Spring has sprung

This morning it is a humid 54 lovely degrees in Podunk. At last Spring is here. More evidence? Green shoots coming up, a few flowers opening, birds singing, you get the picture. And, Spring Break. There are actually people here, including children. There are a few cars on the road. I am quite overwhelmed with all of the activity.

So, yesterday, Josh and I went on an eco-cruise out of Apalachicola and froze our buns off. Captain Ed reminded us of Clint Eastwood - same craggy features, same way of talking. Here he is:

In spite of not seeing any alligators (too cold) or bears (too cold) or manatees (too cold), it was quite informative.

Here is my favorite factoid from Cap'n Ed:

You know how when there are branches and stuff sticking up out of the water and it's called a "snag?" Well, if the branches are really moving up and down in the current, it is called a "sawyer," thus named by the old river boat captains because it looked like someone was sawing up and down. So, Mark Twain being a river boat captain came up with Tom Sawyer. Get it? I thought that was kind of cool.

He also had a lot to say about the history of the place from the civil war, to the fish processing plants, etc. It was fun and we were ready to get off the boat when it was done.

This is Cap'n Ed's little boat.

This next picture is apparently what a hunting camp looks like out here in the swamp. Think of it as your home away from home...

Houseboat Row

Yikes!!

The Apalachicola River, along with it's tributaries, drains a 20,000 square mile watershed. The number of species that live here - birds, fish, mammals, you name it - is stunning, especially since we saw about 5 birds. Period.

Anyhoo, we also learned quite a bit about oysters. The bay here supplies 10% of all oysters nationally. You should see the huge middens in the area. So, the government comes around this area regularly and loads the shells on barges and dumpsthem on the ends of the current oyster beds so new oysters can grow on them. Apparently the baby oysters don't care of they are attached to Mom or an empty shell. (Sounds like a horror flick.)