February 6, 2004 - Gulf Islands National Seashore, FL

Raining like we were in the semi-tropics or something today.  Good day to stay home and get caught up on things like web page postings and laundry.

What "No Fishing" sign?  Well, that's for the bridge that takes cars.  We're heading out (all bundled up - windy and chilly) for the fishing bridge.

We weren't nearly as serious about our fishing trip as these guys were.  Carol and Barb exchanging shots of us getting set up.  Each little island on the Keys has its own name, and each piece of water separating them has its own name too, as you could imagine.  We happen to be staying on Grassy Key, and the water separating it from the next island is obviously, Tom's Harbor Cut.  You can see the SUV coming across the car bridge.  We tried both shrimp and squid as bait, but eventually the lack of action, the noise of the passing traffic, and the chilly wind won the day.  We fed the rest of the bait to the birds and went home.  Fishing is supposed to be fun, dang it!

Another excursion while on the Keys.  We're at the Museums and Nature Center at Crane Point in Marathon.  This cockatoo took an interest in my hat brim for some reason.  And a pretty flower.  Barb's with me, can you tell?

Florida has such a variety of flowering plants, that we can't begin to learn them all.  And then there's the mangrove swamps.  Talk about impenetrable!  We're on a boardwalk/trail through the swamp, and the mangroves are so thick they block out much of the sun.

There are plenty of big spiders, too.  And if you poke them, they just sit there, I discovered.  Now, Sally Rand (famous fan dancer from the past) wouldn't have any concerns at all if this is the best Barb can do with her fan.

This Gumbo Limbo is also called the "Tourist Tree."  And you know why, don't you.  Because it's always red and peeling!  My mother's middle name (and the one she used) was Eugenia, and I don't think I've ever seen the name applied to anything before.  And given her biased views on some issues, this tree's common name is most appropriate too.  She was second generation American, her father and mother's parents coming from England, and yet she was always blaming all the problems of the world on the immigrants, and would bristle quite haughtily when reminded that if it weren't for her grandparents and father being immigrants, she wouldn't be here.

The fruit from this palm may be called a date, but it's sure different from the dates we like to eat.  And Barb might be a chick, but she's not a very good Osprey chick.  Still fun to have this replica of a nest this close.  Gives a better perspective of the size of those nests way up there on some power pole or tall tree.

These solid stalks growing in the midst of the brush were unusual, and these were about the only ones we saw all day.  Wonder what they were.  And then you can see the effects of the wind on the grass that has broken loose from its footings.  This grass is about a foot thick up near the shore.  Earlier, I'd tried to retrieve a pot buoy, and didn't realize the grass was not solid ground, and nearly got soaked for my trouble.

This little plant growing on the rock reminded me of the story Jesus used to describe the faith of some people.  And what's this?  Bees?  Yup.  Seems a private contractor is working with the parks to see if they can be reintroduced, and, in the meantime, collect some honey for sale.

This house was home for a family and apparently the center of a small community at one time   George Adderley came to the Keys from the Bahamas in 1890 at age 20 and became a naturalized citizen.  He made his living as a boatman "sponging."  Not off of other people, mind you.  Just getting sponges from the sea.  Quite a process--gathering, sanding/cleaning, drying, etc.  When he had a boat full, he'd head for Key West and auction his wares at the city wharf.    In 1903, he purchased 30 acres of land on Key Vaca, known as Crane Hammock, for $100.  This was his and his family's home.  Other Bahamians joined them along the way and he eventually became an Episcopal lay preacher and held services for this little Black community in his home (now a museum)  They lived off the land (fish, vegetables, turtle, crawfish, etc.)  Good, hard working people.  And there's Barb hiding behind yet another palm.  These fronds only appear to be lacy and soft.  They're actually quite stiff and sharp.

The Silver Palm, with it's undersides a nice shiny silvery color.  And looking at this little Styrofoam boat makes me wonder if those of us born and raised in this country in relative comfort really appreciate the freedoms we have.  Would we be willing to risk our lives for the freedom?  Are we willing to fight opposing forces within our own country to retain those freedoms?

The sign in the little boat says it all.  Then to a lighter subject.  Well, not all that light.  When Barb replaced this little hermit crab (water type) back in the "touch" tank, it landed upside down...and promptly popped out and started to roll the shell right side up again.  Is it frowning at us?  It's beady little eyes sure were watching us.

And finally, it got right side up again, but I still couldn't help but think it was frowning at us.

Next, she grabbed a giant snail.  Wow, that's a big snail!  Very much alive too.

Barb couldn't resist grinning back at this little speckled big-headed blow fish.  It's one of those that has spines all over itself when it blows itself up.  When facing you, it had a virtual  happy face.  Fun fish.

The board walk and railings were made of this wood, and to my recollection, it's the first time I've ever seen it.  Sure is a pretty wood, and apparently pretty easy to take care of.  Would love to see more of it, perhaps in furniture.  It's grain and coloration is reminiscent of teak.  And that iguana was not in a cage.  We were told he'd never been caged.  And when we went back to the area looking for him again, we had trouble finding him.  We were told he was probably on his warming pad, and sure enough, up under the roof of a cage, and on top of the cage was this little warming pad, with the iguana stretched out on it with only his tail showing.  Are we having fun or what?  Stuff like this makes us both grin a lot.

Well, going past the cockatoo again, it begged to take closer look at my hat, and this time it grabbed it.  I had a tough time getting it back!  And now the brim has a small hole in it.  Dumb stunt.  But fun, nonetheless.

This probably should have been the first picture, but here it is anyway.  Oh well.  And just outside the door was this good sized lizard doing push-ups and puffing its throat out to impress the ladies.  No, wait.  That's not what's happening at all, we just thought that was what it was doing, as we've seen that behavior before.  Actually, it's shedding its skin!  How cool is that?