With the warming weather, we have been able to enjoy more outdoor activities. Two of these activities have kept us busy and entertained. The two are exploring new places and kayaking.
The first activity has allowed us to venture upon various trails and pathways. There are trails once traveled often, but have now become "less traveled".
And trails frequently traveled.
Trails leading us over obstacles.
And trails leading us to the unknown.
There are trails that lead us to areas of interest.
And trails that lead to a desired destination.
Trails that lead us to past times and people.
And even trails that have seen better days.
Regardless of the trails we choose, they always lead somewhere.
Our second activity of kayaking is always filled with wondrous sights. During a recent early morning excursion, as the fog burned off, we paddled out on the Wakulla River. We were greeted by numerous turtles basking in the early morning light.
Some were basking together.
Three here, four there.
While others enjoyed a little solitude.
Some even shared their lounging areas with birds.
As we glided by, the turtles and bird eyed us warily. Each one stood their ground and refused to relinquish their sunny thrones, regardless of how close we drifted.
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Comments: 56
Absolutely stunning pictures. I love the trails theme and your kayak ride too. Great prose and photos, Renda. I am featuring this on Photographic Reflections.
Thank you! I'm honored to be featured. I have been thinking about trails (and paths) we choose often of late, Janny. Doing so has led me to find various things to photograph. I may, at some point, put the pics together with various sayings and quotes to create a motivational/inspirational slideshow.
Thanks again. Hope your weekend is going well.
Great post!
Thank you, Kerrell.
wow, I bet that place is beautiful. Thank you for postings to Animal Lovers Everywhere
All the places I found for the trails and turtles are great places, Minipin. I'm glad you were able to come along.
Beautiful photo essay! Gorgeous photos and I loved your commentary!
Thank you for posting your photo at Pretty Pictures.
Thank you, Kat. I'm glad you enjoyed this.
Looks like a beautiful place to spend the day. Great essay.
Janet, the trail photos are from a variety of places. The turtles were found at the Wakulla River. Thanks for coming by.
beautiful pictures
Thank you, Dave.
Fantastic essay!! Love the shots of the turtles!!!
Aren't they the coolest? They refused to bail off those spots too. I guess the sun felt too good to them. Thanks.
Yes, they are very cool!! You're very welcomed.
I love how you organized this treat for us. Like you I love discovering trails of all kinds.
Bob, the discovery of new (or at least different) trails can lead us to find additional treasures...can't they? I'm glad you enjoyed this.
Couldn't believe all those great shots of the turtles as well as the wing-spread bird.
Bob, I thought there was some kind of turtle "gathering" we happened upon. It was pretty cool to see all those guys catching a few early morning rays.
The bird must have just finished fishing because he was having to dry those gorgeous wings.
It was a Conference of Turtles to protest the French atrocities of eating turtle legs au gratin.
Bob, I wonder how the protest went. I have not seen any legs missing, so it must have been very sucessful :)
*successful*
thank you for taking us with you on your journeys. I love seeing turtles lined up logs like that.
JoAnn, thank you for coming along! The turtles are neat, aren't they?
awesome photo essay. I like all those boardwalks and the turtles as well.
Wendy, thanks so much. I'm glad you enjoyed this.
Great job on this photo essay! Thanks for sharing :)
Kay, thank you for having a cool spot for me to kayak and take these awesome photos.
Thank you for posting to Any Photo Art
Thanks, Denise :)
Beautiful collection of nature photos
Thank you, Kay.
This photo essay has been featured in http://bestshots.gather.com/
Kay, I'm honored to have this featured in your group. Thank you so much!
Another great photo essay Renda! I think the turtles are so cute hanging out together!!
Jeanna, thank you! Those turtles are something else, aren't they? They sure didn't mind us going by either. I was able to get pretty close and didn't want to make them jump into the water.
Wow Renda, this is an awesome photo essay, I love the trails, they all seem to lead to happy places and the pictures of the turtles are amazing, those with the birds sharing the logs, wouldn't it be great if people all got along like that, I love turtles, have a large collection of all sizes and shapes of all materials, my kids and husband and friends supplied me with so many over the years, When I was a kid, where we lived there were loads of turtles, and the brooks where we swam were filled with snapping turtles, gave them a wide bifth, great post.
Elsie ~ It's wonderful to see you here. Thank you for dropping in for a look. The trails do, indeed, lead to happy places and I hope they continue to do so :) Turtles are something else. We've always had them around too, so it is natural to see them here and there. I just thought it was neat to see them all out on this particular morning.
You are so right. It would be nice if everyone could get along regardless. That was the message I wanted those particular shots to send.
Ha! Snapping turtles....yes, giving them plenty of room is the best idea.
Hope you have a pleasant weekend.
beautiful pics! looks like some great places to see
Renita ~ Thank you. It's is some neat places, especially if you like nature, exploring, etc.
What an amazing photo essay you've put together, Renda! I so enjoyed the variety of trails and the turtles and bird were a fun treat as well. The essay, where you said so much with so little, was just perfect. Thank you for taking me along! =)
Marilyn, thank you for coming along. It was made to be enjoyed :)
What a joy to vacation here with you. I feel rested already. Featured in Your Photo Your Story. Many thanks.
Thank you, Karen, for the feature. I'm glad you felt rested after visiting here. Come back as often as you like :)
wonderful photo essay
Shelbia ~ Thank you.
Lovely photos, Renda.
Thank you :)
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