Want to see what I have been doing for Halloween for the last 20 years !!!!!!!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Toren Hegge Family Vacation
Every year Julie's family comes down from WI and we go camping and exploring!
This year we camped at Indian Lake State Park for a few days of Hiking, Bike riding,
Miniature Golf and Kayaking.
On the way home we visited the Wright Patterson Air Force Base Museum.
And on the last day of their visit a trip to Kings Island Amusment Park
Another great family vacation
Click here for pictures from our camping trip and trip to the museum
This year we camped at Indian Lake State Park for a few days of Hiking, Bike riding,
Miniature Golf and Kayaking.
On the way home we visited the Wright Patterson Air Force Base Museum.
And on the last day of their visit a trip to Kings Island Amusment Park
Another great family vacation
Click here for pictures from our camping trip and trip to the museum
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Last Hoorah
Back to the Everglades
We headed out to the Everglades early the skies looked cloudy it might not be the best of conditions weather wise but hey it’s our last day here so we are going to make the best of it.
We got to the park around 8am and stopped at the park headquarters to check out the history of the park and just to look around If you come here I would recommend it, it has a lot of information. We finished up there and I took Julie to the one place in the park I knew we would see gators I didn’t know this but gators are territorial so if you see one more than likely when you come back to that spot they will be there again.
After walking on the boardwalk and seeing the fish, giant grasshoppers and birds there they were the kings of this park Gators there were probably 10 at least and we saw a turtle finally I saw a turtle it was floating around in the pond eating the fruit from a mangrove tree it looks like a apple. We finished up on the boardwalk and headed off to Flamingo the last area in the park.
We had a packed lunch at Flamingo and decided we were going to rent a 17 foot skiff to take up the channel and through a series of lakes or last big thing. We took off all excited about what we might see. They told us we might see salt water crocs, manatees and maybe even dolphins. We saw a lot of mangroves we had a great time on the boat it was very relaxing on the way back we got hit with a down pour of rain we had a nice top to the boat so we stayed relatively dry we docked and the ranger said their was a really bad storm coming in and we got back just in time. We didn’t see any animals but, where we docked we say the snout of a manatee and we saw 4 salt water crocs! The rain moved in and we called it a day in the park.
We headed out to the Everglades early the skies looked cloudy it might not be the best of conditions weather wise but hey it’s our last day here so we are going to make the best of it.
We got to the park around 8am and stopped at the park headquarters to check out the history of the park and just to look around If you come here I would recommend it, it has a lot of information. We finished up there and I took Julie to the one place in the park I knew we would see gators I didn’t know this but gators are territorial so if you see one more than likely when you come back to that spot they will be there again.
After walking on the boardwalk and seeing the fish, giant grasshoppers and birds there they were the kings of this park Gators there were probably 10 at least and we saw a turtle finally I saw a turtle it was floating around in the pond eating the fruit from a mangrove tree it looks like a apple. We finished up on the boardwalk and headed off to Flamingo the last area in the park.
We had a packed lunch at Flamingo and decided we were going to rent a 17 foot skiff to take up the channel and through a series of lakes or last big thing. We took off all excited about what we might see. They told us we might see salt water crocs, manatees and maybe even dolphins. We saw a lot of mangroves we had a great time on the boat it was very relaxing on the way back we got hit with a down pour of rain we had a nice top to the boat so we stayed relatively dry we docked and the ranger said their was a really bad storm coming in and we got back just in time. We didn’t see any animals but, where we docked we say the snout of a manatee and we saw 4 salt water crocs! The rain moved in and we called it a day in the park.
We got back to our motel and had some dinner then the weather had cleared and we went for a nice kayak ride in the bay and now we are getting ready to come back home what a great trip this has been. When I get back home I will get all my pictures together and post them here for you to see. So check back and enjoy!
Peace
SNORKELING!!!
First Time For Everything
Today we got up and had a nice breakfast on our little patio. After breakfast we headed out to John Pennekamp State Park home of the US’s only living coral reef and we were going to go snorkeling there is also at the reef a miniature version of Jesus of the deep the original being in Italy. It was raining at the park and the captain of the boat told us that it wasn’t raining were we where going but the waves were rocking around 2 feet and gave us the option to back out no one did and we headed off snorkel gear in hand.
Neither Julie nor I have snorkeled so this is a first for both of us. We got to the place and anchored the captain and the rep from the state park gave us the lay out and the rules and told us to jump when ever we are ready the rep from the park walked up to me and said put this on your mustache. He handed me a jar of Vaseline? He told me that the goggles will not seal with a mustache but if you slick it down it will at least for a little while. I took his advice and it did work for a little while we made it out to the Jesus of the deep and it was really cool we loved it but the next time I will shave my mustache off so that the goggles seal better.
