Gator Love

View of the first office building built in Champions Gate, which sits on the palm lined Champions Gate Boulevard. I was standing at the edge of the hotel driveway when I took this photo. This pond sits on the left hand side of the hotel entrance, and there are two gators on the west bank (right side of the photo). I took these photos early Saturday morning, April 19, 2008.



Here's a close-up of the gators. I think that's Big Mama in the water, and her baby five footer on the bank, but they could be lovers for all I know. This photo is not cropped, and I don't have a telephoto lens, so, as you can see, I'm pretty close to them. But, hey, I'm Champ Townboy, and they're afraid of me. It is interesting that this is the first time they haven't run from me, though! I wonder what that means?

I just lucked out with these photos, as my real reason for venturing to the hotel area didn't pan out. LOL

I Shot The Gator!!

With my camera! I shot this one on Friday, April 11th, in the early evening. I didn't realize what a good shot I had until I checked this morning. I'm still trying for a better close-up of the big guy though - I went over twice today, looking for the redhead, I mean the gator, but no luck! When the gator sensed me near, he jumped into the pond. The reflection is of an office building on Champions Gate Boulevard. The pond sits between the entranceway to the hotel and the boulevard - that's how close he is to society, lol.

One may think that when the redhead sensed me near, she ran. I don't believe it though!!




George Townboy, I mean, Champ Townboy, Gator Hunter! LOL

Gator! Gator!!

I pulled into the circle at the entranceway of the Omni Orlando Resort at Champions Gate to get a picture of the hotel - the sun was shining brightly at the moment, and the hotel looked spectacular. When I walked across the driveway towards the pond that sits at the entranceway I spotted a gorgeous woman (she was a redhead) standing there, dressed to run, but just staring into the pond. I nonchalantly walked a little way up the incline so she wouldn't see me ogling her, and took a quick shot of the hotel. All of a sudden, she spoke!

"Is that a crocodile?" she asked, as she pointed towards the pond.

"Can't be, we only have alligators here," I responded, as I scanned the water with my eyes.

"Oh, of course," she said. "Look." (She pointed to the gator.)

"Wow!" I exclaimed. (It was way out in the middle of the pond, but I took a few photos while we continued our conversation.)

"A few minutes ago it had its back up and tail curled out of the water! I'm from Michigan, we don't see things like this," she said.

"This is so cool! Thanks for pointing this out to me," I said, as I discreetly ogled her. (** 'You are gorgeous, what are you doing for dinner?' I thought.)

"Do you see them often?" she asked.

"Hardly ever, but you never know when one will pop up!" I retorted. "Be careful where you run!"

There was some more banter back and forth, then she thanked me for being so pleasant, told me I was cute, and ran off down the road.

** Ha, ha. I'm acting like George, lol!!

Oh, and the one picture I took of the hotel before she engaged me in conversation wasn't very good!

I successfully kept this post under two minutes!