The first day there, we went on an airboat ride at Midway
Airboat Rides. While waiting for our tour to begin, we looked around the gift
store and at the menagerie of animals they kept: snapping turtles, snakes,
cockatoos and parrots, and Porkchop the pig. Porkchop had positioned himself so
when anyone came through the gift shop door to the patio, the door brushed past
the bristly hairs on his snout. He opened an eye and grunted softly
occasionally, but for the most part he slept right there in the sun.
The ride was a blast! They have voice-activated headsets so
you can ask questions while underway. We saw bald eagles, egrets, herons, and
more alligators than you can shake a stick at. There were cows grazing in the
swamp alongside the alligators. They are too big for the alligators, but
occasionally a young alligator will grab hold of a cow’s tail. The guide says
you have never seen a cow freak out until you have seen one with an alligator
on the end of its tail. After the ride, the owners invite you to hold a baby
alligator.
Porkchop
Baby gators.
Mama gator wasn't happy that we were so close to her babies.
Tuesday, we went to the Kennedy Space Center. I couldn’t
believe how expensive it was: $50.00 per person. It was even more if you wanted
to tailor your experience and dine with an astronaut ($75.00 per person).
Admission includes viewing the space shuttle Atlantis, IMAX theater admission,
and a bus tour past the launch pad and the vehicle assembly building (VAB),
ending at the Apollo/Saturn V center.
Wednesday, we drove to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore. At the manatee observation deck we had one brief manatee sighting. The park ranger told us there was better viewing at Bair’s Cove. We saw around 15 to 20 manatees there feeding on the sea grass. We also hiked the Oak Hammock trail.
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