Alligators and More Alligators

On our way to Miami to get ready for a cruise, we stopped in the Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. Our goal was to see alligators. We did not have much luck on our mangrove wilderness boat tour through the Everglades but it was still a nice adventure. We did however see lots of alligators in the Big Cypress Preserve when we stopped at a couple of roadside parks. Here are a few of the many alligators we saw as well as a few pictures from our mangrove wilderness boat tour.

Captiva

We spent 3 days on Captiva Island. We stayed at Captiva Island Inn. Our room was a little cottage called Daisy. It was within walking distance to the beach. We spent time at the beach, watched the sunset over the Gulf and tried several different restaurants. It was a shell paradise. It was a beautiful place to be. Sad to leave but got to get to Miami for our cruise.

Daisy cottage

Some of the items I saw on the beach.

Things spotted at the Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island.

Sunset on the beach

Plant life on the island

Manatees hanging out near Jensen boat pier

Fun in the Tampa Area

Here are a few pictures from our fun in the Tampa area.

 Rays at the Manatee Viewing Center.

 Clearwater Beach

 Scientology sightings in Clearwater

 Smugglers Cove Putt Putt with real alligators.

Lunch at the original Hooters in Clearwater.

Winter, the dolphin with the prosthetic tail, from the movie Dolphin Tale at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Manatee Sanctuary

Sunday we visited the Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach, Florida. It is located near the Big Bend Power Station Canal. It is a federal and state manatee sanctuary. It provides a safe haven for these marine animals.  The viewing center opened in 1986 and has had millions of visitiors. When the bay temperature reaches 68 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, the manatees seek out the warmer water of the Big Bend discharge canal. There are also sharks, rays, fish and crabs living in the canal.

Information on manatees
The gestation period for a female manatee is 13 months but they only have a calf every 2-5 years.  Calves depend on their mother for up to 2 years. At birth a calf can be from 3-4 feet in length and weigh 60-75 pounds.
Manatees do not form long term bonds, except for mother and calf.  They do not mate for life and are not territorial.
They communicate with whistles, chirps, squeaks, kissing, bumping, and chasing each other. They have poor eyesight and are nearsighted but can see color. Manatees have a thin layer of fat and can become cold stressed if the water temperature falls below 68.
Almost all manatees have some type of scarring and the Florida Wildlife Research Institute keeps a scar photography catalog to help identify individual manatees. Manatees are herbivores and can eat up to 10% of their body weight every day. Their teeth  are all molars. They can hold their breath for up to 20 minutes when resting. They only breathe through their noses, not their mouths.
Manatees have no natural predators.  Collisions with watercraft, ingestion of marine debris, cold stress and natural causes are the main reasons for death.
The West Indian manatee congregates in the warm waters of central and south Florida in winter. In spring, summer and early fall they can be found from Texas, east to the Florida coastline and as far north as Virginia. They can live in fresh, brackish or saltwater. They are able to travel up to 15 mph in short bursts and can travel up to 50 miles per day.

We saw several manatees in the canal but got no real good pictures since they seldom come very far out of the water.

There was also a nature trail that led to an observation tower overlooking the surrounding area. The tower was built to withstand major weather. The main poles were driven more than 30 feet into bedrock. In case of a major hurricane, the roof was designed to blow off to reduce stress on the rest of the structure.

Heavenly Angels

In Bay St Louis, MS we stopped to admire the carved heavenly angels. Several trees destroyed by Hurrucane Katrina have been "beautified." A chainsaw sculpter from Indiana  came and carved angels into these trees. They were so beautiful.

This last one is a tree near the beach. I read somewhere that three people (survivors) and their dog clung to this tree, almost as a lifesaver. It was my favorite.

We also saw the Hurricane Katrina memorial in Biloxi, MS.

This 12 foot tall black memorial is supposed to represent the height of the storm surge. It's engraved with the names of those who perished or are missing from  surrounding communities.

