"…I laugh in the face of danger…!"**
What? You want me to prove it?
We've just returned from a week at Kiawah Island, a naturally beautiful vacation destination that nourishes my soul and spirit, and always-ALWAYS leaves me wanting more. Though world-class golf and tennis is available (their Ocean Course will host the 2012 PGA Championship, previously the venue for the Ryder Cup ('91) and the Senior PGA Championship ('07)), it's the artistry of Kiawah's maritime forest and marshes, the allure of shore and sea, and an unbridled animal attraction that beckons me year after year.
The call of the wild is siren to me–enchanting, irresistible…and potentially dangerous.
We didn't see gray foxes or bobcats, I have yet to lay eyes on a loggerhead turtle (though dunes are protected for them), but we did see deer; laughing gulls, wood storks, red knots and piping plovers; a copper-frickin'-head and a rattle-frackin'-snake (okay, those were both in captivity at the Heron Park Nature Center, along with plenty of non-venomous snakes) and…my FAVORITE CREATURE TO FIND AT KIAWAH–
Alligators! Stephen spots the first one of the week, but he doesn't look thrilled about how close we are; I told him not to worry, if the gator charges, serpentine! {I always hear the voices of Peter Falk and Alan Arkin from the original "In-laws" when I tell my kids this.} Rumored to run at speeds of 35 m.p.h., the alligator might have the advantage in a foot race.
Undaunted, I get closer.
I can't help it…I inch a little closer still…
Bad Mama Jama was so still, I thought he was freakish Kiawah yard art…until Chris said his mouth hadn't been open before. My husband, sounding much like my son days earlier, suggested I was close enough and not to get any closer!
When he wasn't looking, I might've stepped a teensy bit closer…HOW COULD I NOT??? WILL YOU LOOK AT THAT AMAZING CREATURE?!
Before heading out, Stephen and I took one more bike ride to bid the island adieu and–who am I kidding?–to see if we could spot one last gator. None were prowling the pond banks yet, but we did see this fella just below the water's surface.
Unfortunately, he was shadowed by a giant. A giant photographer. A giant photographer that looks veddy familiar….
Which makes me wonder: Can alligators jump?
Cause if they can, I don't think it matters how well or fast you can serpentine…! 😉
** Without clicking the link, can you name the movie referenced and the character who said it?
crazy girl 😉
great pictures, though
I got chills just viewing this sequence. You’ve got serious courage – I’m deeply impressed.
National Geographic may be calling you soon for an assignment. I think their last wildlife photographer was eaten by a gator.
Love it!! When we were there this spring, we stayed in one of the condos with the deck out over the lagoon. As we were sitting out there, a gator came swimming underneath our deck–we could have reached out and touched him! They are kind of mystical creatures, aren’t they?
Glad you had a good week!! (Gosh, my kids aren’t even out of school yet!)
I love Kiawah! The last time we were there the house we’d rented had a resident alligator in the lagoon behind the house. We were watching him from the deck one afternoon when we realized he was stalking something. Suddenly he whooshed (jumped?) up out of the water, the “something” disappeared, and rippling water was all we could see. Totally amazing!
Well, obviously, it’s a Lion King quote at the beginning, but at first, I thought you were referring to the “serpentine” reference, which reminded me of one of the funniest parts of The In-Laws, IMDB site here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079336/. Peter Falk and Alan Arkin slay me.
WOW you are one brave lady! Not me Uh uh! No way would I get that close!
Yeah, that is walking on the wild side – especially when he was right below you in the water. Great shots though!!!
Oh the memories! My family had a timeshare on Kiawah so we went there a lot when I was growing up. I think that’s why I love alligators to this day. Love your photos!!!
You really need a zoom lens!
-FringeGirl
you might just be the U.S., female version of The Crocodile (ok, alligator :)) Hunter…
Ooooh, Robin, great shots!!!
OH I love your pics!!! Esp. w/ the mouth open! Where do you stay at Kiawah?
Hehe, tell me something I DON’T know 😉 xo
Hmmm, you say I have courage; others might argue a lapse in sound judgment.
So far, all my limbs intact might lean towards you ;).
Hi! I had tweeted about trying to find more White Cherry Blossom lotion for ya. Our store was all out of most of the good clearance items.
I love a challenge of trying to find things for people. I always embarrass my kids because of it. Oh well!
Enjoy your one bottle and I hope you find more!
Well, I am in the market for a job…!
Guess what, Shelly? We rode out to the Crescent, and thought high tide was
three hours away, we STILL couldn’t get to the sand dollar mecca. We were
SO SAD!! I guess there’s always next year…….
Wait a second, Holly…did you just say he JUMPED??? YIKES! I could be in
serious trouble…..!
Ha, Karen! Right (did you notice I did reference the “In-Laws” movie? I
STILL laugh thinkin’ about that sequence!). But, yes, it IS Lion King,
courtesy of Simba :).
I’m sure “in the beginning” I was scared; now, I’m simply fascinated!
I think it’s nuts I’m so ape about alligators (huh??). I’d like to get
closer but my family? They hold me back, lol.
Oh, how lucky you were to grow up with that! I would LOVE a timeshare at
Kiawah…now, I settle for WHATEVER I can get there!! Glad you enjoyed the
photos (more will come later, but probably of everything but gators 🙂 ).
Mine goes to 200, but yeah, I have lens envy–macro and zoom :).
John, lol, look at THIS post (scroll down for VIDEO!!):
http://pensieve.typepad.com/pensieve/2007/07/crocodile-hun-1.html
Coming from YOU (one of the most amazing photographers I know), that’s high
praise. Thanks, Claudia!!! 🙂
Thanks, Alyce; we rent at Turtle Point (familiar??).
You are so stinkin’ sweet, Amy–thank you! Based on the bag of goodies I
managed to come home with…I’ll be just fine with my second (and third and
fourth) choices ;).
Sounds like a fabulous week, Robin. Yay for you!
But, girl, stay away from those gators. I was born and grew up in Florida, and the only time I got that close to gators was by accident–in the water (once) or on shore when I didn’t see them until I was much closer than I wanted. They both fascinate and terrify me. And if you’d ever seen a gator lunge forward during nesting season (um, about this time of year, right?), you would NOT get that close. I just about had a heart attack reading your post.
OK, breathe…breathe. I’m ok. But, really, I side with your husband and son here:>)
So glad you had a wonderful, renewing time!
Only if you’re looking especially tasty that day . . .
that is AWESOME! no lie, i’m a bit jealous. 🙂
btw, the SC coast is pretty much my fav vacation spot; my wife is warming to it. 🙂
we both love the Outer Banks of NC…
Hey, great photos! This is bringing back memories of my childhood in the Deep South.
Yes! Alligators can jump – quite high. Love the pics. I would not get that close. That’s what a telephoto lens is for. lol
We have gators in our backyard too. And my kids actually go tubing in the river right over them. Same thing I did as a kid but now a ton wiser although I am not sure why i am willing to let my kids go in the river when I won’t.
Wow…. I’m pretty sure I would have been running the other way when I saw one of those! Fun to see through the pictures though!
And as a total side note… How do you get the different avatars to show up for your commenters? Is that a plug-in?
argh. made me jummp even if it didnt
Photographs are really outstanding!It really needs a courage to capture photos of crocodile.You people are really mighty hearted.Great…Great..Greate!!!