Wild Life

Aside from the cruisers here who, every saturday night, are determined
to re-live their teenage party years, there is plenty of wild life at
the boat yard. There is a very large alligator who stations himself in
the middle of the boat basin, daring anyone to toss him a small dog or
child. He has eluded capture several times, including last march when
they brought in some very sophisticated sonar which was supposed to
mimic a female alligator "ready for a good time". Included in the deal
was a dead chicken. After one hour he hadn't moved, and we all agreed
his posturing was similar to that of a man after a thanksgiving meal
and several beers. He didn't even budge when my friend Mary fell off
her boat into the water about five feet from him and everyone started
screaming. Just like a man! They finally gave up and now seem to have
accepted him as a permanent resident.
We also have regular visits from turtles, osprey, blue herons,
armadillos and wild boar. The wild boar are the most elusive, perhaps
sensing the large barbecue in the picnic area. Last spring the
armadillo actually cruised around the picnic area scrounging for food,
stopping every now and again to be admired. The other day a blue heron
sat on the bank opposite the boat, perfectly poised and still, waiting
for a fish. At those moments the Marlin Perkins in me emerges and I
race to get my camera. As soon as I actually GET a picture, I will
post it. In the meantime, it's Saturday. I have to get ready for the
pot luck...its a wild life!