On our first beach visit, I was fortunate enough to witness the pathway to a shorebird conference! They put their feathers down, however, when I tried to sit in on their meetings . . .
So many birds - - they're everywhere you look. Many I have never seen before, but so beautiful! I have mentioned before that I usually only do wildlife portraits if the critter steps out in front of me and strikes a pose, like this big guy did.
They play in the water, on the sand, and some creep up on their prey - - just waiting for that tasty morsel to show itself.
A place that has always been on my 'bucket list' is Everglades National Park. We went there, and it was not at all what either of us expected. Very interesting and beautiful place with lots of open marshes and meadows - - not the dense swampy areas I expected.
Did get to see some local fauna (gators!) but the most populous were millions of bugs! Thought that by visiting in late November, all that would be over - - wrong again boys and girls! Due to the unusually warm, wet fall and early winter, the skeeters and no-see-ums just decided to hang out instead of going to wherever they usually winter! (By the way, you CAN see no-see-ums - - you just have to look hard to do so, usually when they are feasting on you. Ha!) If you wanted to be in the great outdoors, mosquito netting was the only way to go. Enjoyed our visit, but decided to beat a hasty retreat! Before we left the Everglades, however, we got to experience a real, Florida mountain(?) pass - - it was even marked with a sign! Couldn't pass up a picture of that one!
I mentioned beaches - - you can see where I've been spending lots of time! Really lovely with wonderful shelling as a major pastime on these shores. Actually found some sharks teeth for the grandson! Great lighthouses down here too . . . this one on Sanibel Island was all decked out for the season.
Lots of rain showers too. More than I would have guessed, until I saw the trees laden with Spanish Moss. I had the misguided notion that we left all that in the Louisiana swamp
lands earlier this year!
Speaking of rain, our RV lesson this month has to do with what happens when you leave your awning out during a short, but very fierce downpour. You see, the awning then fills with LOTS of water (we're talking a small lake here), and when silly folks like us try to tilt the awning arm down to allow the water to drain, the entire structure warps and folds like tissue paper! The good news is that the insurance came through and we get our new awning tomorrow. Hooray! Fellow RVers, I hope you are taking notes to learn from our experiences!
Another lesson I've learned is that, like the west coast, the east coast also has wonderful sunsets - - you just have to remember which direction to look! Took me a little while to get that figured, but then I was able to get a few good images when all was said and done.
As another year draws to a close, I am once again reminded of how grateful I am to have the health and spirit to be able to continue this adventure we're on! To all our family, friends and folks who follow these 'ramblings from the road', I wish you all a very joyous holiday season and extend our hope that the new year brings all you wish for.
