Homosassa State Park

manatee swimming at Homosassa

underwater view of manatee

hippo

alligators

majestic eagle

owls

albino turtle

tortoises

fighting flamingos

Wyatt and I visited Homosassa State Park with our friends from Ocala and their son.  It was his first visit to see animals in a zoo like setting.  We parked off State Road 19 and took the tram to the park.  Wyatt thought it was a train ride.  The park is located on one of Florida’s many crystal clear springs.  My only regret was not bringing my bathing suit to go swimming nearby.  The highlight of the park is manatees.  We could see them swimming from the surface, and in the underwater observatory.  What was more amazing to me were the number of snook and redfish.  I was wishing I could catch and eat a snook, but I’m sure fishing isn’t allowed in the park. 

There were all sorts of other native birds and reptiles, including an albino turtle.  My favorite of the animals was the hippo.  What an amazing creature.  There was also an education center that had fossils and displays.  Wyatt touched an alligator skull and some alligator skin. 

We rode the boat up the river back to where we were parked.  It is definitely a park I would recommend visiting if you are traveling on the west coast of Florida.

Loggerhead Marinelife Center

The other day we visited the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach.  We have gone to see it many times before, but within the past year they opened a new state of the art facility that must have cost millions.  I don’t have a problem taking the kids to see animals and teaching them about ecosystems and the ocean environment.  I think it is a great opportunity for people who wouldn’t snorkle, dive, or spend time on the water to see and learn about creatures they would never see otherwise.  However, I think a lot of people are really missing the mark and not getting what life is all about. 

This is a place where I have seen multitudes of people volunteer their time and energy to save a few sea turtles.  Plastic people in heels, hairy hippies, protestor types, along with the scientists and philanthropists…all there to spend millions on a few turtles.  That’s nice, but last time I checked, God made turtles, and all sea creatures, to be self regulating.  If sea turtles are part of the food chain, there must be some hungry sharks out there. 

Why are we here?  Doesn’t it have something to do with taking care of others?  Can’t we feed the hungry and sick in other nations for pennies a day?  Why then spend millions on turtles?  Where are peoples’ priorities anyways?

The last picture shows more than a handful of people “helping” a turtle.  If you ask me, it was all a big show.  Is it really necessary to have that many people helping a turtle?  I think God instilled in us the need for a purpose in our life.  Some people never find it, and go on living a depressed routine.  Others fill that need with different types of addictions and dependencies.  Some become workaholics, workout freaks, uncontrolled hobbyists.  A lot become devoted to a cause, thinking they are making a difference.  Yes, they could be, but in reality they are just trying to justify their lives.  They are only serving themselves. 

I feel bad for the turtle people.  One day, God will ask, what did you do with this life I gave you.  “I saved turtles.”  I imagine God replying…what about your kids?  What about the old lady down the street that needed help getting her trash out?  What about the guy at work who was going through a hard time?  The money you spent on turtles could have given a whole village food, immmunizations, and an education for a year.  The time you spent feeling good about yourself at the turtle place could have been spent feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, tending the sick, meeting the needs of the less fortunate, and taking care of those around you.

I’m not saying all causes are without merit.  Many causes that people are devoted to do a lot of good.  But where are our hearts?  Is what we do in life just to make ourselves feel good, or are we really heeding our Higher calling? 

Lowry Park Zoo 9.13.08

Saturday we went to the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa.  We were in town so Gary could get an AC van at auction.  So Aunt Paige came along, and we looked at animals and rode rides.  It was a fun, but exhausting day.  I don’t think I would ever go back.  I prefer smaller zoos with less rides and attractions.  This was too much like a theme park.  It took away from the animals and educational experience.