Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Boaters on the Silver River


This was taken back in November at the Silver River State Park, just south of Silver Springs Park. I'm not sure what to make of it. The adults seem quite serious and the boat is moving at a fairly good pace. Most of the kids look bored out of their minds! (And yes, there are lots of gators in these waters! It's best if you do not swim in the mornings or evenings.)

41 comments:

Leif Hagen said...

So why DO they call it the "Silver River?"

Tara said...

Gators? no thanks! Great outdoor photo like always.

Memphis MOJO said...

It looks so peaceful and refreshing. Why I think I'll go in for a dip, oops, wait, changed my mind. Good shot.

Don and Krise said...

I'd make sure and not dangle my toes in the water.

magiceye said...

crocodiles are probably bored too!
lovely capture

magiceye said...

crocodiles are probably bored too!
lovely capture

Olivier said...

si prêt de l'eau, si il y a des alligators, j'aurais peur...mais c'est vrai les enfant sont l'air de s'embêter un peu, ou vont ils ?

Dave-CostaRicaDailyPhoto.com said...

Thank you for your question on my post today. I have revised my post for tomorrow to answer your question in the post tomorrow.

(In a nutshell, we do not get hurricanes on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica due to the high mountains that protect us.

Pat said...

They really DO looked bored, as if Grandpa insisted on some sort of family outing, and they'd rather be at the mall....

I'd like to ride there, though. Any crocs to nibble those toes?

VP said...

You already answered my first question!

Cezar and Léia said...

Science class maybe...
Great shot!
Léia

Janet said...

Maybe they are watching out for gators! Ahh, looks so nice and warm.

Jim Klenke said...

Maybe they just dont know fun, or it could have been at the end of the ride.

Louis la Vache said...

Before reading your text, when «Louis» saw the serious looks on their faces, he immediately thought GATORS!

No thank you, «Louis» doesn't care to become biftek for gators!

Small City Scenes said...

The kids do look bored. Maybe the parents wil turn real fast and dunk them in the water. Oops alligators. Darn!! MB

Louis la Vache said...

hee hee
"Poke Salat Annie! Gator's got your Granny!"

Blast you, Jacob! You got that song going in «Louis'» head, now he can't get it out!

jusdealem said...

Best not to swim in the mornings or evenings?? I'm thinking it's best not to swim there ever! Ha! The gators can have it all to themselves!!

Thanks for your comment, Jacob! I have been pretty busy and need to get my workflow up to speed! I have missed your lovely photos and hope to get back by here more often. :)

Allison said...

After watching a Discovery Channel show last night about alligator- eating pythons making their way into residential Flo-rida, it sounds to me like you have a new pest to be worried about! Apparently they have stayed mostly in the Everglades but are quickly relocating north, spotted already as far north as Tampa! You make sure your little Lois Anne keeps her pepper spray handy while on her daily run. Don't say I didn't warn you, Jacob! I don't think we Minnesoootans need to worry about pythons in our back yards...they don't make sweaters nearly long enough for them at Petsmart! Cheerio!

Judy said...

I am familiar with the look of the kids. It comes right after getting yelled at to "stop horsing around or we will all be in the water!" and the look on the adult faces is right for that scenario too. hehe..

lizziviggi said...

Great capture! I think the kids are just waiting it out till they get home to the Wii.

Anonymous said...

Maybe the kids ran away to the Wooley Swamp way back in Booger Woods where the ghost of Lucius Clay gets up & walks around & they were trying to steal his money he buried out there in mason jars.

Then maybe, they could hear that old man laughing in a voice as loud as thunder, so they pulled out their cell phones & called their parents to come pick em up cuz THEY WAS SCARED!
So the serious look on those adult's faces really IS serious cuz they're TICKED off at the kids!

WoW! What a story!

Lois said...

I notice none of them have on life vests either. Not that a life vest would protect you from a nasty gator (or python for that matter)!

cieldequimper said...