We got back to land got dried off and went to explore the rest of the park. On the way back to or hotel we stopped at a free bird sanctuary and it was also really nice all kinds of birds some I hadn’t seen yet. I was getting ready to start grilling and decided to go out to the beach and get a shot of Julie kayaking while I was out on the dock two manatees swam under the dock! They were HUGE! We went back and had a nice dinner then went and picked up our underwater pictures they turned out okay for two people that have never took any pictures underwater before.
That about did it tomorrow its back to the Everglades to show Julie some of the things I have seen over the last few day’s.
Peace
Today we got up and had a nice breakfast on our little patio. After breakfast we headed out to John Pennekamp State Park home of the US’s only living coral reef and we were going to go snorkeling there is also at the reef a miniature version of Jesus of the deep the original being in Italy. It was raining at the park and the captain of the boat told us that it wasn’t raining were we where going but the waves were rocking around 2 feet and gave us the option to back out no one did and we headed off snorkel gear in hand.
Neither Julie nor I have snorkeled so this is a first for both of us. We got to the place and anchored the captain and the rep from the state park gave us the lay out and the rules and told us to jump when ever we are ready the rep from the park walked up to me and said put this on your mustache. He handed me a jar of Vaseline? He told me that the goggles will not seal with a mustache but if you slick it down it will at least for a little while. I took his advice and it did work for a little while we made it out to the Jesus of the deep and it was really cool we loved it but the next time I will shave my mustache off so that the goggles seal better.
We got back to land got dried off and went to explore the rest of the park. On the way back to or hotel we stopped at a free bird sanctuary and it was also really nice all kinds of birds some I hadn’t seen yet. I was getting ready to start grilling and decided to go out to the beach and get a shot of Julie kayaking while I was out on the dock two manatees swam under the dock! They were HUGE! We went back and had a nice dinner then went and picked up our underwater pictures they turned out okay for two people that have never took any pictures underwater before.
That about did it tomorrow its back to the Everglades to show Julie some of the things I have seen over the last few day’s.
Peace
Up to the North
Man the Everglades are big!
I continued on and I swear that about every 50 yards there was a culvert and there was a gator in every one of them it was fantastic! I finally came to the conclusion that gators are scary because no matter were you look there is this talk grass and you know there is water underneath all of it and I can guarantee you that there is a bunch of gators out there you just don’t know where?
I did get rained on but not to bad my knee held up and now I am back on my way to pick up Julie at south Miami Beach. Julie told me she saw a couple of the local celebs the guy that owns Miami Ink, and one day the Hulkster Hulk Hogan rode by on his bike one day. It’s nice to be together now and we are off to Key Largo we got here just in time for dinner. We finished the day with a nice dinner on the beach at sunset and called it a day.
Peace
Well today is going to be a lot of driving The good news is I pick Julie up today the bad news is she is 60 miles north. I looked at the map and decided that I will drive up to the northern end of the park rent a bicycle and ride the 15 mile loop they have.
This turned out to be one of my favorite things I did at the park. You head out and the first seven miles was just full of wild birds and baby alligators. At the end of the seven miles is an observation tower and it was also really nice public bathrooms and water. I could see an afternoon storm moving in and decided I should get going because the longer part of the path was next. My knee is a little sore so if it dose start to rain I’m getting wet.
This turned out to be one of my favorite things I did at the park. You head out and the first seven miles was just full of wild birds and baby alligators. At the end of the seven miles is an observation tower and it was also really nice public bathrooms and water. I could see an afternoon storm moving in and decided I should get going because the longer part of the path was next. My knee is a little sore so if it dose start to rain I’m getting wet.
I started out and got stopped around the very first bend by a 8 foot gator after a couple of nervous pictures I decided that he (the gator) after he laid back down completely on his stomach that I could get a picture of myself with him in the background.
I continued on and I swear that about every 50 yards there was a culvert and there was a gator in every one of them it was fantastic! I finally came to the conclusion that gators are scary because no matter were you look there is this talk grass and you know there is water underneath all of it and I can guarantee you that there is a bunch of gators out there you just don’t know where?
I did get rained on but not to bad my knee held up and now I am back on my way to pick up Julie at south Miami Beach. Julie told me she saw a couple of the local celebs the guy that owns Miami Ink, and one day the Hulkster Hulk Hogan rode by on his bike one day. It’s nice to be together now and we are off to Key Largo we got here just in time for dinner. We finished the day with a nice dinner on the beach at sunset and called it a day.
