Airboating

We went to the everglades! 

Not THE Everglades, as in the National Park, but the everglades of central Florida. 

We toured in on an airboat, which has a giant fan on the back, letting us hop along the water.

We got to wear some cool gear. The fan was so loud and the headphones really toned it down. But we could still talk amongst ourselves with the microphones. You couldn't hear a bit of wind through the microphone, I was really surprised. Sean told me when he did his piloting experience a few years ago, they had the same sort of thing but the audio was not nearly as good. Seems like a place you'd need to be able to hear each other...

Grey got some smaller headphones without all the audio stuff. Worked fine for him. He was a little hesitant about the whole situation for a bit but eventually seeing all the animals won out for him.

I didn't find out until after the fact but the boat captain could turn off individual microphones, an ability which he exercised on Liam and Dash. While I didn't mind hearing "Gator! Right there! I see it!" on infinite repeat, perhaps the captain and other customers may not have. I wonder what the twins thought when suddenly they couldn't hear themselves.

There was quite a lot of cattle roaming around. The captain said the alligators leave them alone since other prey is so prevalent.

There were a lot of birds.

See?

And another.

I love the legs of water fowl. So long and delicate.

White on green.

Time to fly.

Time to catch some fish.

Oh hello national bird of the US of A.

Bye guys!

How very southern looking.


Taking a break, looking very wind-blown.


But still smiling!


Anxious to see some more!


So lets talk gators! They were everywhere, sunning on the mud, taking a swim, going for a little walk.


I must say, I was happy to have a nice boat separating me and those jaws.


My favorite alligator was Chompers, who has a major case of under-bite.


At the end, we could hold a baby gator. Just a moment later, this feller got antsy and gave Sean three scratch-like blood blisters with his claws. Yikes!


Oh, and there's a pig in the store. Sure, why not?