New Orleans-Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Having been to New Orleans several times, we decided to spend just one night here before moving on. But we did do/see a few new things this time.
We stopped in at City Park to check out the sculpture garden. Once we walked in, I realized we had actually been here before. These are a few of my favorite sculptures.

Here is a cool bridge and a gorgeous tree in the park.

Then we walked to the great lawn and over to City Golf Putt Putt. Of course LW beat me.

After checking into our hotel, we walked around the French Quarter for awhile. We lost some money at Harrahs and then had some dinner.
On Wednesday we went to Cafe du Monde for beignets. Then we visited Mardi Gras World. At Mardi Gras World they build props and floats for Mardi Gras parades.

Holocaust Museum Houston

On our way from Port A to New Orleans we made a quick stop in Houston at the Holocaust Museum. Couple of interesting things...
1. This small museum was founded by survivors who moved to the Houston area.

2. The docent who gave us the tour was in her twenties and explained that her grandfather ( a loving, kind man who raised her), was a big fan of Hitler's. They had pictures of Hitler in their house and items with swastikas. She did not realize how horrible Hitler was till she wrote a report on him in third grade and was expelled.

3. They had a train boxcar that was used to transport Jews.

4. They had a  Danish fishing boat that was used to smuggle Danish Jews away.

5. There was a display with dirt from several of the well known concentration camps.

6. There was a movie called "Voices." Survivors were telling their stories but we ran out of time and didn't get to see it.

As all Holocaust museums are, this was a very moving experience.

Nature in Port A

We've been to Port A many times but today we visited a few places we had not taken the time to see before. Nature and wildlife adventure...

1. First stop-Port Aransas Nature Preserve
1,217 acres with 3 miles of hike and bike trails with boardwalks and overlooks
Most interesting aspect...sand flats

Saw a stream of ants carrying items to a hole. Here's one of those ants.

2. Stop Two-Leonabelle Turnbill Birding Center
A boardwalk and observation tower over shallow water
Home to various birds, fish and 2 alligators
Today we did not see the alligators but we will return and try again. That's a fake alligator in the picture.

3. Last stop-UT Marine Science Education Center and Wetlands Center
Small aquariums with typical Texas coastal habitats and organisms
Hands on activities educating about estuaries
Wetlands center covers 3.5 acres of marsh and sea grass with a boardwalk around the pond

That's the jaw bone of a Fin Whale found in 1997.

Happy New Year!

Did ya feel that? There was a slight shift that occurred yesterday.
We moved out of our rented condo where we have stayed since November 1 and moved into an Extended Stay Hotel just down the road. Unfortunately the condo had already been rented beginning January 1 so we couldn't stay any longer.  But that's ok. We needed to get back in the travel mindset...the nomad frame of mind. So we packed things back into storage that we had brought out to use for the last 2 months and packed the car with everything else and shifted to  a different place.  We will stay here till next Monday when we officially hit the road AGAIN.
Quick overview of our upcoming plans...
A week in Port Aransas before heading to Miami.  We will follow the gulf coastline all the way to the Florida panhandle, down the west coast of Florida and around to Miami. From there we will take a week long cruise to the Eastern Caribbean beginning January 29. Upon our return to Miami, we will work our way up the east coast until we get to Philadelphia.  We will make a few stops along the way in Savannah, Virginia Beach area and Washington DC.  On March 14 we fly out of Philadelphia to Rome for three weeks.  We hope to make a weekend visit to Paris as well before flying back to Philly on April 5. At that time we will work our way back to Austin so we arrive in time to celebrate my birthday and Michael's birthday both near the end of April. We are planning to stay in Austin till the Memorial Day weekend.

I will begin blogging again once we leave Austin.  In case you are interested in our adventures.  Watch FB, Twitter and Instagram. Also if you have any suggestions of "not to miss" adventures, please share those with me in the comments or by emailing me directly at jwolff1963@gmail.com.

P.S.
LW is officially retired now!