Moving on, to Wed - 4/28/21

Our wanderings took us from Gainesville back to Tallahassee, a place we used to know quite well, having lived in the city between 2002 and 2009.  We have fond and everlasting memories of our time there, although the hot, humid summers were something to escape from!  As outdoor-minded people, Jimmy and I found many activities we could enjoy, biking and walking and running, but most especially kayaking the clear waterways and fishing just offshore in the Gulf in our little Carolina Skiff boat.  On this trip we'd remember these wonderful, fun adventures as we visited around the area.

We made endearing, lifelong friends in Tallahassee, people we still care about and want to see.  And spending time with friends is more precious than gold.  We feel like we're rich!

The scenery on the back roads from Gainesville was quite pretty, with pink and yellow and white wildflowers lining roadsides and medians.  70-foot tall straight trees, covered with and choked by vines, created a green wall on either side of several major roads, giving a person the weird feeling of driving in a long green tunnel.

The master-planned community of Southwood was one of our favorite walking/biking spots.  Grand old Live Oak trees draped with Spanish moss grace the grounds surrounding two interconnecting lakes.  We never could remember how many miles we put on our feet walking around the two lakes.  Still don't know!  We think it's somewhere around two miles.  Beautiful place to walk.  And so we did.

Beautiful place to sit and dream.

Love these trees!

Our campsite at Tallahassee East RV Park was next to the above tree, which had a noisy Red-bellied Woodpecker poking its head out of the hole, calling for MORE FOOD from a parent who showed up regularly.  Sort of entertaining.

On Sunday, we moved our Tergel to the front of our friends, Diane and Tom's, house.  Both had to work on Monday, so Jimmy and I returned to another favorite haunt:  St Marks NWR.  We've spent many happy hours here, either hiking, biking, or boating.  And we always, always saw wildlife.  It's on the migration route for birds, and during spring and fall seasons we'd see hundreds of birds.  Usually we spot alligators, but today we only saw one.  This thing scared the life out of me when it lunged forward into an underwater den of sorts.  I guess I got too close.

You won't see this in Nevada City, California!  Is this a great country, or what?  We have it all in the USA.  We need to preserve/protect every inch.

We've kayaked these waters.

T'was a gorgeous day to be Out and About.

A Lighthouse selfie!

Windblown hair!

The usual suspects on the pilings -- pelicans, cormorants, gulls.

And a red fishing kayak.

Does this little rat count as wildlife?  It was so unafraid that it came right up to Jimmy's shoes.  Jimmy could've dropkicked it into the Gulf, but he simply moved away.  We don't recall seeing rats at this location before.

Toward Headquarters Pond, we spotted this nice-sized turtle in the road.  Normally we would've left it alone, but even with a 35-mph speed limit, trucks towing boats speed, so we stopped.  Jimmy picked it up and kindly moved it to the side of the road toward which it was heading.  

A double Double-crested cormorant!  We've always seen them at St Marks NWR.  Today, we also saw a Bald Eagle (in a new nest/new location), Anhingas, Herons, and various shorebirds.  The refuge is loved by many for its outstanding wildlife.

Here we are on Tuesday to greet you from Ted's Montana Grill, clearly a tradition for the four of us -- Tom and Diane, me and Jimmy.  Ted's served up delicious meals one more time.  And back at the house, our ongoing card game continued.  Guys won the first night, gals won this night.  With loads of laughter and love.  Special friends.  Thanks for a great visit.

Wednesday morning we pulled out, westward-bound, for a surprise stop in Alabama.

Jungle Friends, Thurs, 4/22/21

Harvest Hosts has a great website, listing its members by state (or type).  Knowing Jimmy and I would need somewhere to stay between Sarasota and Tallahassee, I went on their site and discovered a truly unique find.  A few miles north of Gainesville, Florida, on State Route 121, lies Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary, a scene of refuge for many monkeys.  I emailed them the day before and we were given the okay, c'mon!  Imagine, not a zoo at all, but a sanctuary.  We couldn't wait.

Yup, motor homes can navigate this narrow driveway!

Jungle Friends is the largest sanctuary for New World primates in North America, with a long waiting list.  The sanctuary is 52 acres, and is the forever home to monkeys who were former research monkeys, ex-pet monkeys, some used in entertainment, and monkeys confiscated by authorities.  Founded in the '90's by Kari Bagnall, this place offers these small primates compassion and the best care possible.  Many of their stories are heart-rending, but seeing them in their natural and spacious habitats gladdens the heart!

