A bit batty / overnight & next day with a grandchild

On the evening of the 21st, a little before dusk, we gathered with some other Norsey Wood enthusiasts to see is we could hear and see some bats.  There was a brief introduction (https://www.norseywoodsociety.uk/bats-more-info) which included the number of different species of bat that visit the wood.  If memory serves it was 16, 9 are listed here https://www.norseywoodsociety.uk/batsofessex. Three different site were proposed, and the bat detectors (a device which picks up their high frequency calls and translates them into something we can hear)  were handed out.  The most common visitors call at 45kHz and 55kHz.  So the detection frequencies were set accordingly.  We made our way through the gathering gloom of a later summer's evening to the first location by the pond.  We waited, mostly quietly, although our low frequency chat is not going to distract the bats from feeding.  Eventually we saw a bat or two flitting around the treetops and some beeps came out of a few detectors. It was a windy night; the previous couple of days had been warmer and stiller. At the next two locations, there was absolutely nothing. Walking back, I tried to take an atmospheric picture - not much luck there either.

It meant a late night for the infant school aged grandchild, so next morning we were up lateish.  He enjoys the indoor crazy golf at Hackers, so no surprise that we went there towards the end of the morning.  He's getting rather too good at it now, but was upset that he didn't get a hole-in-one.  

Then back home, so that we could drive to his favourite restaurant - McDonald's.  It is a strange place.  I ordered on the big screen and took my table number indicator, which now includes some sort of detection tag, so the servers know where to go without having to walk around the whole place.  McDonald's is consistent, if it is anything.  It always fails, just a little, to meet my already low expectations.  Our order number never did appear on the 'Preparing' screen.  When the food arrived, the sauces that I had ordered on the screen were missing.  The food, though, was quite edible.  The lunchtime experience was set to get worse.  We drove across Festival Leisure and walked up the stairs to Sprinkles.  We waited some time to be seated.  We were handed menus and told that we could order on the website, or at the counter.  The paper menus and the web menus don't match - not even close.  I went to the counter and was told that they are too busy to take orders and I must use the online system.  It seats about 100, perhaps 150, there were only 3 tables in use.  I tried on the web page again, but could not even find the option he had chosen, then we left.  I have visited Sprinkles twice in my life.  Both times I found the staff unhelpful and the ordering process confusing.  I've promised myself - never again.  In the cinema foyer, there is an ice cream bar - we ordered there and got what we wanted in a couple of minutes.

Then, back home, and it was soon time for him to leave.  On balance, we had had a good 20+ hours.

Florida 12 July 2024 - Purity

We were up early (5:30), packed and ready to go. There is a long drive back to Anniston, but we are stopping off at Silver Springs in Florida, to ride on a glass bottom boat.  So, the first part of the journey is about 2 hours.

We arrive the stated 30 minutes early and enter the park for another wait.  Finally, we are allowed on the boat - with Captain Reef.  The clue is in the name - always.

The water is clear, it rises from an aquifer, the water had been underground for a long time.  There is underwater grass growing in the stable areas, but in some places there is just rock.  This is where the water is seeping out of the rock, and that is constantly changing as paths are eroded and collapse.  As they do, new routes are opened up.

We saw manatees, who can only survive here because the water temperatures are high.  There are also alligators, lots of bird life at different times and lots of fish.  There are also some invasive species - tilapia have recently been washed into the springs and plans are being made to remove them.  

The rock is visible because the water has washed the vegetation away

10 feet log alligator, hiding in the vegetation

Ibis

One of three manatees

Statues of Zeus and other gods, below the water

There are also macaques, which were bought to the park and escaped, one ran along the roof of the visitor centre, he is, apparently, a reject from the troop. If they go outside the park they are dealt with by animal control, otherwise they are free to roam.

The water is 97% pure. There are even transparent kayaks so that visitors can see through the water as they paddle along.  The glass bottom boats are powered by electric motors to reduce pollution.

It is an amazing environment, and as usual, the infrastructure that supports it seems to work well.  State parks, everywhere I have been, are well maintained, and do not seem to suffer the vandalism and disrespect occurs so much in UK parks.

The rest of the journey (6.5 hours) was relatively uneventful., There was an accident on the interstate, so we travelled on lesser roads and saw some more of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.

The last stop was at a service station (8200 Williams Way), where the facilities were as awful as anything you will find on your way up or down the A1.  The restroom was dirty, partially functional and poorly supplied.

Alabama 2023 - July 12 - Once more to the beach

To start the day, we went to The Ugly Diner for brunch.  Its nearest equivalent in the UK is a high street café.  Whatever it is, it is also the best restaurant we have visited.  There are only a few tables, a long one down the middle is the best for us, it is unoccupied, so we are sat straight down.  The drinks are chosen and delivered promptly, as is the food.  This is the first place where the food is really hot when it arrives.

The weather is not good, there are storms moving across the top of the gulf, and we are occasionally engulfed.  It's not a day for beach activities, at least not yet.  So we visit the state park, on the way we stopped to look at some flowers that we had noticed and discussed on two or three trips up and down that road.  They are Swamp Rose Mallow, and in today's overcast, and rainy conditions they are closed up and not at all impressive.  When open, they are beautiful.

