Juan Ponce de Leon Landing (Brevard Co., Fla.)

Nikon D90, Nikon 18-300mm lens at 18mm, f/16, 1/125sec, ISO 200

Nikon D90, Nikon 18-300mm lens at 175mm, f/18, 1/100sec, ISO 200

Number Two Daughter and I had some time to kill before picking up Lovely Wife from work one afternoon a couple of weeks ago (12/10/14), so we headed over to see the beach.

It had been a couple of years since I had been to this particular park, Juan Ponce de Leon Landing, and they had erected a statue to the man since my last visit.

This is a small but nice park and has some scholars believing THIS is the area where Mr. de Leon first landed in Florida.

(Link to online copy of A&E Television's "Ancient Mysteries: Quest For The Fountain Of Youth" covers the topic of why scholars now believe de Leon actually landed in what is now Melbourne Beach, Florida in the show's minutes 4:00 to 5:45.)

I'll have to return here one morning when the early sunlight is on the statue's face for more photographs.

Rain On Atlantic Ocean

Nikon D90, Nikon 10-24mm lens at 10mm, f/16, 1/250sec, ISO 200

Nikon D90, Nikon 10-24mm lens at 10mm, f/16, 1/250sec, ISO 200

My Lovey Wife and I had gone to the beach one Sunday afternoon to see the view and smell the salt air and there was a pretty nifty looking rain shower just off the coast from us.

We don't have mountains down here, but we sure have some impressive clouds almost every day.  Great looking clouds sorta-kinda scratches the itch of wanting to see some hills and mountains.

Of course, if I lived in the mountains, I'd most likely be pining to see the beach.

I'm old enough to have learned to truly appreciate the beauty of where I am NOW.

Anyway, those of you who live nowhere near the beach, enlarge these and enjoy the view, you probably have some mountains, waterfalls, or something lovely nearby that I'd wish to see today instead of the beach.

Lotus and Lily Pads - Black Bayou NWR

Nikon D90, Nikon 18-300mm lens at 175mm, f/16, 1/6sec, ISO 800

Taken on my recent trip to Louisiana.

This was taken after sunset, catching the glow of the sky in the water around this lotus and lily pads.

At Black Bayou National Wildlife Refuge north of Monroe, Louisiana.

The Guardians of the Dirt Road

Nikon D90, Nikon 18-300mm lens at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/800sec, ISO 200

I (along with my daughters) drove from Monroe, Louisiana, to the community of Aimoch in LaSalle parish to visit the graves of Don C. (my father) and my Big Brother.

After turning east off of US Hwy 165 in Grayson, La., we pulled off the road to take some photos of a cool looking old red shack.

But behind the shack was a bunch of mules, or what I took to be mules, with these two in a mirror image of one another seemingly guarding the dirt road that led back through the property.

This is one of my favorite photos from our trip to Louisiana to visit my family.

Lifeguard Crew

Nikon D90, Nikon 18-300mm lens at 280mm, f/5.6, 1/1250sec, ISO 200

At the beach in Indialantic, Florida.

I was rather suspicious of the evening shift lifeguard crew on the day we went.

I question these guys' commitment and ability to jump in the water and save lives.

Dragonfly, Black Bayou National Wildlife Refuge, Monroe, Louisiana

Nikon D90, Nikon 18-300mm lens at 280mm, f/5.6, 1/2000sec, ISO 200

The first week of August, 2013, I took my first trip to my home town, Monroe, La. in six years.

Just got back this week after a week there.

Went one day to Black Bayou National Wildlife Refuge and got this photo of a dragonfly against the setting sun.

Mathers Bridge, Indian Harbour Beach, again

Nikon D90, Nikon 18-200mm lens at 28mm, f/16, 1/2sec, ISO 800

As I walked back to my van yesterday evening, I looked back at the bridge and had to stop for a couple of extra shots.

I love the deep blue sky at dusk.