Yes, all the monkeys are caged (or else they'd end up in Georgia or Ohio), but they can climb trees, feel the grass beneath their feet and the wind on their faces.

Haha, this li'l fella was reaching for my shoe!

All were inquisitive.  We were not allowed to touch them (for obvious reasons), but many mimed kisses and held a hand to its heart (as in, I love you) -- I reciprocated.  So very sweet.

Some of the faces were so danged cute, 

you just wanted to hold 'em and pet 'em.

Runways stretch between habitats, enabling monkeys the freedom to move between habitats and socialize.  They seem to have lots of "fun" running between barriers.

Some prefer their biscuits hard, some soften their biscuits in water.  They're fed fresh fruits and veggies and a diet natural to monkeys, as opposed to, say, BBQ Doritos.

Checking each other out.

My pictures don't tell the whole picture.  Many of the monkeys we saw today were abused in some way, left alone and lonely.  The Capuchins and Tamarins and Spider and Squirrel monkeys (and a couple more, I can't remember), are now with friends, medically taken care of (many have special needs), fed and housed with care and compassion.  This truly is a feel-good place.

Masks were worn for the monkeys' protection.  But sometimes I slipped my mask down so I could make lip kisses -- from a distance, like above -- which were always returned.

We watched these guys swinging on ropes high into the trees, wheeee.  Then they came over to look at us!  We were advised to never get too close, as they'd grab sunglasses, phones or cameras and maybe not give 'em back!

Most of the rescued monkeys were kept isolated.  Here, they have companions of their same or like species for cuddling, playing, and grooming.  Since they're highly social animals, this is vital.

"Jungle Friends works with major universities and laboratories to offer homes to monkeys they are retiring.  In 2014 we provided permanent homes to 42 monkeys retired from research.  Many of the monkeys are Jungle Friends were used in research for decades.  Now they get to enjoy the company of other monkeys and a more natural environment."

How about the "do" of the cotton-topped Tamarin?

Loved these little guys!

Kari also has adopted Macaws and Cockatoos, of course separated from monkeys.  The property is home to native gopher tortoises ... Jimmy saw one, but I missed it.  This kind of large-scale caring takes a village of volunteers to keep going, as well as lots of donations.  Thursday was a "Giving Day" where any donation would be doubled, so we were happy to put our hands to our hearts and into our pocketbooks.  A worthy cause, in our opinions.  Besides, when was the last time you camped at a monkey jungle sanctuary?

Singing in the rain? Tues 4/20/21

Tuesday's Sarasota radar didn't look good if a person was of a mind to go walking.  Reds and yellows and greens of an incoming storm filled the screen.  Luckily, we saw our window of opportunity at 9/ish in the morning, so off we went amid the billowing dark clouds.

Not only can coastal Florida grow flowers, it can attract a variety of birds, many of which we'd never see in Nevada City, California!  (or lots of other places)  Not so, the hawk, but this guy did pose for the camera; hence, you see its picture.

Our walks go through The Meadows neighborhoods and around ponds, lots of ponds, and that's where you'll see a multitude of birds.  Above is a Black-crowned Night Heron, who appears to be yakking at someone or something, scolding like a fishwife, but it was making no sound.  Beside the heron is a Common Gallinule.

To me and Jimmy, the Wood Stork IS Florida!  We think they look like old men, all hunched over, so we've forever called them Florida's Old Men.  They're big birds.

I believe this is the Tri-colored Heron we saw, with its really long, skinny neck.  I can't help stopping to look or admire and take pictures.  Kind of interrupts a walk, but there you have it.  We kept a weather eye on the sky.

When we were about as far from their home as possible, we heard the first rumble of thunder.  "Nickie!" called out Bernice.  Okay, then, let's turn around, and we did, and we stepped up our pace.  Let me just say that no matter how fast we walked, we would've gotten wet.  The radar window lied.  As it was, lightning flashed and thunder crashed, and big rain drops bounced on the streets ... and rain pelted us.  We were thoroughly soaked, top to bottom, drenched.  Below, you see three of us dripping in the breezeway, rain still coming down.  Well.  Another adventure?!

Please, let's not do this again, okay?

I've only ever seen a Limpkin once before while kayaking on a tiny river called the Wacissa in north Florida.  I heard the Limpkin before I saw it -- a huge, loud squawk.  I think they're not too common, but this one had three babies and wanted me to go away.  Mama on the left, babies to the right.

