Well, the lack of camera and the lack of energy has left me with a giant hole in my blogging dates. Camera back in hand and good weather= fun outings!
Spencer is the only cub scout in our area, so we drive 20 min to a neighboring ward to join their troop. Just down the street from the meetinghouse is this amazing lake and we stop often. We've seen gators all but one time (in the winter). Also sighted: turtles, fish, snakes and birds of many species. Of course, the gators are the favorite.
Our friend Josh Michaelson in UT sent us Flat Stanley to visit with us in FL. He specifically requested that Flat Stanley see some alligators. Josh, I hope you don't mind we let Stanley get a little close to the gators. Here's the proof to show your class:
Flat Stanley and the baby gators
Flat Stanley and the Mama Gator
The Gator Hut
The cute baby incognito
Four fascinated boys.
Are these all mine?
Must we have a photo taken sitting down, Mom??
Favorite photo of the day:
Look! I see another one!
And no, we are not scared of the alligators. Even though we've seen netflix documentaries on the powerful jaw comparisons between the alligator and the crocodile. (The croc is stronger, can leap higher, and has a faster reflex- in case you wanted to know). Technically these gators can wander up the banks right onto the shore and onto the road or the trail. However we have never seen it, or met anyone that has. They are fairly small considering and with the wildlife aplenty around them, they don't seem short on food. I figure, if the duck was comfortable swimming around the gator's head, we are plenty safe on the platform.
These alligators would know, however, if my boys would be tasty or not because no matter what 'gator manners' I try to teach them, they always end up trying to spit on them in the water. Sigh. Does that count as feeding or molesting? (See sign in above pic). Oh the debates we've had over that one. "Spit is not food so we're not feeding them, and spit is like rain and it rains all the time on alligators, so we're not bothering them!"
The answer is still 'NO.'
Creative arguments, though!
Grant giving Evan a speedy ride back to the car- so fast they're a blur.
We're always glad we stopped here!
And no, we are not scared of the alligators. Even though we've seen netflix documentaries on the powerful jaw comparisons between the alligator and the crocodile. (The croc is stronger, can leap higher, and has a faster reflex- in case you wanted to know). Technically these gators can wander up the banks right onto the shore and onto the road or the trail. However we have never seen it, or met anyone that has. They are fairly small considering and with the wildlife aplenty around them, they don't seem short on food. I figure, if the duck was comfortable swimming around the gator's head, we are plenty safe on the platform.
These alligators would know, however, if my boys would be tasty or not because no matter what 'gator manners' I try to teach them, they always end up trying to spit on them in the water. Sigh. Does that count as feeding or molesting? (See sign in above pic). Oh the debates we've had over that one. "Spit is not food so we're not feeding them, and spit is like rain and it rains all the time on alligators, so we're not bothering them!"
The answer is still 'NO.'
Creative arguments, though!