Alligators!!!!

This will be our last update before leaving Punta Gorda tomorrow morning. Our trip will take us north to the Florida Panhandle and into Mississippi, then west through Louisiana and into Texas. There we will visit my nephew Brian and his family and take a side trip to Dealey Plaza where Kennedy was assassinated.

From there we will head north into Oklahoma and spend a week visiting Ronna’s sister and niece. Then its east through Arkansas and back home to Illinois; should take about 3 weeks.

We thought it was appropriate to end our Florida posts with some pictures of the Florida alligators. We took a ride to the nearby Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center where we got some great shots of alligators in the wild. We were actually able to get within 15 or 20 feet of a few!

Visitor's center

Walkway in the preserve

Got within 15 feet of this one

In one of the many ponds

A close-up

Looking straight at him

Birds and dolphins.....

About a week and a half ago we took an eco-tour on the Peace River to view some rookeries. One of the dolphin photos I took on the previous Cabbage Key boat ride won first place for the month of February so we got a 50% discount on this trip.

The following images are a mix of Ronna’s and mine.

Dolphin along side

Wood Stork on the nest 

Roseate Spoonbill landing near nest

Egret in flight

Passing under I75

Another dolphin follow us 

Roseate Spoonbill on the nest

Wood Stork on the nest

Egret landing at nest

Rodeo.....

Ten days ago we attended the 90^th annual Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo. It was a first for both of us and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

The Arcadia rodeo began back in the middle of 1928 when the American Legion wanted to raise money to help pay for a new building.  A local businessman, who was a member of the American Legion, asked a prominent rancher if a rodeo could be held to raise money.  The rancher agreed it could be done and offered to furnish the stock for free.

In 1973 the Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo, Inc. joined the ranks of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. It has evolved from its pioneer beginnings (when competing cowboys and ranchers matched their skills for the entertainment of local audiences) to a national sport drawing top cowboy athletes from all over the nation. Cowboys compete here for purses and points and are aiming for the “Super Bowl” of rodeo: the National Finals held annually in Las Vegas.

Ronna snapped the following images….

Opening Parade:

Mutton Busting by the kids:

 Steer Wrestling: 

Calf Roping:

Bronc Busting:

Barrel Racing:

Commercial, Rodeo Style:

Bull Riding:

Lee County Fair.....

On the 7^th we attended the Lee County Fair. The weather was quite warm so we didnt stay too long. I didnt feel like lugging the camera so Ronna took a few pic's with her cell phone. Most of the Midway rides didnt open until 4 PM, we arrived early, when the fair opened, and left after a few hours. We enjoyed some “fair food”, toured the grounds and the animal barns, but some of those were closed for feeding and cleaning. This is pretty standard county fair. So not a whole lot to write about but thought we would post some pictures.

Corn dogs to start with

Deep fried Oreo's

These are the ONLY way to enjoy an Oreo

And, of course, funnel cake!

Funny guy....

Midway

Cattle barn 

Practice, practice, practice....

Fowl barn prior to Thanksgiving

Mechanical bull ride (I wasn't tempted even with a double dog dare from Ronna) 

Farm equipment

More farm equipment