Heading to the state park, we come to Peter's Ice Cream and Donuts (English: doughnuts). It is just a few minutes after lunch, so although we go in and order, the children are not very hungry, so do not eat all their ice cream.  It is a nice little place, I'm surprised how many people visit.

Later, at the State park visitor centre we see all sorts of wildlife, mostly stuffed for display, but a number of wild birds that have been rescued following some injury that has left them unable to fend for themselves.  There is also a random tortoise wandering around.

Then on to a supermarket to buy supplies to make sandwiches to eat on the beach.  When we get to the beach, there is very light rain falling, with dark clouds threatening more.  "This is the most English beach experience I've had here" our host says.  In England, though, the temperature would not be in the upper 20's.

We sit on the beach, sometimes visiting the water and watch the wildlife.  A large pod of dolphin pass us, quite a distance from shore, but so lovely to see.  There are pelicans, terns, and black-headed gulls.   There is also a bird that looks like a hawk, seemingly catching things in mid-air, over the sea.  We can't work out what it was.

Madelyn like to be buried

Crab collection, first bucket full

Later in the evening, after the sun had set, we get torches and head along the sand to catch crabs.  The crabs are very nimble, there is a technique for catching them that takes some mastering.  Once in the net, the baby ones can be transferred to the bucket by hand, but don't try it with the larger ones because nip.  It was good to see the children running across the beach, chasing crabs, sometimes losing them down a hole, sometimes losing them in the sea, and mostly catching them and transferring them to the bucket.  When they are first put in the bucket, they are 'mad', but usually calm down in a few minutes.  They were all released back into the sea before we returned to the car.

Alabama 2023 - July 11 - In the water

There was a shark experience on the pier at 10am, it was a bit of a rush to get there in time, but we made it.   The presentation, I think, was aimed at children, but the university students seemed unable to avoid all the long words, the technical names for parts of the shark, or its reproductive methods.  It was interesting for me, and the exhibits - partial skeletons (mainly jaws), and live rays (barbs removed) was interesting for the children. The tank is fairly shallow, and one had escaped a couple of days before.

We spent about an hour before moving on to brunch at Ruby Slipper.  The restaurant had a long wait. The waitress, seemed to be pre-occupied with something, and was not that attentive. The food is mainly omelettes, and was nice enough, but also seemed to take a long while to arrive.  Neither of the waits was timed, but spent with the grandchildren, who are not particularly impatient, so, if they are getting active, we have been waiting too long. The portions in America, at least in this area, are smaller than I remember them, which is probably a good thing.  The prices are also higher, which isn't.

We then drove to Fort Morgan, arriving in the heat of the day.  It was a relief to get into the museum.  The fort was originally built to defend against the British.  It has a chequered history, being re-fortified in times of conflict, and all but abandoned soon after.  WWII saw the most spectacular abandonment, when in 1946 (a year after the war ended) it was handed to the state as a historical site.  On top of the fortifications, there are great views of the oil rigs in the gulf.  If you think of these as ships, it is easy to see how useful the fort was.  Inside the massive buildings, with their high vaulted ceilings, the temperature is more comfortable, and you can begin to see how people survived the searing heat. That is, until you see the dress uniforms in the museum - thick material, tightly buttoned and high necked.

The picture shows us walking through the tunnels, they provide a fantastic echo, and led to a lot of shouting.

There were lots of dragon flies at the fort, I took a picture of one, if you look carefully, you should be able to make out the wings.

After driving back from the fort, and taking a short break, we headed to the Crab Trap Restaurant for an early tea.  The plan was to eat, then go back to the pier and spend some time on the beach, but a storm was threatening.  We were initially told there was a 30-minute wait, at the end of 30 minutes, we were told we could eat outside, or wait another 30 minutes. We decided to eat outside, under cover. 

So, after eating, we went on the beach immediately behind the restaurant, and enjoyed an hour (maybe), on the beach, in the water.  The water is warm, but still requires some acclimatisation.  I enjoyed it much more than I expected to.

A darkness fell, we left the beach and travelled to an amusement arcade, the children loved it, but for me those places are simply a waste of money.  However, the occasional wins are a good life-lesson, I suppose.

Alabama 2023 - July 10 - Deeper South

Alabama is part of the deep south, although it is in the Northern Hemisphere, and North America.  Today we headed further south, and ultimately ended up with quite a long drive through Florida. I have some preconceived ideas about Florida, and as we crossed the state line I was surprised to see how run down  'back-woods' America, it really was.  After about 4.5 hours of travelling in the hired Suburban (7-seats, and colossal, but just what we need), we reached our destination - the A-frame house, or the triangle house, as the children call it. It's on Innerarity Point Road.  It is a unique place, I have never seen anything like it before.  Inside it is well furnished, but there are some odd things - there is no kettle, for starters.

Before our long drive, we collected lunch from Wendy's, and ate in the car, as the journey started.

In the evening we ate at Sunset Grille, a lovely restaurant on the waterfront, there was a slight delay as the outside tables were closed because of the weather, when it rains here, it really rains. There are rivers running down the sides of the roads in seconds.  Most of the food was good when we got it, and the waitress was superb.
 

We went to the Pier in Gulf State Park.  We saw a blue heron, which didn't look very happy and may have had something caught around one of its legs, pelicans (which Madelyn has decided are really Albatrosses), and watched as a family caught a catfish.

Finally, we watched the sunset, then home to bed.