October 18, 2009
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Skeptics, be gone!
Many weekends, we like to drive to places we’ve not explored. Florida is home to diverse species, and in addition, people keep some really unusual animals. Several years ago, we were wandering the back roads up around Micanopy; we happened upon an accident and were forced to reroute.
Suddenly, we were in Africa! Waterbuck , gemsbok, and zebras grazed behind a high fence mostly hidden by vegetation. We didn’t have the camera, and by the time we found our way home we weren‘t sure exactly where we‘d been.. We couldn’t figure out why they were there. Was it some wealthy person just keeping exotic pets? Could they be rehabilitating, or breeding, attraction or zoo animals? Hopefully, it was not one of those pay-to-hunt properties. People we told were incredulous and a bit skeptical; they wondered if we were sure of what we’d seen.
Recently, we found our way back. In a town near Gainesville, called Flemington, we were again treated to the exotic presence of animals that left me breathless. Although huge, it did look like a private property-- and there was a house or barn. I braved chigger bites (and imagined snakes) to wiggle through underbrush and Spanish moss to get a better look (the neighbors-across-the-street’s very large dogs didn’t appreciate my ninja tactics) but it was worth it--and I had my camera.
very real waterbuck
gemsbok
house--or barn?
Comments (9)
Africa in Florida !! The charms of the exotism ! Florida is a blessed state !
I don' t emember where you live exactly.
Love
Michel
Michel, we live in west central Florida.
Cool....thanks for taking us on the adventure!
I have never seen a "waterbuck" before, that is really exotic for me to see.
There is something quite wild about certain areas of Florida....apart from the beaches, malls and oranges...
We drove to Sandestin last year from Ottawa (3 days approximately) and drove all over the state.
RYC : Medlar . I agree with your comment . I don' t like much but not only it is a botanical specie rather rare but it was known from the writers in the far past . I read this in Wikipedia . Shakespeare used the word in his writings . But, of course the meaning and the symbolism of this use recall what you say in your comment.
Love
Michel
Thank you for your answer above . You live in a nice place .
Michel
Checking your site I watch again the last photo " house or barn " . It is weird it seems to me the building in the foreground looks like a chapel .???
Love
Michel
RYC :I am glad you enjoyed the pictures of the white cliffs .
Love
Michel
RYC : I bet there are mushrooms in the woods where the deer is standing !!
Love
Michel
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