Ron enjoyed the ride.
The next day we were guided on a visit to a number of interesting photo sites by our hostess, a woman of great grace, as is clearly seen below:
Monday, June 25, 2007
June 22 and 23: Visiting Dana
We visited with our friends Dana and Kathy at their home for two days. We had a great time and enjoyed their hospitality. The first evening we were treated to a boat ride on Elk Lake, where their home is located. While on the lake we spotted this merganzer with two of her babies riding on her back.
Ron enjoyed the ride.
The next day we were guided on a visit to a number of interesting photo sites by our hostess, a woman of great grace, as is clearly seen below:
Ron enjoyed the ride.The next day we were guided on a visit to a number of interesting photo sites by our hostess, a woman of great grace, as is clearly seen below:
June 10 to 22: Elderhostel
We both really enjoyed the 12-day Elderhostel at Leelanau, near Glen Arbor, Michigan, focusing on landscape and macro photography in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Our leaders Doug Moore and Dan Hayes really kept us marching along with early morning field trips some days (we got up at 4:30 a.m. and had breakfast in the field). Other days we enjoyed the luxury of sleeping in to 6:30 with the field trip starting after breakfast. In any event we were back in time for lunch. In the afternoons we processed our images and recovered from our early risings. In the evenings we showed seven of our images in our group critiques which were very interesting for us all. For the finale on the last Thursday we showed our twenty best and also enjoyed viewing the painting of the watercolor group that met at the same time.
Here are Joyce's twenty:
And here are Ron's twenty:
June 4 through 9: Going to Glen Arbor
The next few days we were mostly traveling to get to our Elderhostel on time. That didn't mean, however, that we didn't have time for some fun! Monday night we were in Chattanooga, Tuesday and Wednesday at Cumberland Falls, Thursday and Friday we were in Wapakoneta, Ohio, and Saturday we spent the night in Roscommon, Michigan.
We visited Cumberland Falls twice during our stay there. It is called the Niagara of the South.
On the way to and from the falls we observed an interesting farm building.
And this picturesque scene with hay in the field:
In Roscommon we visited the Neil Armstrong Space Museum. Here we have Ron in a mock-up of a space capsule:
Joyce was going a little crazy trapped in her space suit:
We visited Cumberland Falls twice during our stay there. It is called the Niagara of the South.
On the way to and from the falls we observed an interesting farm building.
And this picturesque scene with hay in the field:
In Roscommon we visited the Neil Armstrong Space Museum. Here we have Ron in a mock-up of a space capsule:
Joyce was going a little crazy trapped in her space suit:
Monday, June 04, 2007
June 1 to 3: Callaway Gardens
We spent three nights in Pine Mountain, Georgia, so that we could visit Callaway Gardens. We visited both days that we were in town. Our favorite areas were the Day Butterfly Center and the Horticultural Center. Here are some butterflies images:
May 30 - 31: Seffner FA and Valdosta GA
Well, we are finally on the road again. It took a while to be sure we remembered how to get everything ready for travel (and thank goodness we did remember).
At Seffner we stayed at Rally Park by Lazy Days RV. We didn't go far because we knew we would be slow to get going as we had to check everything we were doing three times.
In Valdosta, Georgia, we visited Wild Adventure Park which is owned by the same folks that own Cypress Gardens. Our annual pass works at both parks. It turned out to be heavily aimed at thrill rides and not much in the way of attractive photo ops.
At Seffner we stayed at Rally Park by Lazy Days RV. We didn't go far because we knew we would be slow to get going as we had to check everything we were doing three times.
In Valdosta, Georgia, we visited Wild Adventure Park which is owned by the same folks that own Cypress Gardens. Our annual pass works at both parks. It turned out to be heavily aimed at thrill rides and not much in the way of attractive photo ops.
May 25 - 27: Road Trip Again
We took off again on a three-day trip to visit Alligator Farm again for two days. We linked up with Karen and Liz and Suzie again and enjoyed their company at the Farm and for meals.
This egret appeared to be daring the alligators to eat him by landing on a piece of wood in the alligator-laden water. Another would fly low and dip his toes in the water.
The trees are full of birds but the reflections make exciting photographs.
There are a few, maybe two dozen, roseate spoonbills that visited the rookery morning and evening. They are having a tough time this year all over Florida due to the drought conditions.
The Farm also has some tortoises and these two males were a little cranky with each other!
After two days in St. Augustine, we moved on to Winter Haven for the night. Our goal was to see the concert at Cypress Gardens on Sunday night -- Weird Al Yankovich!
This egret appeared to be daring the alligators to eat him by landing on a piece of wood in the alligator-laden water. Another would fly low and dip his toes in the water.
The trees are full of birds but the reflections make exciting photographs.
There are a few, maybe two dozen, roseate spoonbills that visited the rookery morning and evening. They are having a tough time this year all over Florida due to the drought conditions.
The Farm also has some tortoises and these two males were a little cranky with each other!
After two days in St. Augustine, we moved on to Winter Haven for the night. Our goal was to see the concert at Cypress Gardens on Sunday night -- Weird Al Yankovich!
