I had a suspicion the recent cool weather might have pushed the most famous resident of the Blue Hole to shallower warmer waters. I guess I got that right.
With clear blue winter skies and bright sunshine under a strong cool northeast wind, the blue hole was looking quite appealing.
One of the longest straight roads in the Lower Keys is Key Deer Boulevard which points due north three and a half miles across Big Pine Key. Two thirds of the way to the end when you think you somehow have driven too far, there it is, a brown sign announcing the blue hole.
This being winter the Blue Hole attracts quite a few cars, and I might add no masks (except mine). A few days ago I made one of my sarcastic remarks comparing mask wearing requirements to stores that require customers to wear shirts and shoes and my rather heavy handed humor insinuating that the shirt requirement should be abolished got me a written reprimand. No, I don't really want to see naked chests when I go shopping. However I did see a lot of naked faces congregating around the alligator.
The signs against feeding are generally in vain I believe. The previous alligator in the Blue Hole suffocated when it ingested a pink plastic toy thrown at it in the water. Every visitor to Florida live sin holy terror of the alligator yet it is the dinosaur that is at risk from contact with humans. Ah irony.
Don't forget: "don't feed the wildlife." In case you had forgotten while walking across the fifty foot pathway to the water's edge - DON'T FEED THE WILDLIFE.
I made a comment to the person six feet away about how lucky we were to get to see the elusive alligator, a comment that elicited a blank stare. No less than I deserve no doubt. I don't much care to talk to people on my days off but when I overcome my reluctance in an effort to be polite I get rebuffed. I make a terrible salesman. They could not take their eyes off the alligator which gave no signs of life and gave an excellent imitation of paint drying...under water.
There is all sorts of information about alligators and wildlife refuges for anyone with a penchant for information, of which there were none. People came, looked, got bored instantly and left. For the record: crocodiles are salt water creatures, shy and retiring and can be found occasionally in the Keys, mostly the northern islands nearest Florida Bay. One swam down to key West for a socially isolated vacation probably and caused a sensation. I remarked rather tartly to my long suffering wife that seeing a polar bear might perhaps have been cause for astonishment in the sub-tropics.
Alligators are freshwater creatures much easier to find in the Everglades than in the Keys where freshwater is scarce. The parks people say alligators cruise the Keys looking for fresh water but I've never seen one in 20 years of walking the trails. I suppose from my perspective it's good that they say this stuff so more people are scared and I get to be alone in the back country.
I have to say the Blue Hole was looking slightly blue when seen from a certain angle.
Though really the water is green and somewhat tannic when you look straight down. There are no rivers or lakes in the Keys and places like the Blue Hole are created by humans digging up the rock to make gravel for construction and the resulting quarry, when abandoned fills with rain water and here it is: alligator country. Humans import the alligators, they don't just sprout here by magic.
A pleasant spot to waste fifteen minutes on your way to pick up groceries at Winn Dixie up the road.
I was lucky enough to get to see the wild creature of the deep on this trip.
I don't come here that often but he (or she) made this trip worthwhile. Let's face it, alligator watching isn't that interesting but without the sight of the dinosaur the Blue Hole is pretty much as interesting as any backyard pond Up North.
Mask free parenting: bring them up right! I stepped aside for them and they walked by pretending I wasn't there. The Keys do attract some socially inept people. Myself among them I suppose.
It was a good afternoon to out looking at Nature.
7 comments:
Just my two cents: Your body language says exactly what your snarky posts do. C’mon, would YOU want to talk with someone like you?
Some people just want to enjoy life and stay away from Debbie and Donnie Downer.
Bloody hell. Didn’t your mum teach you to say nothing if you have nothing nice to say?
I back you 100%, Conchscooter! If this guy has any idea how many thousands of tourists we encounter every year, just by living in this area--and how many hundreds of unpredictable reactions we can receive! But they expect us all to be mechanical Disney-dollies, ever-pleasant, and open to be "written up" if we don't perform as expected.
Thank you however my sense of humor is an acquired taste and not everyone is ready to acquire it! I am sorry when people think I am being serious when I have my tongue in my cheek but I post enough photos I hope to make up for my bizarre personality.
I made an ironic comment about businesses requiring masks and getting stick for it, and I compared it to businesses requiring shirts and some poor reader dared ( very bravely) to object to my notion that I want to see nipples when I go shopping. No, I think a business that can and always has required shirts and shoes for service can also require a mask. But my attempt at humor fell flat.
By the way I completely agree how exhausting it is in winter. I think living here with a plan helps but the constant proximity is wearing.
I get your dry sense of humor. Keep up the fun posts!!
What a priviege to watch these living dinosaurs close, Michael. Thanks for sharing these stunning wildlife pictures.
You have a dry sense of humor?? Surely you jest.
I live in an isolated community of mask wearers. Go over the mountains in any direction and you'll find far fewer of them and the general sense that the virus is made up.
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