Oh my, we did stop to watch this guy!  He'd speared a large fish and was trying to throw it down its gullet.  Tried and tried and finally gave up and dropped the gasping, mortally wounded fish in the pond.  That was one whale of a fish to try swallowing whole!

Some of these are phone pictures and this looks like one of 'em.

Handsome, isn't he?

Always love to see a Roseate Spoonbill.  This is the only one we saw (obviously before the rain fell), and it seemed to be sleeping.  Such an unusual bird, and so pretty in its pink.

* * * * *

Those cloudy skies were gone the next day, Wednesday, the 21st.  We were treated to fine weather, sunshine all around.  Hooray!  Today's our 20-year wedding anniversary, too!  We asked Bernice and Ibby if we could take them out for dinner this evening to help us celebrate.  O'Leary's on the bay was the choice -- not fancy, but we love being on or by the water, so it was just the ticket.

After getting caught in yesterday's rainstorm, and even though Bernice tucked my camera into her leather pouch (which turned out to be NOT waterproof), my camera got damp (I guess is the word) and didn't work.  I took out the battery and card and left the camera open to air, and by evening, it worked.

Twenty years happily married.

What a great life we've made together!

Sarasota.

Look at the blue sky!  After eating our shrimp (yum) dinners, we strolled around the little park area, enjoying being Out and About on a beautiful evening.

Holy cannoli, look at this banyan tree!

So, this lovely evening ended.  Tomorrow morning we'd return to Tergel and pack it in, heading north again for a stay near Gainesville FL.  We'd leave our friends, Bernice and Ibby (real name:  Irwin), with the hope that we'd see them in October, on a plane!  Such fun we had, even cards one night!  Loads of love and laughter.  Thanks for everything, you guys.  We had a most enjoyable time.

Selby Gardens, Mon, 4/19/21

With Tergel safely parked at the Elks Lodge in Sarasota, Jimmy and I each grabbed an overnight bag and set off to spend a few days with our friends, Bernice and Ibby, at their home in The Meadows (of Sarasota).  Oh boy, let the good times roll!  We wouldn't run out of things to talk about ... terrific past overseas trips, present adventures, and potential future jaunts to exotic locales!

After settling in, it was decided that we four would spend the afternoon at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, located near downtown.  Trust me, this 15-acre bayfront gardens is a real wonder.  It's the only botanical garden in the world dedicated to the display and study of epiphytic orchids, bromeliads, gesneriads (like African Violets) and ferns, and other tropical plants.

You see Bernice, above, wearing her required mask.  I periodically took mine off to breathe, as it was fairly warm in the sun.  The exhibition today focused on pop artist Roy Lichtenstein's screen prints based on Monet's works.

I grouped all these beauties together so no one would have to scroll forever looking at individual blossoms.  The room Bernice is standing in was overflowing with gorgeous orchids.  Like you've never seen before.  

Monet and Lichtenstein and orchids create this iconic scene.

This color!  So unusual.  We found the leaf? flower? on the floor to show you what the individual petal? flower? looked like.  I have no idea what it is.

An updated version of the green bridge at Giverny with me and Bernice.

Overlooking the harbor.

A nice breeze cooled us a bit here.

The Botanical Gardens was founded in 1973 when Sarasota resident and passionate gardener Marie Selby bequeathed her former home and property “for the enjoyment of the general public.”  You simply have to love a generous person like this to give her life's work so unselfishly for the world to enjoy.

Wowzers!

This Yellow-crowned Night Heron entertained us briefly with his preening.

Epiphytes were everywhere.

They seem to grow naturally in this climate.

This Great Egret was also into personal hygiene!

Flowers, all kinds of flowers, were in abundance.

Hundreds of lizards (brown anoles) coexisted with the visitors.

This one is showing off its money penny.

These two seemed to enjoy the exhibition.

Marie and her husband, William, planted a banyan grove nearly a century ago.  Look at this captivating tree, above!

A small desert garden was planted.

Flowers!  Trees!  So much beauty -- I love it all.

Confirmed tree hugger at The Hugging Tree!

Monet once said, “My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.” And, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens evokes this crowning achievement with a surprising Pop Art twist.  We finished up at the Japanese garden, filled with Roy's water lilies and Monet's bridge.  We had a fantastic time walking the Selby Gardens paths.  Perfect anecdote for road weary travelers.  From our house in Nevada City CA to Sarasota FL we put 3248 miles on Tergel.  This is our turn around point.  After seeing our friends, we'll head back towards home ... the slow way!  But today was botanical bliss!  A great introduction to Sarasota, Florida, too.  Thanks for taking us to these terrific gardens.