And Here at the Seashore . . .

The National Seashore continues to hold our interest. I know I'm enjoying the feeling of being in a National Park and it reminds me of 'home'. Last night, we had a sudden (well, I was asleep, so it seemed sudden) thunderstorm and heavy rain. Alas, my roof repairs around the tv antenna connection have not waterproofed the leak. I wonder how many containers of caulk I will squeeze on it until I build it up so high I won't be able to drive through the underpasses?

This morning I got a very special telephone call inviting me to be a sponsor for my great niece's baptism in March. Isabel Ruth is my sister Jan's newest grandchild. As well as being excited, I am truly honored!

It was a good morning for a bike ride, pleasantly cool and a little cloudy. I am reminded of all the years I really loved to ride my bike and how the last ten or so years of my life have been so much less physical. I'm not sure if that's a consequence of aging or gaining weight or narrowing of the mind. What's that, you think? Laziness?

A short five minute ride on a bike trail took me back into town, Ocean Springs. I was surprised to find myself in a residential area so quickly because I drove several miles from town to get to the campground I left on my bike just five minutes ago! And now that I see how close to town I am, I am also surprised (but thrilled) that my campground is so quiet.

Here's the water standing from last night's shower so I guess it truly was a heavy rain.


This playground is at an elementary school called Pecan Park Elementary.


To me that is a very charming name, but I still find pecans laying on the ground a novelty. I suppose here pecans are a feature of the environment the way pines and big creeks (read: 'cricks') are in Montana.

Chorro was watching from the RV window, waiting for me to come back from my bike ride, more than a little annoyed that I went without him.


Really he was, that's an older picture I just threw in for a smile. Maybe tomorrow I will try riding with him on the leash. I do see others doing it, but our attempts earlier have given mixed results.

So after lunch we went for another long walk. We saw this little guy, maybe he would be the only amphibian of the day, so I took his picture. He does have kind of a teeny tiny alligator look to him.


Next stop was at Alligator Pond to see if our friend was still there.


Yes, there he is floating in the water today. The water here is so still that there is so much reflection that it is difficult to find him 'in the water'. It looks like he is in the vegetation, but he is indeed floating.



And look who has taken over his yesterday's spot on the bank, a big old turtle!


We walked a couple more miles to the Visitor's Center. It's closed, still being repaired for damages by Katrina. Water went through it and over it, which is really quite surprising because it is at least twenty feet above the water.


These two huge old trees stood solidly against that huge amount of the water though. Pretty amazing.


It's still getting dark pretty early, 5 pm, and I am looking forward to more light in the evenings. And trusting that the days are getting longer.

And tomorrow is a new day.