My weekend Photos - Sunday Updates!!!

[makinorlando]

Tara and I spent Thursday night at the Poly Concierge, did MNSSHP & MK on Friday morning. If you would like to read about it and see photos check out my report.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1250433



Today we woke up to the most fabulous day. I don't think we have seen a day quite like this since last fall! Crisp, clear and breezy. It did get to the low 80s - a picture perfect day. I wanted to spend time outdoors, in nature - as much as I love it, I needed to see something other than the Make Believe world of Disney today, and practice taking pics in nature.

We headed east to Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge & Canaveral Nat'l Seashore. We saw all kinds critters, plants and flowers, as well as the launch pad and assembly building of Cape Canaveral in the distance.

I saw my first bald eagle in the wild (at least that I am aware of) - he was a distace away on one of the eagle's perches the refuge has built, so my photo is not great. We also saw two alligators.

These are called American Beauty Berries - I thought they were the most wonderful color to see in nature - amidst all the greens and browns.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/MerritIsland_CanaveralSeashore09.jpg

Here's a turtle we saw

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/MerritIsland_CanaveralSeashore04.jpg

and an alligator - no duck weed like last week! This one was about 30 feet away in the water - we were in the car - on the Black Point Wildlife Drive (http://www.nbbd.com/godo/minwr/BlackPoint/index.html)- area has an interesting history - the land was originally (I think still is actually owned by NASA). http://www.fws.gov/merrittisland/ - there is also a manatee watch, we didn't make it there today.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/MerritIsland_CanaveralSeashore36.jpg

Here's the eagle - not a great photo... but it's a BALD EAGLE! I had the teleconverter on my camera, but it was quite windy and I had a hard time holding steady today!
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/MerritIsland_CanaveralSeashore28.jpg

A pretty yellow flower
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/MerritIsland_CanaveralSeashore15.jpg

and egret - also taken from the car. They suggested you stay in the car along the drive. I did get out to try and get the eagle, but the rest were all taken out the open car window.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/MerritIsland_CanaveralSeashore26.jpg

On to the Seashore- you pay $3 per person (over 16 years old to enter) - or $35 for an annual pass.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/MerritIsland_CanaveralSeashore40.jpg

Here is the shuttle launch pad
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/MerritIsland_CanaveralSeashore41.jpg

The dunes
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/MerritIsland_CanaveralSeashore42.jpg

and at the top - the OCEAN. I love the ocean. This beach is developed in the sense that they have parking areas, rest rooms, and the walkways across the dunes and down to the beach, but nothing commercial - just narrow beach and ocean!

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/MerritIsland_CanaveralSeashore45.jpg

You can see how narrow it is!
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/MerritIsland_CanaveralSeashore44.jpg

Lots of wind today and great surf!
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/MerritIsland_CanaveralSeashore54.jpg

Tara loves the ocean too (we are Pisces - what can I say - so is my ex....)
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/MerritIsland_CanaveralSeashore49.jpg

A seashell
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/MerritIsland_CanaveralSeashore57.jpg

A flock of pelicans... I had the teleconverter on, and I like the effect of the circle if I don't zoom out all the way! I know it's not the right way, but I like the look!

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/MerritIsland_CanaveralSeashore64.jpg

and then my batteries died! I forgot to charge the ones I had in my camera at Disney, and could not remember what I did with the other set that I knew were fully charged, so I was working with two partially charged sets!

I am so glad we finally made the trip (it's less than one hour from home) to something unfamiliar. We get so caught up in the attractions that I forget about all the natural attractions that this area has to offer us! The day cost us about 5-6 gallons of gas (BTW 2.06 a gallon!), $3.00 fee for the seashore, and nothing for the nature drive..... didn't even use the tolls roads to get to the coast....

[Dismom+two]

Great pictures!! I do believe after the fun I had today, I think I may go out again tomorow! :cool1:

[safetymom]

Thanks for the great pictures. I will have to take a ride over to get some photos.

[sk8belle]

The effect the teleconverter created in that last photo is really neat. Who cares if it's not the "right way" to use it? This hobby is all about being creative, right? :)

And can I just tell you how envious I am that you can just pop on over the Poly to stay concierge for one night? That is so cool. Almost as cool as growing bananas in your backyard. ;) Have you picked any yet and tried them?