May 2 - 4: Alligator Farm
The Alligator Farm in St. Augustine has LOTS of alligators but photographers go there for the nesting birds. The birds are attracted to the site because the alligators like to eat their natural enemies who would rob their nests of eggs and babies, such as raccoons and snakes. Of course, if a baby falls into the water (and the alligators try to make this happen) it instantly becomes an alligator snack but safety always has a price. Here are some photos from our three-day visit:
This is a snowy egret in display mode -- gotta catch the gals' eyes.
The babies naturally try to get another bird (usually their parents) to put their beaks in their mouths -- to get dinner spit into their mouths!
Sometimes we get distracted by sights that aren't birds such as this bug . . .
Or the Loch Ness alligator . . .
The two below are cattle egrets -- so called because they like to hang out with things that stir up insects such as cows (or tractors or horses).
The red legs on this one shows that he is showing off for the ladies.
And this is Joyce's favorite image from Ron, it has a real Japanese feeling.
This is a snowy egret in display mode -- gotta catch the gals' eyes.
The babies naturally try to get another bird (usually their parents) to put their beaks in their mouths -- to get dinner spit into their mouths!
Sometimes we get distracted by sights that aren't birds such as this bug . . .
Or the Loch Ness alligator . . .
The two below are cattle egrets -- so called because they like to hang out with things that stir up insects such as cows (or tractors or horses).
The red legs on this one shows that he is showing off for the ladies.
And this is Joyce's favorite image from Ron, it has a real Japanese feeling.
April 28: Cypress Gardens
We visited Cypress Gardens up in Winter Haven for the day. There is a big water park and lots of rides but we old folks enjoyed the more calm pursuits, like the water-skiing show. It features the hang glider below:
As well as the fellow skiing backwards as seem through his own rooster tail!
We strolled through the gardens and took in this classic Cypress Gardens view:
We encountered this statue of St. Augustine in the botanical gardens.
He was very near the water lilies:
As well as the fellow skiing backwards as seem through his own rooster tail!
We strolled through the gardens and took in this classic Cypress Gardens view:
We encountered this statue of St. Augustine in the botanical gardens.
He was very near the water lilies:
April 20 and 21: Butterfly World
On Friday we drove over to the East Coast of Florida to visit Butterfly World for a day trip. What a fun trip! We went with our friend Bob.
In addition to the butterflies, they also have a number of small birds that were fun to photograph. In fact that was Ron's favorite.
This hummingbird flashed a red throat in his courting display -- Ron caught this image after much, much work!
And this guy posed for so long, everyone who was at Butterfly World that day must have at least one photo of it (but probably not this nice).
Well after we got home and looked at our images, we decided we could do much better so we drove back again the next day! We drove by ourselves but we met Karen, Liz, Suzie, and Helen Jo there. It's so much fun to have friends to hang out with while we are all doing what we enjoy.
There were some nice plant specimens there, too.
In addition to the butterflies, they also have a number of small birds that were fun to photograph. In fact that was Ron's favorite.
This hummingbird flashed a red throat in his courting display -- Ron caught this image after much, much work!
And this guy posed for so long, everyone who was at Butterfly World that day must have at least one photo of it (but probably not this nice).
Well after we got home and looked at our images, we decided we could do much better so we drove back again the next day! We drove by ourselves but we met Karen, Liz, Suzie, and Helen Jo there. It's so much fun to have friends to hang out with while we are all doing what we enjoy.
There were some nice plant specimens there, too.
April 8 to May 29: More Time at Cypress Woods
Good grief! It's been a long time since I updated. I knew I was behind but this is ridiculous.
If you remember, we were going to drive out of Cypress Woods RV Park on May 1 but we didn't actually do it until May 30. Ron's doctor appointment on April 27 did not result in the doctor telling us his meds were finally in balance and we should take off -- indeed, he told us things were not as good as we thought and several more appointments and tests and med changes were in our future until he finally got the all clear (as long as we come back and finish things up next fall).
We did the usual things the last two months we were in Fort Myers: dining, shopping, movies, visiting, nothing much.
One sad event was the death of Don Chisholm, a camera club member and a friend of Ron's for many years. We attended his memorial service on April 19.
We took some pictures at various parks around the area. The one above is from Ding Darling. Separate entries are shown for some of the other little adventures we had.
If you remember, we were going to drive out of Cypress Woods RV Park on May 1 but we didn't actually do it until May 30. Ron's doctor appointment on April 27 did not result in the doctor telling us his meds were finally in balance and we should take off -- indeed, he told us things were not as good as we thought and several more appointments and tests and med changes were in our future until he finally got the all clear (as long as we come back and finish things up next fall).
We did the usual things the last two months we were in Fort Myers: dining, shopping, movies, visiting, nothing much.
One sad event was the death of Don Chisholm, a camera club member and a friend of Ron's for many years. We attended his memorial service on April 19.
We took some pictures at various parks around the area. The one above is from Ding Darling. Separate entries are shown for some of the other little adventures we had.
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