It DOES Get Better!! - Monday - January 9, 2012

After all the activity and excitement we had yesterday,

we started at a much slower pace today.

 

Nancy and I went for a powerwalk

and then

invited David and Sherry for Buckwheat Pancakes around 10:30.

We were still talking about the amazing day we had yesterday

when my phone rang. 

It was our realtor and he said we had an offer on the house!!!

It was a good offer,

 but we wanted to counter offer

to try and get them to take the house furnished ;o))

Our realtor agreed and now we wait…….

What better way to wait then kayaking the Silver River. 

It would be hard to top the wonderful paddle from yesterday,

but perhaps there would be enough adventure

to take our minds off the OFFER!!!

When we got to the kayak launch ramp,

we met the Welcome Wagon ;o((

He was a little alligator that people have been feeding so he hangs around the launch area looking for handouts.  There are signs that you will be fined for feeding the animals.  It makes them aggressive and will only get them destroyed.  So while it seems harmless, you should not do it.  This guy is still little, so we could scare him away and launch the kayaks without a problem.

We hadn’t gone more than a few hundred yards when

we spotted the Monkey Troop!!!

They had moved down stream from where they were yesterday. 

We spent about 30 minutes watching these adorable animals.

(Click on any photo to enlarge it.)

   

   

 

Then off we headed up the river…

And again, Mother Nature did not disappoint!!

We saw many of the same animals again. 

However, there are several birds that are new to us

and

we could sure use some help identifying them.

A Snowy Egret walking across the river grass.

He thinks we can’t see him ;o))

Great Egret amongst the Cypress

These next two birds are new to us.

We will call them Bird 1 and Bird 2.

If you can ID them, please leave a comment!!

Bird 1  ???

Bird 2 ???

Common Moorhens up a tree!?!?!

A little help PLEASE….

Bird 3 ???

You can’t fool us!!

We know what this is

and

he IS as BIG as he looks ;o((

Catching Some Rays

Pileated Woodpecker

While we love seeing the animals,

the landscapes really are interesting also!

It was a spectacular,

sunny and warm afternoon!!!

We paddled all the way to the Spring Head

and

floated back down stream again!

Nature, Nature and MORE Nature…

AMAZING!!!

Grebes

Cormorant

David’s new pet Cormorant.

He won’t leave home without it ;o))

Green Heron or Small Blue Heron  HELP???

A relaxing Gator!

A REALLY  relaxing Gator ;o))

Great Egret

They stay perfectly still as they stalk their dinner!!!

We finally reached the boat ramp

just before the sun was going to set.

However,

we were not the only ones headed in that direction ;((

Rhesus Monkeys are good swimmers

and

they had swam across to the boat ramp side of the river ;o((

The closer we got to the boat ramp,

the closer they moved towards it!!

Finally,

they took over the boat launch!!

Knowing that we should not approach a wild animal,

we had no choice but to wait until they passed by!!

As is was beginning to get dark,

the last stragglers made their way past.

At last we could get out of the water.

What an amazing afternoon!!!!

However,

it wasn’t over yet….

Just when I said to Nancy,

“It doesn’t get any better than this,”

my cell phone rang!!

We got a CASH contract on our house…

IT  DID  JUST  GET BETTER :o))

Nineteen months, three realtors

and

finally the right buyers come along!!

After dinner, we celebrated with Sherry and David.

We  started a campfire,

broke out the wine

and

enjoyed another piece of David’ Birthday cake;o))

(Check out their blog to see their take on this fun day!!)

Our settlement will take place on January 27th.

We will still be in Florida on vacation :o))

The buyers need to purchase it by that date,

but are willing to let us stay until March 27th!!

So the realtor will handle all the details

and

we will just sign and email the papers to the attorney!!

It just keeps getting

better

and

BETTER!!!!