FLORIDA PICS

FLORIDA PICS

 The Railroad Grade--the Road Home! YES--THIS USED TO BE AN OLD RAILROAD TRACK!

MY FAVORITE POEM--EXCEPT FOR SOME BY MARK DURFEE- AKA THE WALKING MAN,  & EMILY- OF ALICE IN WONDERLAND!

Robert Frost (1874–1963).  Mountain Interval.  1920.

1. The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;	5
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,	10
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.	15
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.	20

 There was never a sign when I was growing up here. I stopped a little ways down and looked across the Lake to where the Cabin once stood, now razed for the good of the Government!

I shed a few tears.... OK, I CRIED!!!!!!!

THEN I LOOKED STRAIGHT UP FOR SOME REASON!....

An Osprey was right above me...welcoming me home!

 And one tree Over............ OWLS???

 FAMILY: Steve- my Brother (4 years my junior)-who runs this entire 4H camp, we stayed at, for the Univ. of Fl.,
Me--to the right of my Bro (0 years my junior)...my Seeester, back left, (8 years my junior)...and the Patriarch and Glue...Mom--33 and holding..... 72 years YOUNG!!!!

Notice the coats in Fl!!!!!!

 OUR GREAT NATURALIST GUIDE!!!  SHORTCUT MY BUTT!! I knew we were in BIG trouble!

  

 

THIS ANHINGA WAS PREPARED FOR A STOL!-SHORT TAKE OFF AND LANDING--THE WIND WAS SO BRISK, HE/SHE, WAS LEANING INTO IT TO STAY PERCHED. WHEN IT FINALLY FLEW--ALL IT HAD TO DO WAS EXTEND IT'S WINGS, AND THE LIFT TOOK IT OFF IMMEDIATELY!

Pic Taken from the Pontoon Boat...

The Anhinga (Anhinga ), sometimes called Snakebird, Darter, American Darter, or Water Turkey, is a water bird of the warmer parts of the Americas. ... Source--Wickedpedia!!!

 

 This "Growth" was Incredible, on this tree. I'm thinking it's in the Orchid Family, or One Hell of a LOST SEA URCHIN!!!.

Hey--there were sea urchins in the nature building!!!!

 

 OF COURSE I GOT FLORIDA SUNSETS!!!!

       

 GOD SURE CAN PHOTOSHOP  PAINT!

 

  THE RETURN OF THE ENDANGERED GREAT BLUE HERON!

ARE THEY POSERS OR WHAT!!!???

 WE CAN SAVE OUR PLANET IF WE TRY!

 FOR HEFF! ABSOLUTE SCIENTIFIC PHOTOGRAPHIC PROOF, THAT A WILD  BEAR CHITS IN THE WOODS.....(THIS IS BLACK BEAR SCAT!)

OR IS IT???---HEY. I SAID MY BROTHER RAN THE PLACE, I NEVER SAID HE WAS A GENIUS! :-)

 WATER 3-5 FEET DEEP. ON A SUNNY DAY YOU CAN SEE A QUARTER, 25 FEET DOWN! THIS LAKE HAS NO TANNINS WHATSOEVER (that give lakes and rives their "stained" colour,). THIS AND IS ONE OF ONLY A FEW NON-STAINED LAKES, IN THE OCALA, CHAIN 'O LAKES! THEY ARE UNIQUE! IT'S ACIDIC, HENCE NO ALGAE. pH is 5.0!

CLICK TO ENLARGE & MOVE SLIDERS TO READ ABOUT OLIGOTROPHIC  VS. EUTROPHIC LAKES, FLOW, pH. ETC!  THE PART ABOUT THE SPARSE FISH POPULATION IS BULL. THIS LAKE IS TEEMING WITH HUGE LARGE-MOUTH BASS, BLUEGILL, WAR-MOUTH PERCH AND CATFISH. IT USED TO BE LOADED WITH CRAPPIE, BUT AFTER 4 HURRICANES, THEY HAVE ALL BUT DISAPPEARED FROM THE LAKE! REALLY UNKNOWN WHY! IT'S PRETTY COOL STUFF! 

IT HAS PRODUCED 10-14 LB. BASS, AND 14 FOOT ALLIGATORS!!

DEER REGULARLY SWIM ACROSS THIS LAKE TO ESCAPE HUNTERS, AND MANY A DEER & DOG HAS FOUND IT'S DEMISE FROM VENTURING TOO CLOSE TO THE SHORE. 

WALTER, MY NIECES DOG, SWAM TO THE KAYAKS, BUT AT THIS TIME OF YEAR THE GATORS ARE INACTIVE. JUST LIKE THE FL. GATORS! LOL!!!

CUE JAWS MUSIC!

 CASSIE-(Sis-in Law)--SMARTLY HEADS TO THE DOCK FOR WALTER TO LOAD!!!

 WELCOME HOME! I DROVE IN SLEET & SNOW FROM SAVANNAH GA, TO COLUMBIA SC. IT WAS AN AWESOME TRIP!

THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF  421 PICS! I HAD TO CHRONICLE THIS JOURNEY, AS IT WAS, AND IS A MAJOR PART-- OF WHO I AM!!!!

I MISS YOU DAD,.....AND THANKS FOR TAKING ME TO THIS PHENOMENAL PLACE..FROM AGE 6 ON!

JMc