Saturday, April 13, 2019

"The Rainbow River"


Do you think this view would be worth getting 'off the beaten path'?


Oh my! It certainly was!

We are always friendly when we walk at Blue Run Park in Dunnellon and one day one of the employees of the Rainbow River Club invited us to walk into the restricted 'club' area.


So do you want to brave the wildlife to walk down the boardwalk? 


We had no idea what was ahead!


 But off we went!
 

Oh my the Rainbow River is beautiful!


We saw several birds from this observation deck. 


Our favorite was the Limpkin.


We haven't seen him lately so this was a nice sighting.


And speaking of wildlife....we had quite a surprise when we got back on the regular paved trail. (see more on the video tab above)


This small alligator was right next to the trail. I JUMPED out of my skin when I saw it! I know a lot of people think ....it's Florida and we see alligators all the time. But the only place we ever see them are in the swamps at different parks and preserves. Not right next to the trail. And we are still chuckling about a young lady that came along the same time we did. She said, "How do you think it got out?" Let's see....how do you answer that one? The river was on one side of us and the swamp on the other. I don't think I answered her. I think I just looked around and then she did too!


Well, that's the excitement of hike #51! I'm never going to catch up with my pics! But we're still having FUN!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE  and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

that was a privilege to see the restricted area! The alligator sighting only an added bonus!

acorn hollow said...

looks like a fun walk. Lucky you to get off the beaten path
Cathy

Tom said...

...it's ALWAYS worth getting 'off the beaten path!'

MadSnapper said...

ha ha on the got out... the gator was thinking why are you people in my yard. LOL... a beautiful place to walk

Carol said...

Oh, my! I'm glad it was just a "small" alligator! I can't imagine seeing one on a hike :) Lovely photos from a lovely day!

eileeninmd said...

Hello

Looks like another great hike. I like the park and boardwalk. Nice shots of the Limpkin and gator. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

Susie said...

Diane, I think about some wild things the way I think about snakes...I like them fine if I am the one sneaking up on them, not the other way around. LOL
Looked like a nice day for hiking too. Blessings to you and Ron, xoxo, Susie

podso said...

It's a great story since you survived the sighting! And the views well worth the surprise!

carol l mckenna said...

Definitely worth getting off the 'beaten path' ~ Gorgeous nature shots!

Happy Times to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Connie said...

Beautiful photos . . . what a lovely hike that was. Your alligator story reminded me of a hike through a state park in Michigan over fifty years ago. I was hiking with a friend and I am so afraid of snakes that I was keeping a watchful eye. When I told her this she replied, "this is a state park, they don't allow snakes in here".

Out on the prairie said...

so the boardwalk was to keep you above those gators, YIKES

Vee said...

I knew it! Yikes! 🐊 😁 Yes, The Rainbow River is beautiful.

Adam Jones said...

Looks like a stunning place to visit. Great wildlife and views.

Ann Thompson said...

Awesome view and yes it's worth going off the regular trail. Spotting the alligator would have scared the neck out of me

Terri D said...

Gorgeous and definitely worth it!! I would have jumped seeing a gator that close too... even a little one like that! Yikes! Thanks for taking us along on your 'restricted' hike!

Barbara said...

Read your post, watched the video. I haven't lived in Florida long enough for that to not scare the living daylights out of me, even though he is a relatively small gator....

All the same, thanks for the exciting adventure!

Betty J. Crow said...

That alligator would have made me jump too! Enjoyed seeing the limpkin. A new bird to me.

Red Rose Alley said...

Oh my gosh, I would have jumped too! You are a brave one going on this hike and running into the alligator. The Rainbow River is so pretty, and I love that picture of the bridge. It looks like a jungle awaits you. That was nice of them to let you walk in the restricted area. Oh my, so many interesting things you saw. : )

~Sheri

Anu said...

Hello. Nice and interesting place. The limpkin looks so great. Have a nice weekend ahead.

Linda said...

You lucky duck!! What a great hike! But that alligator! Oh, MY!!!!

Linda said...

Beautiful place! Nice pics of the limpkin.

Anni said...

I am here to send you my thanks for linking in with us at I'd Rather B Birdin' this weekend. What glorious surroundings Diane! I'd be out there every day. Loved seeing ALL the wildlife & nature's views. LOL on that lady's question.

Phil Slade said...

Hey Diane. That was funny. As if to say that it's only possible to see and experience wildlife in zoos and protected (p)reserves rather than walking in the great outdoors. It's quite amazing how some people never use their eyes and ears.

Betty J. Crow said...

That alligator would have scared me too! Enjoyed your post.

Rhodesia said...

Looks like a great walk. Thanks for sharing it all. Diane

The Feminine Energy said...

An alligator!!!!!!!!!! It surprised me by simply the photo and I wasn't even there. I can't imagine seeing that sweetie "in the flesh". :-O What a pretty walk you had! We bid on a house last year that was right next to a park like this, with walking trails. We lost it to another bidder and my heart was broken. Ah well.... que sera sera. Thank you for "taking us along" on your walks. I so enjoy your photos. Love, Andrea xoxo

Lowcarb team member said...

The Rainbow River is quite beautiful.
I enjoyed seeing all of your photographs.

All the best Jan

Jeannie said...

ME! ME! (Raises hand and wildly waves) PICK ME! I want to join the club and visit the unknown...except for the alligator part.
Jeannie@GetMeToTheCountry

Carla from The River said...

Ha Ha, this was fun. I can certainly understand why you jumped. :-)

Happy Easter my friend!
Carla

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Wow! That was a little bit of a surprise! Be careful out there (he’s kind of cute though isn’t he?). Nice to get that special walk.

Blondie's Journal said...

I love reading about your hikes. We always talk about getting into that when we stay at our place in Asheville, but we always get caught up win other things. I don't think I could handle seeing an alligator. I would avoid that trail from then on!

Jane x

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

Path, near the path, off the path ... just getting out there is a great reward, huh.

Jeanie said...

I love the crooked bridge and the limpkin is adorable. I've never seen one before and I love the name as much as the bird!

Debbie said...

i enjoyed seeing the limpkin, something i don't see around here...i did not enjoy seeing the alligator, as i'm sure you did not, another one i don't see around here!!! hehehehe

i assume the girl you saw was not from florida!!!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

It certainly looks like a wonderful place to walk and discover wildlife. I can only imagine the variety of warblers and other songbirds that would be discovered by a little dedicated searching.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Yikes! Are my feelings as well and yes I was among thise who might have thought you see gators more often. Of course, we never see them here in NH.