Wednesday, December 29, 2010

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

12 comments:

  1. Absolutely loved the poem. And that was one nice family pic John..
    The herons definitely seem to be posing in both the pics. Nice snaps

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  2. Great pictures, it makes me wish you had taken me with you!
    I am glad you were able to have this wonderful trip.

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  3. Sweet photos and memories of a wonderful time with your family! Love the poem and the owls. How cool to spot these birdies in the trees!

    Love the RF poem as well...I like A Walk in the Woods, too! Glad you enjoyed your walk, amigo...the short cut not being so short, I believe it, but again, it looks like you had a good time with good people and that's what counts!

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  4. Great photos and narratives! Love them! It looks like you had a lot of fun...

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  5. You do get great wildlife shots. How do you do it?

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  6. What a great set of photos, you never miss a shot mate! Love them all. Looks like you had a great time!

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  7. budh.aaaah- You are so gracious! Thanks for the compliments!

    John

    Joe-- IT's a Definite ROAD TRIP BRO__LET'S GO!!!!!


    J

    Lulu-- I only wish I could have made if further South! I'm so HOT the Miami weather would NEVER have reached the 40-50 degree range!!! LOL

    What did you do in that cccold???


    Juanny


    Pat-- Thanks: This was one for the ages and can never be explained properly or touched again for it's simplicity! I know- (PRAY), every family has a Christmas or Gathering like this one!

    I know you have!!!

    John




    RK-- I just always have my camera, and always look for that opportunity! Seek, and ye shall find! It really works!

    Thanks for such a sweet comment!


    John


    Kraxpelax--welcome to Full-on! Thanks for such a beautiful comment!

    Peter--I swung? word?- by--which Blog do I follow--Man you are busy!!

    John



    Joe-- Thanks my friend! You too stun me with your photos!!!

    Be Blessed Bro!

    John

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  8. Aw, John. I'm glad you've arrived home safely and from the looks of it, you had a great time. You couldn't hear the sigh from me when you said you missed your dad...or my gasp when I saw the Osprey and...isn't the 2nd photo the same kinda bird, shot from the other side? I kept scrolling and comparing...

    The photos are fabulous! Loved the herons and the sunsets and seeing your fam!

    I do believe your bro was getting ready to give us the finger. I'm just saying...

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  9. John, thanks for taking us on this wonderful trip with your family. I had fun.

    I'm sorry for the loss of your dad and that cabin, but glad you have all these wonderful memories.

    Big hugs and love, friend,
    xoRobyn

    PS Thanks for the poem too. There's nothing like Robert Frost to warm you up during the winter.

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  10. Cool Pics John, Thank you for sharing Buddy, I really liked the one with your Mom Brother and Sister.

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  11. O shit a Frosty.

    Carl Sandburg and Robert Frost had a near life long feud about poetry here is ONE of Sanburg's answers to this particular piece by Frost.

    The Road and the End

    I shall foot it
    Down the roadway in the dusk,
    Where shapes of hunger wander
    And the fugitives of pain go by.
    I shall foot it
    In the silence of the morning,
    See the night slur into dawn,
    Hear the slow great winds arise
    Where tall trees flank the way
    And shoulder toward the sky.

    The broken boulders by the road
    Shall not commemorate my ruin.
    Regret shall be the gravel under foot.
    I shall watch for
    Slim birds swift of wing
    That go where wind and ranks of thunder
    Drive the wild processionals of rain.

    The dust of the traveled road
    Shall touch my hands and face.

    Carl Sandburg


    So does the Navy still use the land next to the Ocala forest for a bomb run sight? Probably not because it looks like the wild life (John) returned and a few birds too.

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  12. kathryn-- you scare the chit outta me! You are correct on ALL counts.!!!!! LOVE IT!!!!!

    Yeah, Dad---wow--he would not let me join the Boy Scouts saying I can teach you all those things! I didn't understand then, but I do now! HE wanted to do that!

    I love you gal!!!


    John



    Robyn...I'll TRIP with you anytime--LOL! Thanks Young Lady! You are a TREASURE!!!!

    John



    Jimmy,

    Family is the best--Yes? Even the ones that are a little w

    Weird---No,, ESPECIALLY THEM!!!

    Thanks Buddies,

    John



    Mark--THANKS for that Poem--I had no idea!

    And YES!! The Jets still fly live fire exercises from the EWR--Electronic Warfare Range. Above that area is where the dropped and tested the MOAB for Saddam! My brother said it shook his camper about 40 miles away and he saw the plume!

    They have some scary chit we can only dream of.

    The Bombing range is isolated and I'm sure the Deer, Double Dog dare each other to RUN across it!

    The Range less traveled by!

    J

    Be Blessed Bro!

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Incredibly smart relies: