Carlton Reserve

Sunday November 10, 2008

A four-day weekend, a guy who has a boat and awesome weather led to an exploratory trip down the southern section of the Myakka River.
We were in between Snook Haven and the Lower Myakka Lake along Mabry Carlton Parkway in Venice, Florida.
We would see only two people and several alligators and lots of birds.
The entrance was overgrown with a locked gate (Jeff knew the combination) and a little walk down to the rivers edge.
 

Jeff, my personal navigator.

A white heron.

A very large gator, we estimated at least 15 feet.

This is a great reflection, but can you find the alligator?

This is really only something that a mother could love.
They look ugly and mean no matter what distance.

Way too close, funny how he was keeping his eye on us.

We saw lots and lots of turtles.

Life finds itself growing in the most unusual places.

Eeek, kayakers.

Nice composition of three turtles and a palm tree.

Love that 7.2 mega pixel hi-res camera.

A blue heron and a few tall palm trees.

Jeff and I had a snack underneath this tree.

Oooh, ah, oh.

This is not a tire.

Two birds; one white, one black.
The white bird is an egret, the black - does anyone know?

A wood stork and a white heron share the wealth.

A white heron keeps a look out.

Natural Florida makes for some awesome photos.

Another nice relfection.

A bunch of purple flowers.

Is this where we started from?

Many thanks to Jeff for expanding my horizons.