Peace
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Another great Day
40 percent chance of thunder storms I started out early this morning heading to Flamingo Bay on my way I managed to grab a shot of this beautiful little bird hunting up his breakfast. It took me about ½ hour and I was paddling my rental canoe out into the bay. I spoke to the guy renting out the canoes and he told me the best place to see dauphins and other ocean animals was a place called Snake Bite Bay the water
was very still and you could see the rain clouds on the horizon it was hot and humid at 8 am and I was starting to wonder if I was going to go all this way and see nothing but fish rolling around and jumping out of the water.As soon as I came around the bend into Snake Bite out of the water
came a dauphine! I got my camera gear out and got a shot of the fin I was waiting to see if it would come out of the water again and got that feeling that I should look to my right I did and about 3 feet from me was an alligator it shocked me. I got my paddle and started to paddle away from the gator and the dauphine followed next to me. The thing that made me nervous was when they both went under. It was that where are they feeling ya know?
So I headed back, I got around the bend again and the front end of my canoe came up and threw me off balance a bit what ever it was it was big I paddled harder and got straitened out and the big thing came up again it was a manatee! All I can say is what a morning.
On my way back I saw many different birds many of them fishing diving into the water and coming up with fish in their talons it was really worth the work it took to get out there. I also saw a couple of giant herons.
When I returned the canoe I asked the guy if gators swam in the salt water and he said hardly ever and then he asked me if I could see the body and the head or just the head. All I could see was the head so he said it was defiantly a gator they only float with their head above the water line and crocs float with their entire body. So not only did I see a dolphin, a manatee I also so a gator in salt water.
On my way back I saw many different birds many of them fishing diving into the water and coming up with fish in their talons it was really worth the work it took to get out there. I also saw a couple of giant herons.
When I returned the canoe I asked the guy if gators swam in the salt water and he said hardly ever and then he asked me if I could see the body and the head or just the head. All I could see was the head so he said it was defiantly a gator they only float with their head above the water line and crocs float with their entire body. So not only did I see a dolphin, a manatee I also so a gator in salt water.
I headed off to my last destination in the park West Lake Trail this was a boardwalk that took you through and around a bunch of mangrove trees I swear when you are walking through the think of these trees you can imagine them walking the way their roots stick up out of the ground before the actual tree starts I could imagine any time Tree Beard coming out with two hobbits. I got back in the car and the sky just cut loose rain lightning thunder flooding streets the whole nine yards. It was time to head back to the hotel. I think I will go catch Hell Boy II The Golden Army.Well all in all the trip to the Everglades has been great the wild life and scenery has been just beautiful tomorrow I am going to head to Big Cypress before I go back into Miami to pick Julie up then it’s down to Key Largo.
Peace
Friday, July 11, 2008
Things are looking up!
It's turned into the trip I was hoping for.
My next stop was Pinelands Trail this area while beautiful I didn’t really care for it was extremely overgrown and full of poison ivy type plants, snakes and because it’s not visited that often spiders and spider webs. I read that this area is a burn area new growth comes from fire and it hasn’t been burned for awhile it looked to me that it was close there was a lot of dead weeds and limbs on the ground.
Next was Pa-hay-okee overlook it’s a really nice overlook of the sawgrass of the Shark River Slough if you look at the picture at least a foot of water is under everything you see here as far as the eye can see. This is another beautiful area full of fish large snails flowers and birds.
I had time for one last stop Paurotis Pond I was driving to this location when I passed a sign that said Rock Reef Pass elevation 3 feet and just had to get a picture. Paurotis Pond is like a rest stop picnic benches trash cans and I nice pond to look out on surrounded by cypress trees and palm trees. As soon as I pulled in I saw a bird hunting for it’s next meal and walked quietly over to the closest bench I thought I could get to without scaring it and got ready to take some pictures the next thing I knew I thought I was going to have a National Geographic moment you know the one where the gator comes out of the water and eats the animal drinking from the water? But before the gator could strike the bird flew away. That was terrifying and exciting all at the same time. I got ready to leave the gator just laying there and I noticed right next to me was the biggest and most colorful grass hopper (if that’s what it is) I have ever seen.
I woke up early had some coffee and a little breakfast and headed out to meet the day. There 
was a nice breeze and with nice breezes comes the thought of no mosquitoes. The first animal I saw is the same bird I see when I leave my house every morning in Amelia a little morning dove warming itself in the parking lot.
On my way into the park I saw a sign targeting tourist to the Alligator Ranch and I thought with a little bit of dark humor I guess if I can’t find them in the wild I could always go there to see them. I had decided that I will go through the park stopping at the walk ways heading towards the end of the road.
Flamingo Bay is at the end of the park. I knew I couldn’t make it today which is fine because tomorrow I want to start at Flamingo Bay the rangers told me I can get a canoe there and go out into the bay and see dolphins, birds and manatees so I will save that for last just in case today is a flop.
I usually try to stay away from the “paths” and try to go more on my own but I decided that since my knee isn’t doing very well I would stick to them.