[boBQuincy]

What a great day you had!
We all love Walt Disney World but there's nothing like getting back to the beach or mountains.
Thanks for sharing your photos with us! :)

[makinorlando]

The effect the teleconverter created in that last photo is really neat. Who cares if it's not the "right way" to use it? This hobby is all about being creative, right? :)

And can I just tell you how envious I am that you can just pop on over the Poly to stay concierge for one night? That is so cool. Almost as cool as growing bananas in your backyard. ;) Have you picked any yet and tried them?

No bananas yet - they are still very green. The oranges should be ripe in a couple months too! A few are just starting to show a little orange!

What a great day you had!
We all love Walt Disney World but there's nothing like getting back to the beach or mountains.
Thanks for sharing your photos with us! :)

Such a great day that Tara informed me when she went to bed that we ARE going back to the beach tomorrow!!!! This time we will be a bit more prepared for the beach, and all my batteries are now charged!

It's no further than driving to WDW, and is a really cheap day!!!

[poconoboatniks]

Martha,

Thanks for sharing your photos with us. I love when you post new pictures and am disappointed when I get to end of your posts. You always leave me wanting more.

I'm so jealous of your weather. We're in the colorful Poconos where tonight's temperature will be somewhere in the high 30's.

Thanks for sharing,

Poconoboatniks

[Cyrano]

Great photos of a great day out :goodvibes

[wdwpluto]

Martha - my DH and I were at Canaveral National Seashore yesterday too! Small World :sunny: I haven't looked at my pics yet (b/c we went to Epcot, then closed down the Adventurer's Club at 1:30 this morning afterwards), but I'll try and post some.

[Olaf]

Isn't that one of the most beautiful spots in America. Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup2

[pxlbarrel]

Whoa! Now I know where I'm going the next time I'm going to WDW. What a wonderful place!!! I didn't even know about it. Too much Goofy tunnel vision. It's going on the list. Thanks!!

[makinorlando]

Martha - my DH and I were at Canaveral National Seashore yesterday too! Small World :sunny: I haven't looked at my pics yet (b/c we went to Epcot, then closed down the Adventurer's Club at 1:30 this morning afterwards), but I'll try and post some.

Wow - That's too funny! We were back there today! I can't believe it took me 3 years to find it! Tara had such a good time playing with two girls she met. There was a little more action there today - not quite so windy, but we were also there earlier in the day.

I HIGHLY recommend this area for anyone who has an extra day when they are at the "World". There are many things there we have not done yet - other beach areas, and a Manatee Viewing area. That is about 7 miles up the road from the beach which is Playalinda Beach.
http://www.nps.gov/cana/index.htm. It is only about 60 miles from WDW, and you can be there in just a little over an hour!

Here are just a couple more - I promise! Here's the link to all of the photos from the past two days in Photobucket (http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/?start=all).

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/Canaveral101531.jpg

Those darned seagulls were hard to photograph. They didn't seem to want to land today! Those tall grass like plants are "Sea Oats" and help to protect the dunes.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/Canaveral101556.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/Canaveral101565.jpg

Oh - and I found a HIDDEN MICKEY in the Prickly Pear Cactus (who knew we had cactus that grew naturally here..... not me!) - It's a little oblong, and probably really looks more like a rabbit... but I used my imagination!
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/Canaveral101569.jpg

I also tried a little B&W
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Merritt_Island_Refuge_Canaveral_Natl_Seashore/Canaveral101572.jpg

[Seahunt]

:wave: Great photos! The picture of the bald eagle brought back memories - after the hurricanes, we had a pair that came around for about a week (must have been displaced from their regular spot by the hurricanes). I was thrilled at first, but then I was hoping they would leave because they were the most ruthless hunters I had ever seen! Everytime I looked out, they were swooping after something! :goodvibes

We usually go to Canaveral after eating rock shrimp at Dixie Crossroads restaurant in Titusville (yum!) http://www.dixiecrossroads.com/menu/index.html

:Pinkbounc