Hello Old Friend!

Hazel and I made our weekly Sunday morning trek in the rain yesterday to survey the progress on the dam on Orton Road. A shoulder has been defined on both sides and rock has been placed @ the tops over the cemented dam walls. As you can see an Orton employee drove across the road while I was there. It appears that the next step will be paving then marking!

Never mind the road. Take in all the beauty that is the Swamp in all of its Autumnal glory on a dismal and dreary late October day. If you look closely in the forefront of each of these pics you will see the massive head of a most welcome visitor!

My heart seemingly stopped and I caught my breath watching the wake being pushed by the girth of this gargantuan Alligator making its sinuous way toward Hazel and I. It was only then that I realized it was none other than my Popeye Gator (aka Beau). Hello Old Friend!

Hazel wasn't nearly as ecstatic as I was to see my scaley scuted Dragon friend, especially in the rain. She stopped in her tracks and bristled, blinking up @ me. Don't worry, we were high up on the road bed and he stayed a considerable distance away in the water. I didn't tarry long because there was a mix of cement dust that formed a slurry on the road top in the drizzle. In fact, we didn't even walk up to the curve because of it. I had to get that muck off of my Hazel's feet and coat. My hoodie worked just fine. I had to convince her to walk in puddles on the way back to the truck and then toweled the rest off. At first my girl didn't quite understand me trying to get her wet but she happily obliged Splashing in and out of every mud hole we came across.

Yes Popeye I can see you ole Buddy, ole Pal...

Till Later My Gator... Thanks for lifting my spirits and putting on me on Cloud Nine! Oh how I missed your presence.