DISCOVERY LAUNCH!

Last eve we witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime event at Cape Canaveral, FL.... yes a night-time Discovery Shuttle launch!

It all started a few days before, with a four hour journey from Hal's place in Dundee to the coast, that resulted in a postponement due to some sort of pressurization loss. We weren't looking forward to the long drive again, But....using Dave's motorhome as a "tourbus" made the travel and event much more enjoyable, as you can see from the refreshments on the table there....

We arrived early and were somewhat surprised to see the large crowds building for this special event. Luckily, we found a spot at the waters edge along the Indian River, directly across from the stunningly tall VAB (Vetical Assembly Building), where the shuttle is assembled to the main fuel tank & solid rocket boosters. The launchpad can be barely seen to the far left, since we are about 10 miles away!
The launch itself was SPECTACULAR!!! no video or photograph can capture the excitement, sounds and sights....one just has to be there...but, I did manage to get the actual communications of mission control and the shuttle on the ham rig. so be sure to check out the video with this accompanyong audio atour YouTube site... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9F3Iy0XeKk

As we walked back to the RV, I glanced back and captured the faint colorful remains of the vapor trail illuminated by the already set sun.

FLORIDA - Wakulla Springs Tourboat

Well today is rainey & wet, not too nice for a paddle, so we opt for a visit to Edwin Ball State Park at Waculla Springs. After having the famous Navy Bean Soup for lunch at the Lodge, we decide to take the 30 minute boat tour which travels the upper three miles of the River, including a loop through the Spring.

The lunch was delicious, and it wasn't long before we on board with Captain Luke, a hilarious character that made the trip worth it just to hear his southern accented tales & description of the creatures we'd see. For a video sample take a look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n53BVkTHGps&feature=channel_page




AS we pulled out of the dock and gazed down this beautiful stream, we truly appreciate the crystal waters and abundant wildlife of Florida!

the shores were moving with birds of all kinds....





and, of course, critters looking for a quick meal!

as we appraoch the turnaround point, I glance down and see hundreds of fish swimming by, mostly mullet & bass, wish I had my fishin' pole!











The trip around the backside of a long island rewarded us with more views of waterfowl, including a beautiful pair of Wood Ducks, and several Great Blue Herons.



John took advantage of the meandering journey back to enjoy a few personal stories from Luke...what a great day on the River!

FLORIDA - Wacissa Springs Paddle

After days of dreary skies and constant rain, we arrive at the put-in to be greeted by clearing skies and bright sunshine, what a great day for a paddle! Our welcoming party of Ibis waited patiently in the big cypress next to the launch as we readied the gear and slipped the boats into the clear waters of the Upper Wacissa.


Our new friends Paul & Melanie were first to zoom ahead, sporting two "motors" in their long & fast tandem. They stop slightly ahead as takes time to snap this nice pix of a Limpkin, working the grassmats a few feet from our channel.

Although we've been here several times before, I always marvel at the crystal clear stream. Visions of hula dancers pop to mind as we slip over the glently waving grass below. Their action is somewhat intoxicating, it's like staring into a fire, you just continue to be mesmerized.

A second welcoming party, this time Willets, awaits our arrival at the turnoff to the "Blue Hole", the largest and most prevalent of several springs that pour millions of gallons of fresh water into the River.





This time, I'm the fast one, leading the group into the spring in Kim & I's new Clipper, which I paddle solo today!
John & Dave circle above the deep cavern while Paul and I do a litle exploring along the swamp edges. Melanie got this nice shot of a Barred Owl, I opted for a closer view of the immature Night Heron.

I thought John was going to take over the diving platform there in the center of the spring, but for some reason he decided that the only thing he'd get close with was the camera lens!
The group really wanted to have lunch on the platform , but as we look closer at all those sharp teeth, we decide not to challenge it's present occupant....

Weaving in & out of the small creek trailing southward from the Blue Hole back to the main river channel, I find that the big new Clipper tandem does a nice job paddled solo.

Paul was surprised to find his cousin waiting for us back on the River!
Back on the main River, a couple of Bald eagles soar above, and Paul somehow gets the idea that he can climb right up there with them! It's always a pleasure meeting & making new friends as we travel around the country.......

FLORIDA - Sopchoppy & St Marks

Well we're finally off for our travels in 2009, and we're starting in one of our favorite areas, the "Big Bend" of Florida, yes, that's the isolated, undiscovered stretch of coast between Apalachicola and Apalachee Bay. In tow we have Dave Holmes, an old friend from Baton Rouge, and a few days aheadof us is John Steib, a super solo paddlist!

We arrived only to learn that John had gotten the last available campsite at Ochlocknee State Park, but we were delighted to find plenty of room at the little Sopchoppy City Park, nestled on the banks of the River of the same name.
In addition to this beautiful setting, the Park has a nice hiling trail that starts with this long boardwalk across the edge of the water.

All-in-all, a great little hideaway for a pleasant weekend!

While in the area, we took a short ride in Dave's Jeep down to St Mark's Refuge, our favorite birding spot in the area. While the birding left a lot to be desired (only 53 species for the day, compared to double that on previous trips), the hiking was great, and the Refuge was almost deserted.

We wonder along the back areas paths & roads, for several hours, getting a nice workout and a few interesting surprises.......

As Kim approached the tall grass along the water's edge, she discovers that we're not quite so all alone as we suspected!

Our Travels in 2007 & 2008

Just to give you a better idea of where we've been so far, here's a map showing our travels in red for 2007 and green for 2008....

Bosque Del Apache

Bosque del Apache is Spanish for "woods of the Apache," and is rooted in the time when the Spanish observed Apaches routinely camped in the riverside forest. Since then the name has come to mean one of the most spectacular wildlife in North America. Here, tens of thousands of birds--including sandhill cranes, snow geese, and many kinds of ducks--gather each autumn and stay through the winter. At dusk, Kim and I witnessed flight after flight of geese and cranes return to roost in the shallow marsh lakes that line the entry road.

This is THE hotspot for birding and wildlife photographers this time of year, and this evening was no exception. The largest organized group was led by Larry Ditto from Texas. Larry offers many trips per year, at an affordable price. No question about it, his group was armed with the proper "shooting gear", almost everyone sporting a pro-series camera body, and a 500-plus mm lens! htttp://www.larryditto.com/workshops.htm

Although not as well equipped, here are a few of the better images Kim and I were able to capture with our conventional point & shoot rigs.
Most prevalent for this time of year were the snow geese which domintaed the lakes early afternoon. Although by carefully glassing through the masses, we were able to see an occaisional Ross. When seen side by side, their smaller size and unique beak make them easy to spot.

Late afternoon meant movement for the birds, as we watched pair after pair of these beautiful geese take to the air, headed for other locations in the marsh.

As they left, small groups of Sandhill Cranes began to appear in the distance, headed over to replace the Snows as they left.

We have now seen the Sandhill all over the country, as far south as Mississippi. But, it's always a treat to watch these tall creatures. In the numbers here, wow, what a spectacle!

As the sun sunk slowly behind the mountains to the west, wisps of stunning color lit the sky before us...

It wasn't long before a fabulous sunset presented the perfect backdrop for the final images of the day!

With the last red glow of the setting sun almost gone, the view of the winged flight above was replaced by the close proximity of the Moon, Venus & Jupiter.

The following morning we talked with several volunteers at the visitor's center, and decided that some day we will come back and volunteer for a season. This is truly an awesome place for wildlife & nature lovers!