Tuesday's Gator Float 12-06-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday.  Have you ever seen an alligator float?  You have now.  I came to my stash of pictures from the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge because I was thinking about alligators.  I met an older man today that, on his right hand, had only his thumb and pinky fingers.  I know the other three fingers had the first two digits of each removed.  I wasn't going to say anything, but when I asked him to sign a paper for me, he showed me and said something about how his writing was bad.  So, I asked him if he had worked in a saw mill.  He said, "No, (holding up his right hand) I lost these to an alligator."   "Well," said I, "I'm going to want to hear that story."   Except that I didn't get to hear that story, I began his study, we talked throughout, but nothing about the alligator.  He was gone before I thought of it again and now I can't stop thinking about what could have happened that he lost three fingers - why wasn't it four - or five - his whole hand.  Or..... was it really a saw mill accident and he was just joshing me?  Maybe I'll see him again one day and remember to ask him.  Anyway, that is why you get to see an alligator float. 

I hope you had all your questions answered today.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Tuesday Alone in Paradise 03-01-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday.  This is a relaxing day for one alligator in the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.  You might would say this could be his definition of paradise.  I think most of us would like a safe place to live, surrounded by water and all the food we could eat with the only drama in our lives being the changing weather and seasons.  Ahhhhh, "la dolce vita".

I hope you had a sweet Tuesday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Thursday 'Gator Counting 02-25-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Thursday.  Let's do some 'gator counting today!  This past Tuesday we traveled into the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge along the Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive.  The "Drive" is only 4 miles through the refuge and it took us about 3 hours to complete it because we stopped so many times to get out and make photographs.  (Rest assured you will see more photos of this drive.)  When it came to the 'gators, we had stopped to see a big 'gator across a small canal and a couple of guys came up to us and told us about these babies on our side of the road.  Naturally, our curiosity meant that we would get as close as we could to take photos while keeping a watchful eye on the big one across the canal.  I've seen an alligator run before so I know firsthand that they move very swiftly, so I didn't want to take any chances on one running toward me while I'm looking at her babies!  We were joined by a couple of older women as we were watching, which made me feel better because I thought I could outrun the other two women.

I also think it made it a little easier to see the babies because the Refuge had a "Prescribed Burn" last week .  A Prescribed Burn  is used to help with nesting areas along the marshes for waterfowl and to help eliminate invasive and exotic perennials.  I am not sure what that meant for the alligators and their survival or where they went during the burn, but, since they still look alive, I guess they're ok.

How many little 'gators can you count?  I didn't even realize how many were in the photo until I got home and looked a the picture on the computer screen.  Those little prehistoric looking creatures don't look dangerous - yet.

I hope your Thursday counted as fun and non-dangerous.  Enjoy the baby 'gator counting.  Let me know what you see.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Lazy Alligator Saturday

Copyright AJ Horton

  So, when we entered the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia, we had been told that the alligators were in hibernation.  Imagine our surprise as, after only a few minutes kayaking in shallow, narrow, water, we see this fellow sunning himself less than 10 feet away!  Well, I can tell you that after the initial shock and I was able to breath again, I slowly reached for my camera.  We were very thankful that this guy appeared to be sleeping soundly.  We paddled by him as slowly and as quietly as we could and then continued to enjoy the Okefenokee.  I did have a wonderful time paddling that day, although this guy was always on my mind, especially since we had to paddle back by him on our way out. We knew of no other way to get back to our origination.  I wondered as we paddled, "Will he still be there when we get back?", and "What if he's not there, where will he be, will he be waiting for us?", and "I wonder if he thinks we taste like chicken?"  "Has he ever had chicken?"  "I will FREAK OUT if he's moved!"  "Oh, why did I think I could bring my little kayak out here?"  At least it's not a sit on top kayak."  And so my thoughts went.  Finally, I did relax and manage to enjoy all the beauty of the Okefenokee Swamp.  It is a wonderful place to visit and, if you haven't already,  maybe you'll get to go sometime.  They do boat tours there so you don't have to go in a kayak.  Whatever way you choose, it's a great way to spend a Saturday.
  By the way, this guy was in the same place when we quietly paddled by him on our way to our car.  I am thankful to this day that he'll never know if I taste like chicken.   Who knows, he might have spit me out - I've been told that I'm spoiled.  ;)
  I hope that you have a wonderful and exciting Saturday!  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday's Tree Roots

Copyright Aj Horton

Trees need water.  If trees are away from water, their roots will spread out to find that water.  Sometimes the roots seem to grow above the water and then dip into the water - like this tree.  I took the above photo because the roots are so unusual, almost reptilian.  To me, it looks like an alligator heading back into the water.   Hopefully I am not the only one who sees this.  

I hope you had a great Sunday, maybe even spent some enjoyable time with friends and family.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Thursday and I need Water!

Copyright AJ Horton

My big alligator is so dry, it needs water!  Since it's so rainy here it can have some of mine.  And it's cold again, so back into hibernation it will go.  Fortunately for me this alligator lives in one of the Florida Zoos.  According to the defenders.org website, there are 1.25 million alligators in Florida!  Now that's a lot of gator.  And this one has a little lizard hitchhiking on top. I guess it's a gator wannabe.  The website says that alligators can swim swiftly because of their tail and on land they can "move quickly for short distances".  I have actually seen an alligator run.  A friend and I were riding on a bike trail in Florida when I saw it.  Thank God that part was fenced!  We stopped as all of a sudden the alligator began running toward a small retaining pond and then rolled down the small embankment before the egret could react.  I thought the alligator moved very fast that day and from now on I want to always be behind a fence when I see an alligator.  

I hope you had a great Thursday.  Maybe you enjoyed the rain.  Maybe you're in an area that didn't get any today.  Maybe you'd like some rain like my alligator.  Either way, I hope you are having the day you want.  Thanks for looking. No matter what the weather, I hope you keep a sunny outlook!  See you tomorrow.