Appalachian Trail Summary: 25 miles through Georgia

Let me tell you a little about what I did last week! I hiked nearly 25 miles of Appalachian Trail in Georgia, with the Certified Student Leadership course I took (the "Wilderness Track"). We Drive to Georgia on May 2nd, and from May 3rd until May 7th, backpacked up and down the mountains. I really believe it's the hardest thing I have ever done. I'd gotten to know the other students just a little, but I believe I've made a few new good friends. I was so nervous that my knee or slowness would make me a liability, but as we went along we all adjusted to each other and learned how to support one another. We each had a day where we led the entire group, and on my day a girl twisted her ankle, exacerbating an an old injury. It was really hard to keep camp organized for such a long period of time. We hiked only 3 miles that day and after just an hour in camp people were napping and wandering off. I found it so much harder to organize them in camp than on the trail! The instructor told me later that it's often true, and is made more pronounced by a weakness of mine: getting people's attention, and then keeping it. I tend to just do a needed task, myself. I learned that can enable laziness at a time when action is needed. So, something to work on.

20130228 Gulf Specimen Marine Lab - Panacea Florida

The Gulf Specimen Marine Lab is tucked in among really nice seaside residences. A small front building contains the gift shop and a small office, while the aquariums are pretty much all outdoor or in open air tents.  They have several touch tanks with various  shell-life and horseshoe crabs (mating, I  might add), but some tanks were strictly  "no touch".  The marine lab is a working lab  and human interference in the experiments  means trying to account for the errors you introduce or injury you cause (via the  chemicals on your hands) or starting the entire experiment over from scratch. It was a really cool place.

They had a nurse shark pair and their calf. I think I had to take ten photos just to get one with one adult and the calf in the same shot. The parents swam in circles in the small-diameter of the tank (maybe ten feet). One stayed near the calf  nearly all the time, and following it when it swam off.

Allie is a Loggerhead Sea Turtle. They're endangered and are commonly rescued after being damaged by motorboats or swallowing fish hooks. Allie endured the latter. GSML removed her hook and rehabilitated the 250 pound, 50 year old, turtle so she could be released (which they did June 22, 2013).  It takes a lot of fish to feed a turtle that big, so the lab offers "adoptions" to fund her. I felt I had to, and earned a little "Certificate of Adoption" in thanks! Wee!

I got myself a Patch (my favorite kind of  souvenir) and just enjoyed all the very  neat wildlife! I loved this place!

Palm Beach Zoo - Safari Nights

Shane and I went to this special evening admission at the local zoo to see the animals when they're most active! We've been to the zoo before, and it's a GREAT zoo, but it's really hot in Florida. If I could sleep through the hottest part of the day and ignore all the screaming children, I probably would too.

We had a schedule to keep, so first went to see the Wings Over Water show. It was the same show they do during the day, but I always love it. ONE exception: Hunter the Eurasian Eagle Owl is back! He's been out for a while because of a foot fungus, but was back and ready for pictures. Is it weird that I know these things? I did get to see a Harris's Hawk, Austin, which was made extra cool because I'd just seen a little educational video on them the night before! During the WoW show the birds fly very close to you while the hosts tell you about the birds, their habitat, and how you can help preserve that habitat through little things. I always enjoy it.

We went to the Tiger Talks next. We've seen the three male tigers before, but I got to hear the very interesting talk about their habits and habitat, and watch the trainer show off some husbandry actions. This means that they have trained the tigers to display in certain ways, in exchange for treats, so they can check the health of their paws and belly etc. It was SO COOL hearing the tigers bark. I learned that the three males could never be reunited with their mother after being separated. Interesting.

We saw the Wild Things show, which I've never seen before. I saw two wild guinea fowl rampage around the stage, an ocelot walk on a leash, a young alligator, a BARN OWL land on the perch 6 inches above Shane's head (so close!) and a Hyacinth Macaw! Squee!

We went to the Jaguar Talk next/last. They've always been my favorite of the big cats but I still learned new things. I learned that mothers decide their kittens are ready to be on their own when they chase them up a tree and won't let them come down. Also, they have the strongest bite of any of the big cats though they are only the third largest. She talked about their stalking style of hunting, and threw fish in for her to pounce on. People asked why she didn't give it to Maya (the jaguar) through the fence, and Maya showed them why... Maya reached through the chain link fence farther than she ever had before (according to the trainer) and grabbed the trainer's ankle, pulling her the ground, and stealing her rubber boot. The trainer was unharmed, though embarrassed. They had to clear the area and feed the cat just to get the boot back! The whole trip was exciting! I love the Palm Beach Zoo!