Tuesday, July 21, 2009

A very cool experience

We had a great dinner with Cousin Ron and Aunt Marie, and it was wonderful to see them! They're just as crazy and fun as ever, and it was so much fun to get caught up. I was having such a good time talking with them that I totally forgot to get a picture with them, and I'm just kicking myself!

Manatee2 After we left the restaurant, we stopped by the little cove where we always go to watch the manatees (and sometimes dolphins). Cousin Ron has been coming to New Smyrna Beach for years, and he never knew about this little cove. (The lady who sold us the timeshare told us about it.) When we got there, we saw the manatees right away, but what was really cool was that a woman renting the condo across the road was giving them fresh water. Apparently they love fresh water, so they came right up to the pier to get a drink! The woman invited us down onto the pier, and Ken, Ron, and I went down there. We were able to reach down and touch their noses! I can now say that I have touched a manatee. Ron said, "In all my years down here, I've never gotten to touch a manatee." Pretty neat, eh?

Manatee3 Here are a couple of pictures--Ken is pouring water in their mouths. They rolled over on their backs and just drank it up. Manatees are a case of beauty is in the eye of the beholder...they aren't all that cute at first glance, but they are incredibly gentle, sweet creatures. Look at the eyelashes in the one picture! It was really a neat experience, and I'm glad we stopped when we did. We'll go back on Friday, but I don't know if that woman will be there with her fresh water. Thank you, kind lady, for giving us a great experience!

Oh, and for further commentary and pictures from our vegecation, be sure to visit Ken's blog, Bucko's World.

15 comments:

  1. LOL---yep, a face only a mother could love!

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  2. Oh, now THAT is COOL!!!!

    XOXOXOXOXOXO

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  3. I am envious. Such delights in the wild are so, so rare to most of us. Treasure the moment, lucky ones.

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  4. Fantastic! At least you have pictures of the Manatees frolicking!

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  5. Super cool. I'd take my own fresh water and do it all over again. Quite frankly, you'd have to damn near drag me away from them. No joke. ;)
    Love,
    Jamie

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  6. Hi Beth,
    Looks like you're having a blast!
    Best,
    Marty

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  7. i have read so many horror stories of bloody deaths of manatees and boats in the ocean so it is totally cool to hear of your special moment with some of them. Love the pics!

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  8. Wow! Manatees? I have always wanted to see them. Are they tame at all? I'm jealous of your travels... what a fun time you've had on this trip! Most cool.

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  9. We love those precious sea cows!

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  10. Just great, Beth!!! I see that you are having fun. I am happy for you both.

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  11. sounds like a great moment, beth! i'd love that too! too bad you didn't get a pic with aunt marie and ron! it's been ages since i saw them!

    shane

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  12. Love this post! My dad was a big advocate in the Save the Manatees organization. They used to play at the dock in his back yard. Love those manatees!

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  13. I've always wondered how ancient sailors could have mistake the manatee for a memrmaid.

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  14. okay, that was supposed to be mermaid.

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I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you?