could say that I have permission, from Ray. LOL. I will check it out one day soon.

Ray said that Fredhad followed him to the bridge, and he would follow him home also, so I stopped by my car and shot long distance photos as he walked away. Use your imagination because, just as predicted, Fred is following him, he’s that gray blur just to the left of the telephone pole. Must have been time for breakfast…

'scene' along the way, a second look, adventure, Camping, flowers, gardens, making memories, nature, perseverance, photography, Uncategorized

Back to the Tetons…

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Not actually back to the Tetons, just diving back into the photos on my phone.  I love the feature photo.  More often I saw hills to the east, that light green color mostly, with those dark evergreens following the contours of the land.  Here that color looks amazing with the mountains beyond.  There was an amazing view every time I went out to see what I could see.

Along with all the wild flowers I was surprised to see along the trails, I also enjoyed my cousin’s yard and deck where her green thumb is readily apparent.  I would love for my house to look as charming as hers does, but I’m afraid that I could never put in the work to keep it looking that way.  When I was talking to another photographer about tripods and lenses he said that I need a sherpa to carry my stuff around for me, LOL, I agreed.  For my yard to look as nice as my cousin’s does I’d need a gardener to keep it alive.  I came home determined to make some improvements to the curb appeal of my house, but I’m sitting here talking about it instead of doing something about it.  Maybe I’ll get around to it one of these days…

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On at least on occasion a moose has dropped in to enjoy this view also, and to graze through the herb garden, but not while I was there…

'scene' along the way, a second look, adventure, Camping, making memories, moments, natural wonders, nature, perseverance, photography, road trip, travel

Schwabacher Landing…

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This place was a favorite of both my cousin and my friend.  A lovely little hike along the Snake River, which on this visit was a sheet of glass with wonderful reflections.  As well as a sweet little family of ducks.  I was so glad that I made a second stop at this lovely place…08-11-20schwabacher'slanding08-11-20schwabacher'slanding208-11-20schwabacher'slandingduck08-11-20schwabacher'slanding308-11-20schwabacher'slandingfawn

And one last view of the little fawn who came to visit at the campground on the last two days I was there….

'scene' along the way, a second look, adventure, bucket list, Camping, coping, finding my way, following the rules, Just do it, life goes on, live and learn, memories, nature, Nature's beautiful creatures, perseverance, photography, road trip, travel

Back to normal…

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Four long days of driving gave me lots of time to think about what I’d do when I got home, but so far it seems I’ve done almost nothing at all.  Four long days of being home and not being able to decide what to do have followed.  Maybe it’s the heat, or maybe I’m just really tired.  I remembered how I thought I would enjoy being online without having to compete for a chance to plug in the computer, but I’ve hardly done that either.  But I finally decided to look at the pictures I took on my last day in the Tetons.  As usual I had headed out in the car early that day, and this time I stopped to see the bison on the west, the mountain, side of the road.  That gives a different perspective on the scene, doesn’t it?  And imagine my surprise when I looked at the very first picture that I took and realized that I’d caught a mom and baby.08-02-20momandbaby08-02-20buffaloflowerI chatted with another photographer as we enjoyed the scene.  He had lived in the area for 40 years he said, and he takes every chance he gets to enjoy the scenery in the good weather, because the winters are brutal.  Which reminded me of what my friend said about visiting the campground in the winter, or attempting to visit their campsite.  Thigh deep snow defeated their attempt.  And my cousin had stressed that she sits out on her deck and enjoys her flowers every minute that she can because the summer is so short in Jackson.  It really was perfect summer weather with chilly nights and then hot in the sun.  I found that if I sat in dappled shade to read a book I needed a sweatshirt.  Yes, to me that was perfect weather, and a wonderful trip that I was lucky to be able to enjoy.  Especially this year, when things aren’t quite normal.  I’m not sure I feel quite normal either, but I’m working on it…