Sperm Whales!

Based on my son Matt's assessment of the dorsal fins and color of the whales, he believed the whales were not Pilot, but perhaps Sperm whales. And those of you who know my Matt, he knows his fish (and mammals). So I sent photos to the Marine Mammal Conservancy, and indeed, they confirmed that they were great Sperm Whales. Even more exciting to me, because, although he was not white, he was Moby Dick to me! And, this is no fish story - it happened! Right in the Florida Keys.

Whale I'll Be Darned!

Harry and I had just about the most perfect fishing day ever, today. Flat calm going out, and action all over the place. I believe the full moon may have something to do with the fact that fish were hungry and active. Birds were diving, bait fish were jumping and we caught Wahoo, Blackfin Tuna and Mahi Mahi during the course of the day. Dinner is looking promising!

But, the very most exciting thing happened when I thought I sighted a fish jumping in the water way off in the distance. After this white plume of water occurred four times in a row, Harry proclaimed it was a whale. I couldn't believe it. I have never heard of sightings here except the occasional sick ones that come in close to shore and usually die. In fact, two are being rehabilitated in Key Largo right now. We approached it and got right next to it, but when it submerged and went under the boat, I freaked out a bit. I kept having Moby Dick visions in my head and our boat being upended. After all, this fellow was about the size of our boat. He dove under us and I ran for the camera. We saw him again, and then three others in a pod. It was just amazing.
I put this illustration to give a sense of the size. It looked a lot bigger than that when you are 22 miles out at sea and in 1400' deep water! The water was so blue and so clear. After leaving the whale for more adventures, I looked down next to the boat and saw a huge marlin, lit up blue and beautiful. Just hanging out with us. I think I chattered non-stop for an hour after all of this excitement. What a place. What a day.

Bufo Marinus

Who knew that this gnarly looking little creature, who has taken up habitat by my water lily pond, is potentially lethal to my dog and three cats? Well, I sure didn't. Until Sam and I did a little research to identify the little fellow, who we have named Buford.

At first, we were all excited that he appeared at night, sitting on the edge of the pond, bellowing. But the second time we saw him, with only his eyes peering over the edge of the lily pad, I decided to try and identify him. He is the largest toad I have ever seen. In fact, they have found them up to 15" long. Gulp. That makes him bordering on dinosaur status to me.

The disturbing part of the report was that they are poisonous to dogs and cats and cause many pet deaths in the Keys. They live in the sub-tropical climates. They have parotoid glands that secrete a poison. Have you ever heard the expression "don't lick a toad or you will hallucinate"? Well, there you go.

So, the best advice that we got was not to try and catch it and move it, but to, sorry to say this, destroy it. I will leave that mission to Dirty Harry and hope that it happens swiftly and when I am not around.

The Keys are a scary environment! Pythons coming down from the Everglades, alligators and even the rarer crocodiles in resident's canals, leaping barracudas biting onto people, and the famous spotted Eagle ray who leap out of the water in joyous reproductive enthusiasm and whacked a tourist just as her boat was speeding by at 30mph. UH OH. Hey, I have even had my dog attacked by a grumpy mother bird on one of our leisurely strolls about the neighborhood. I don't know who freaked out more.

Summer Vacation II

After enjoying a week with the Urichs, I was kind of blue saying goodbye to my grand babies, but a week in Myrtle Beach with my brother Tom, my niece Erin and her husband Dave and children Dominic and Gianna, and my niece Trish was just the ticket to perk me back up. Their family friends were also there and as you can see in the bottom picture, it was a big group. The blue t-shirts had every one's nickname on the back, and I was included although missed the group picture that occurred the second week when the rest of the crowd arrived. I did get a last minute photo in with Dom and Gigi, my great nephew and niece. I can barely open my eyes after the previous evening's gin and tonic's and homemade salty nuts and bolts that are a requisite accompaniment.

Harry drove up with me and flew back mid-week. We made a quick trip up to see my house in North Carolina that is still on the market, in case anyone wants to buy a lovely home in a 36 hole golf course gated community in the middle of pig farm country. The building boom sure died the minute I finished the house!

Other activities included the usual golf, beach, pool, dining and vacation activities. Myrtle Beach is a perfect family vacation venue with the main drag lined with every conceivable entertainment available. Want to see Pirates pillaging and looting while eating dinner? Done. Ripleys Believe it or Not? Done. South Carolina's version of the Grand Ole Opry? Done. Every chain restaurant known to man? Done. Shopping? Done. The whole scene made me think of overweight middle America. On the other hand -gorgeous golf courses lined with blooming Crepe Myrtles? A beach with comfortable, shallow warm water? Affordable condominiums everywhere? Forget cultural exploration and history. This was the perfect vacation place to spend time with family, reconnect, talk, cry and laugh. I am so glad that my niece invited me to go along. In case anyone has missed my previous hundred or so posts regarding my family - they are wonderful. I am so blessed.