Thanks for the kind words, everyone! I'm glad you're enjoying the pictures. Here's a few more from the Dolphin cruise. I missed being being out on a boat, even if it wasn't the Gulf. We used to have a boat and we went fishing a lot when I was a kid. But Dad got osteoporosis and it caused him too much pain to be on the boat.
Osprey nests on signs. Yes, that first one says it's a Manatee Zone and to slow the heck down. It's not cold enough for the manatees to come in yet. Besides, I can go down to the Big Bend power plant viewing area to see them and it's a lot closer.
This is Keewaydin Island, where we stopped to do some shelling. And look at dead fish killed by red tide. There was a man with a British accent who asked me about the red tide so I explained how it's a toxic algae and don't touch anything and be careful if you have respiratory issues. As an asthmatic, I had my rescue inhaler on me!
Dead fish and sharks
There was a grasshopper thing flying around. It really blends into the sand.
Damselfly
Gulf Fritillary on Spanish Needles. I could have stayed home and seen that every day!
There was Wild Lime growing on the island! Like, the same plant I grow in the front yard to attract Giant Swallowtails. I know it's native, but I guess I didn't expect it to be so close to water.
When I was young, I remember asking Dad what kind of boat he would buy if he had lots of money. And he said, "I'd get a Grady White with twin outboard motors."
Now I'm like, "Dad, you have to dream bigger. Let's get the yacht that's next to it, too!"
