Last summer, we took a trip to the western coast and saw the sequoias, salt flats, and desert sites as we headed southwest toward California and then went northward and then went back east through Utah.
This summer, I decided to take the children to the east coast so that they could enjoy swimming in warmer waters and see sights like alligators and swamps.
We tent-camped, as usual. We stayed in South Carolina.
Stomolophus meleagris (cannonball jellyfish)
Alligator mississippiensis (American alligator)
Posing in front of an alligator
Anhinga anhinga (snakebird, water turkey)
According to the Audobon Society, Anhinga ahinga is found in warm southeastern swamps, often seen perched above water with its wings spread to dry. This is indeed what we witnessed. Scroll below to find a short motion clip that Jade took of one of the birds drying its wings.
I spotted a jellyfish floating, dead, in the marsh in which we watched the alligators. This was located in close proximity to the spot in the ocean in which we swam. I can't remember whether I used the Internet or looked for an info plaque, but I remember learning that the saltwater mixes with the fresh, and animals like the jellyfish end up in the marshes.
Euryurus leachii (flat-backed millipede)
On our way back home, we took a different route. We stopped by a welcome center in Mississippi and looked around inside after we ate lunch outside. I took the kids' pictures as they peeked through the hole in an Elvis guitar piece.
We stayed at my parents' house on the last night on our trip home. My sister and my nieces came and visited, and we all enjoyed the pool. :-)
Check out the cute jumping spider I saw while sunning on the deck. It caught a fly. :-)
Carissa made up a yummy dish to try, and though it was absolutely delicious, it was way too heavy on animal protein. It had chicken, turkey bacon, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese!
My Jaden William turned sixteen, and though I've got to be careful with my spending, I bought the expensive number balloons and let Olivia decorate, lol. I went to pick him up, let him drive to the house, then I went in ahead of him so that we could all yell surprise. I had Carissa be ready with the camera, but I should have shown her how to use the digital camera, because her phone camera did not pick up the images clearly.
Until next time...
