New friends. No, frien-emies, I think.

We rented clear kayaks to float down Silver Springs with Terry and Dale, our adventure partners from last fall’s Marco Island trip.

The river was magical.

This is my view through the bottom of my boat.

We got to see wildlife everywhere, including the mating dance of these birds whose names I have forgotten.

Because my view of them was interrupted after realizing that there was a little gator right in front of us, in that floating grassy area.   My attention was quickly taken away from the birds to this tiny monster.

That was just the first of many we paddled by that day.  

We saw what seemed like dozens of cute turtles in many varieties (I like the last guy’s orange tummy), and a couple of manatees too.

There were pretty little dragonflies, and lots of herons.

But I think that staring into the eyes of an 8’ gator was the highlight of my day.