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Post by htmb on Jul 27, 2015 16:22:42 GMT
Thanks, Mossie! Our local newspaper published a photo of the vapor trail the next day. It was taken from a different part of the lake. I kinda thought my pictures were better.  |
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 27, 2015 18:38:12 GMT
I have no doubt at all that they were!
Wonderful additions to an already wonderful thread, Htmb. People who rush through Florida in search of Mickey and maybe a space shot will never know that it's a state that should be savored slowly and mindfully. Your beautiful threads really crown it with the sense of home and history it deserves.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2015 19:50:50 GMT
Even though my parents lived quite a bit south of Gainesville, I am left feeling nostalgic and a bit morose when I see a lot of this stuff. For example, after my father died, while I was emptying the house to bring my mother back to France, one of the things that I did extremely conscientiously was to prune the crape myrtle, the wild roses and some of the other plants, hoping that they would look their best when the house was being sold. This was in February and the house was sold by the end of March, so I just hope that I did a decent job.
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Post by htmb on Jul 27, 2015 21:37:06 GMT
February is the perfect time to prune, Kerouac. You must have done well since the house sold so fast. And it's good think you missed the recession. I purchased my home in 2007, and I still couldn't get back what I paid for it if I put it up for sale now.
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Post by htmb on Jul 27, 2015 21:38:33 GMT
Thanks, Bixa.  |
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Post by nycgirl on Aug 2, 2015 5:06:59 GMT
This place is breathtaking! The moss-covered Cyprus trees give it a timeless beauty. I can see why it's one of your favorite places.
It looks like a great place for playing in the water. Are there many swimming spots that are safe from alligators?
Wonderful photos, thank you!
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Post by htmb on Aug 2, 2015 5:36:22 GMT
Alligators (and snakes) really aren't a problem unless you swim in some of the more isolated, swampy areas. The water is very clear and you can see the sand bottom when swimming and splashing about in water up to about about six feet deep. There are times, early in the morning or late in the day, when an alligator might be seen swimming past the end of a dock, but most of the time it's not a problem. I try to be watchful when out kayaking near the areas where alligators are known to frequent and, when skiing or hydrosliding, there are places where you certainly don't want to fall. I usually head out into deeper water if I see an alligator coming near my kayak, especially during mating season when they tend to be more aggressive. In the past, I've seen some pretty amazing things. There's a time during each year when bullfrog eggs hatch and grow into giant tadpoles. I've seen a dark wave of tadpoles swimming through the water in huge groups; seemingly hundreds at a time. Picture hundreds of these swimming through the water in a mass: www.californiaherps.com/frogs/images/rcatesbeianatad509.jpg(Though the one pictured is from California, it's the same size.) |
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 2, 2015 22:31:31 GMT
Wow. I had no idea the bullfrog tadpoles were so big! You are about a billion times braver than I. (or just more foolhardy |
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Post by htmb on Aug 2, 2015 23:13:00 GMT
Oh, you know me. I'm cautious to a fault.
One of the most interesting things I ever witnessed at the lake happened just a dusk. The lake was very quiet and smooth as glass. It was a Sunday evening and all the weekend people had left for home. I was in my kayak, enjoying the quiet and paddling along when I heard a speed boat coming from behind me. Since I was alongside the edge of the grass, to my right, I wasn't too worried about the boat. I braced myself for the inevitable wake as the boat zoomed by on my left. Behind the boat was a slalom skier, totally naked except for his ski vest.
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Post by questa on Aug 2, 2015 23:51:26 GMT
Oh Dear...if he comes off his skis he will learn about high colonic irrigation...a dangerous thing to do at speed.
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 3, 2015 4:25:27 GMT
Geeeez, y'all! I haven't even had coffee yet & Htmb's last post was the first thing I read on anyport this morning. So I started with this  and then read Questa's post and now am like this  . |
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Post by questa on Aug 3, 2015 6:39:36 GMT
If the skier came off he would be  > >  >  |
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Post by htmb on Aug 3, 2015 11:00:49 GMT
Actually, just to ease your fears, he would have been more likely to fall sideways or forward. And don't forget, he was on one ski, not two. |
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Post by mossie on Aug 3, 2015 16:27:51 GMT
What is done on water skis is best left on waterskis
Actually it was the giant tadpole that caught my eye. Until I saw the credit I thought htmb was being exceptionally brave.
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Post by nycgirl on Aug 3, 2015 17:38:34 GMT
Wow, that tadpole is huge! Those bullfrogs must grow to be enormous.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2015 18:46:07 GMT
I remember those tadpoles. They were even scarier when they started growing their little legs.
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Post by htmb on Aug 3, 2015 18:46:21 GMT
Now picture 100's, 1000's of tadpoles swimming in the water like a school of fish. Often it would take at least five minutes for them all to pass by, and all we could do was get out of their way.
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Post by lugg on Oct 6, 2015 10:12:42 GMT
What a stunning collection of photos. I was wondering the same as NYCgirl as I was reading (alligators). I am so glad I snorkelled with manatees in Florida years before your threads were created htmb, I don't think I would now !! So many great photos but the photos of the different trees with the wonderful moss are so good. LOL --did you not get a photo ? |
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Post by Derek on May 3, 2018 20:15:44 GMT
I was born and raised in (Waldo,FL) to a family with deep local roots. I learned to fish/ski on lakes Alto/Santa Fe @ a very young age. As a proud lifelong resident it's easy to take for granted! Your pictures remind me just how lucky I am!!!
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