Now tell me Jacob: would one be safer swimming in the daytime?

Lowell said...

@ Ciel - Yes, of course. But the better part of valor would be to fuggedaboutit and swim in a swimming pool! Unless there was a gator in the pool which does happen from time to time...

Lowell said...

@ Allison - Thank you for your kind words of warning! I don't think I've heard of a python in Ocala as yet (probably too cold here), but yes, they have become a major problem in the Everglades and in South Florida. Hundreds of them busy breeding. I'm not sure what can be done and our game and wildlife folks don't really know either.

I do believe they have found a python or two in Orlando which escaped from a private residence ...

You needn't worry up there in Minneesota about pythons...and it has nothing to do with Petsmart not making big enough sweaters. It's really too cold up in them thar parts for such warm-blooded critters.

Plus, Hagen would probably capture them and fry 'em up at his next barbecue, which will occur when everything thaws out...about June 1.

Hope you're having fun. Don't let whatsisface work you too hard!

Lowell said...

@ Safe Leif - I had to do some research to answer your question, Mr. Hagen from Eagan. But I finally found what you wanted to know!

The reason they call it the Silver River, is because the Lone Ranger was, at one time, a sailor and he knew what it meant to weigh anchor.

So, one day, he and Tonto were sailing down this river in the middle of Florida looking for miscreants, and the Lone Ranger saw some property he thought would be appropriate for his new ranch.

He stood up in the canoe, pointed at Tonto and yelled: "Hi ho Silver, and away! Let's weigh anchor Tonto!"

Pretty soon, everybody had heard the story and the river, which up to that time, had been called the Withlachoochcoochiewhoopie, came to be known as the Silver River.

Not only so, but the Lone Ranger quit his chasing around after bad guys and started his own bank right here in Ocala. And because he was so prolific at giving out loans, he became known as the "loan arranger," which is another bit of epistemological knowledge you are no doubt ignorant about!

Are you happy now?

Leif Hagen said...

Oh, Jacob! U R truly a piece of work! In other words, U R a "legend in your own mind." Just an observation, not a judgement! I don't believe anything you say anymore, well, actually, I never did!

Daryl said...

Dont they all look totally enrapt.. or is it unwrapped?

Allison said...

Awesome, awesome story, Jake! My eyes are just now drying out:)

merrytait said...

I'd like to d that--BUT NOT fall IN!

Memphis MOJO said...

"So why DO they call it the "Silver River?"

Leif, please don't do this again.

Kcalpesh said...

Hmm seems like they're tired of some lot of activities....

crocrodyl said...

Wow! Looks like forest by the Amazon River:)

Andreea said...

The kids do look so bored :)) I feel for them. I remember going on vacation with my folks; all they wanted to do was eat and have meaningful conversations about my future; both very boring activities for a 15 years old.

EG CameraGirl said...

You'd have to be a kid to e bored in that lovely place. A photo like this makes me glad I'm NOT a kid. ;-)

Three Rivers, Michigan said...

Teenagers are always bored out of their minds. Who cares about man-eating pythons and alligators? There's no internet out here!
:-)

Unknown said...

Another place for me! :-)

cieldequimper said...

What? Oh no, c'mon, don't shatter my dreams of pools...

tapirgal said...

Heh, Jacob and Leif. Too funny. My comment pales. At first I was thinking, "so pretty." And then, " . . . 'gators." And by the way, I would so much rather encounter a python than some of those venomous reptiles you have there in Florida.

Lowell said...

@ Tapirgal - Your comment about pythons was most interesting and it brought this immediately to mind:

Do you know what you call a pack of pythons coming toward you at 5 PM?

Crush hour!

tapirgal said...

Arrg, Jacob! A bad joke for any occasion. Or, as Lee would say, "Well, you smiled, didn't you? The joke (or pun) can't be that bad."

"Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again." — Henri Cartier-Bresson