Despite the warm temperatures and potential for rain we headed out to Moncks Corner to visit Cypress Gardens this afternoon. We took a self-guided boat tour through the cypress swamp, then visited the butterfly gardens, the exotic birds (parrots, really) and the 'Swamparium' (aquarium).
On the way to the park we stopped at a Wildlife Management Area on Lake Moultrie and found a place we'd like to come back to and explore with the kayaks:
At Cypress Gardens there's 3.5 miles of hiking trails in addition to the boat trail.
Steve and Jane were patient while I took lots of pictures. And I'll admit that Steve did 90% of the paddling.
This big alligator was sunning on a log. We doubled back to get a better look.
The water lillies were blooming!
Jane got in the spirit and posed for a photo.
This little (~2 foot) alligator was hiding in the weeds just a foot off the trail.
I really like your photo of the trees and their reflections in the water. Don't those alligators scare the sh*t out of you?! Do they just lay there ... or might they get you?
ReplyDeleteWe weren't all that close to the big alligator - the zoom lens makes it look much closer. I think if it had been in the water swimming towards the boat I'd have been a bit nervous though! My goal is to stay far enough away so they don't change their behavior (i.e. get off the log and into the water!).
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