swamp fun

If you've been reading the Studio Blog, you know one of our outings while in Orlando was to go to the swamp on an airboat ride. As we were talking to the locals before we went, asking them to recommend a company, we couldn't find a single one that had been on an airboat or taken a tour of the swamp. I couldn't believe it seeing they only live 30 minutes away! Then, I thought about the fact that I haven't been inside Mammoth Cave and it's only 30 minutes from my front door and I immediately felt stupid. So, I will add that to the list of things I need to do in case a tourist asks me to recommend one of the tours.

Without further adieu, here are some photos of our experience.


Here we are all sticky and sweaty at the start of our trip. Gotta love that FL humidity!

Those pink things on the tree are snail eggs. I kid you not! ewwwwwww

Some type of cool bird and her baby. Captain Harold must have told us 50 times what the name of that bird was, but for the life of me, I can't remember.

Here's the first gator we saw....see him? This was as close as we could get before we spooked him.

More birds.....
Can you see how the surface of the water changed from the photo before this one? There was a storm blowing in as we were wrapping up our tour and it was amazing to watch how the scenery changed.

This was a momma gator guarding her nest.


I realize after reading this post that I would make a horrible tour guide. I know Harold told us lots about the flora and fauna and wildlife, but those types of things, while interesting at the moment, just don't stick with me. I do remember that he grew up in Texas and worked at a chemical plant. His wife worked for the tourism council in Florida and they have 2 boys, one of which encouraged them to leave their regular jobs to start this airboat business 2 years ago. I have a memory, it's just selective, I suppose.....

Plants and animals just don't really have a spot in my brain.