Pokagon day trip 2012

Pokagon State Park on lovely Lake James.

First, a cool morning hike...

WTF?

Nature center ahead!

In case you didn't know, I love maps!

All my pics of the Baltimore Orioles at the feeders were crappy.

House wren.

Squirrel under glass- the latest gourmet sensation.

And whilst I was chasing birds...

Laurie was inside with the turtles...

...frogs...

...hognosed snakes...

...and Massagua rattlers.

Laurie outside the nature center.

Me looking thoughtfully into the forest.

This dude was a real ham!

"Vault toilet"?  Is that for "Safe" urination?

Squirrels were constantly bombing us with half-eaten acorns- until I took a pic and threatened to sue.

Laurie saw this small stump that looked like it had a panda's face.  If it was the Virgin Mary, I'd have dug it up and put it on eBay.

Laurie SAYS that's a chip hanging out of her mouth, but I think she just stuck her tongue out at me!

Minnows.  I about ate two of 'em when I went swimming.

Something hit my foot, and I thought the squirrels were at it again.  Instead, it was this frog leaping out of nowhere.

Then we went paddleboating.

The hotel at Pokagon.  Remind me to tell you about my neice's wedding there someday.

Usually there's a buttload of seagulls about.  Today, this guy was the only one.

Laurie met this guy upon our return from the open sea.  What is it with her and snakes?  You'd think she's Eve or something.

Before I get done, I'd better put these two posers on.  They did such a fine job...

Everyone's talking about...

...health care this morning.  What do I have to say about health care?  I say $372 a month for COBRA is INSANE!  (No, that's not an acronym, it just means fergeddaboutit!)  I say $150 a month for a frickin' $10,000 deductable and no office visits for $150 per is a waste of my time.  And Obama wants to tax me if I say, "Just let me drop dead"?  I think I have a sign for him somewhere...

Ah, there it is!  As a result, I'm not going to say another word.  I'll just put up some pictures.

Finally got Mr. Cardinal to pose.  (You didn't really think I was going to shut up, didja?)

"Kell Drilling"?  As hot as it was, I thought it said "HELL Drilling"!

The story here, I learned this morning, is that one of the wells they use for the irrigation sprayers went dry.  "Then they drilled another one," the guy from Purdue told me, "But they drilled it the same depth as the first one."
"So no water?"
"No water.  It's been... fun..."

More of the mess down "Dead Tree Road..."

New all natural guardrail over at the ravine.  Must have been an OSHA storm.

Here's a toll gate at the new trail.  "Pay yer health care penalty tax here..."

Just to show how big that tree that cracked in two on the ravine trail was...

We pass this every walk.  Makes you wonder what made it grow like that...

Sunrise over the ol' homestead

6:30 AM.  Nobody out but us and the birds.

Scrappy investigates a deer bed near our "secret entrance".

He's got a scent... probably his feet...

At last, SOMEBODY willing to pose...

Moon over the forest...

Here's Scrappy and a butterfly.  See it?

How about now?

Can you see me now? Good!

Then we ran into this guy.  Never saw one before.

An Eastern Kingbird.

So mean, their species name is Tyrannus Tyrannus.  Actually will beat up blue jays.

No wonder I can never get one to pose.  Hey, lay off the jays!