My first stop was at the front of the park a article I read once said that a photographer should always take at least one picture of himself where he is at so I did.
was a nice breeze and with nice breezes comes the thought of no mosquitoes. The first animal I saw is the same bird I see when I leave my house every morning in Amelia a little morning dove warming itself in the parking lot.On my way into the park I saw a sign targeting tourist to the Alligator Ranch and I thought with a little bit of dark humor I guess if I can’t find them in the wild I could always go there to see them. I had decided that I will go through the park stopping at the walk ways heading towards the end of the road.
Flamingo Bay is at the end of the park. I knew I couldn’t make it today which is fine because tomorrow I want to start at Flamingo Bay the rangers told me I can get a canoe there and go out into the bay and see dolphins, birds and manatees so I will save that for last just in case today is a flop.
I usually try to stay away from the “paths” and try to go more on my own but I decided that since my knee isn’t doing very well I would stick to them.My first stop was at the front of the park a article I read once said that a photographer should always take at least one picture of himself where he is at so I did.
Then it was off to Royal Palm this area was damaged by Hurricane Andrew but has come back very nicely and much to my surprise was full of great critters I saw a lot of different fish and birds and just as I was coming to the end of the trail GATTORS there were 4 of them floating around in a nice pool of water WOW first stop! This area was also surrounded by fantastic hardwoods.
My next stop was Pinelands Trail this area while beautiful I didn’t really care for it was extremely overgrown and full of poison ivy type plants, snakes and because it’s not visited that often spiders and spider webs. I read that this area is a burn area new growth comes from fire and it hasn’t been burned for awhile it looked to me that it was close there was a lot of dead weeds and limbs on the ground.Next was Pa-hay-okee overlook it’s a really nice overlook of the sawgrass of the Shark River Slough if you look at the picture at least a foot of water is under everything you see here as far as the eye can see. This is another beautiful area full of fish large snails flowers and birds.
I had time for one last stop Paurotis Pond I was driving to this location when I passed a sign that said Rock Reef Pass elevation 3 feet and just had to get a picture. Paurotis Pond is like a rest stop picnic benches trash cans and I nice pond to look out on surrounded by cypress trees and palm trees. As soon as I pulled in I saw a bird hunting for it’s next meal and walked quietly over to the closest bench I thought I could get to without scaring it and got ready to take some pictures the next thing I knew I thought I was going to have a National Geographic moment you know the one where the gator comes out of the water and eats the animal drinking from the water? But before the gator could strike the bird flew away. That was terrifying and exciting all at the same time. I got ready to leave the gator just laying there and I noticed right next to me was the biggest and most colorful grass hopper (if that’s what it is) I have ever seen. 
That was it I was packed up and heading out of the park when I saw this beautiful hawk it was a good way to end a perfect day.
Peace
Peace
Our Trip To Miami
It’s got to get better than this!
The day started out great we went to the airport and the plane was actually on time we landed on time we called the rental car company and they picked us up at the airport and took us right
to the rental car place about 15 minutes later we were in our car and heading to South Beach we parked the car and walked around we deciding to have a nice meal at PAUL’s a “French” restaurant.The food was okay; we went for a walk on the beach and then back to the car. I dropped Julie off at her hotel. Then I headed off to the Everglades excited about spending time there camping and taking pictures just relaxing and enjoying nature. 60 miles later as I was pulling off of route 1 heading to the Everglades when my phone rang, this is were you put in the background music da da da daaaaa.
It was Julie she left all her paperwork in the car I said well let me set up my camp because by the time I get back it will be dark she said no problem see ya soon.
Ready for problem number two? I pull up to the ranger station and it was only $10.00 for a week long pass into the park I was pleasantly surprised. But was a little worried when she asked “are you planning on camping?” I said with an excited voice “yes” my mood started to change
when she started to laugh and said “good luck the mosquitoes are terrible!”I went on bound and determined to camp but when I got back to the campground I found out that because of the mosquitoes camping is free still I went on in cautiously got out of my car looked around no mosquitoes yet well lets go check out the bath house aahh there are the no seeums but no mosquitoes and no showers well it wouldn’t be the first time I went without a shower for a couple of day’s no big deal while I was there I decided to use the facilities and without getting to graphic in the middle of going a black cloud descended on me MOSQITOES!!!!!!!! I ran for the car got in and started driving for South Beach in Miami 60 miles back. I killed the last mosquito still alive and trying to drink from me right outside of Julie’s hotel. I finally came to the conclusion that I wasn’t going to be camping.
After a good laugh with Julie and her friends I finally arrived back in Florida City around 10pm
and to my new place to stay the Everglades Motel a nice little place and reasonably priced off the main drag were nothing is reasonably priced. Hopefully I will see more than the back of cars and mosquitoes tomorrow.Peace
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