Smelling the roses

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The “Shoe Leather Express” comes with many benefits, exercise being the main one. But another, one might suggest equal, benefit is that it forces you to “slow down.” Sure guys, but you’re in the islands for goodness sakes. Regardless, moving through the world at 3-4 miles an hour, instead of 50-70mph in a car, allows plenty of time to take notice of things around you. Here’s a small, random collection of a few of those “things.”

Hog Cay, Ragged Islands

  • Captured a photo of this little guy through 3-4 ft of crystal-clear water (yep, it’s that clear), after he crawled across the top of Todd’s foot
  • Shy Bahama Mockingbird, who sings like, well…a mockingbird, but would absolutely not face the camera
  • It’s not every day you get to enjoy the last of the sunset and first of the moonrise in the same view, like slowly flipping an hourglass

Long Island

We found the “starfish” of plants growing in the yard at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church (actually, I don’t know what it is – it just hollered, “look at me”)
Clarence Town, Long Island
And this sturdy, 12 ft tall cactus loving its spot near the wooded path to Adderley’s Plantation
Stella Maris, Long Island
  • Just for fun, Todd tried to shore up the cliff near the Columbus Monument
  • This Bahama Mockingbird also sang beautifully, but unlike his Hog Cay cousin, seemed to enjoy sitting pretty for the camera
    Newton Cay Footbridge Park

Cat Island

You could clearly see sand dollars in 10 ft of water, on all sides of the boat
Old Bight, Cat Island

This next one may not be for everyone, but… this is Duke’s friend, “Nancy,” who maintains her web nearby. Nancy is a Golden Silk Orb Weaver, otherwise known as a Banana Spider.

Quite lovely in her own way, but
I wouldn’t want to argue for the stool! 😉

And, of course, we’ve spent plenty of time simply watching the world go by. Thank you all for the thoughts, prayers, and well wishes. Today, we are on the move again!

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