May 17, 2022

Deer eat grass in the water in front of our campsite

The grand kids like the Flippac

As my mom prepares, she asked her vet for a box they use for pets, so she can use it after she is cremated. Funny story, while at the funeral home, she kept saying, she wants to be cremated in a cardboard box, the elderly woman helping her kept cringing while correcting my mom, calling it an alternative cremation vessel (or something like that)

My brother took the boat across Lake Murray to join us for dinner so a sunset cruise was called for.

April 12, 2022

Just because it’s a lizard

I searched for dirt roads

It reminded me of the Ukrainian flag.

April 3, 2022

Today’s trail buddy. As I started my ride he was on the first bridge, but I was warming up trying to get a rhythm going so I didn’t stop. 1.5 hours later I came back and he is still there. He was happy sunning himself on the wood and even struck out at me when I tried to get a better picture. Still glad he stayed around so I could get a POD

March 6, 2022

When we took out yesterday, a fisherman asked if we were scared in kayaks with all the alligators… we of course said no and decided we needed to find them. We switched sides of Lake Marion and put in at the Sparkleberry Swamp Landing in the Santee National Wildlife Refugee. With a name like Sparkleberry Swamp it must have alligators.

And I spotted one, normally James and Elizabeth see everything first, but not today.

We argued about it’s size (the men thought it was bigger, like always?) but look at the tail, and that isn’t the end, it’s eyes are in the small water opening on the left side of frame. I still say it was over 12 feet.

The swamp doesn’t open up that way Beth let us know.

After an evening around a fire and Long Island Ice Teas, James and Beth decided the Flippac needed their Aurora Borealis Light. It works great in the tent, but too bright to sleep under.

Feb. 17, 2022

Night walk with Kodak, lots of toads tonight.

Nov. 12, 2021 – Part 1

A ride at Salem Lake. A couple weeks ago I rode here and couldn’t make a picture I wanted with my iPhone digital zoom, so today I carried my dSLR and glad I did.

Oct. 9, 2021

Breakfast with James and Elizabeth

My bike ride rescue from the road

Sept. 29, 2021

A beautiful evening to do laps around Salem Lake

The 5x zoom on the iPhone doesn’t hold together, but it was pretty

I tried to get closer, noisy guy when disturbed.

I hit a water runoff ravine at 20+mph and flatted, then my CO2 “exploded” and no air got into the new tube, long walk out it is.

Sept. 15, 2021

Nighttime visitor – Praying Mantis

Aug. 22, 2021

Bike ride saves. I stop to help some things cross the road, this was a first for me, a hickory horned devil – had to Google it – “Mature hickory horned devil caterpillars are quite large and can grow up to 5.5 inches (14 cm) long. Overall the caterpillar resembles a ferocious dragon, but it is not dangerous or harmful. The spines are not poisonous and not very sharp.” Wish I had known that, I helped it with a stick, would have loved to hold it….