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Bud & Clover's Family Vacation -
Columbus Ohio to the Everglades, Florida
October 2006
Mountain Men moguls Robert & Ben from the Cheyenne Wyoming Welcome Center kicked us off to a good start by arming us with real authentic cowboy coffee and travel brochures.
At South Bend, Indiana, the group that we were traveling with, stopped in long enough to take in the infamous Notre Dame.
Pictured left to right: Sylvia, Bud, Clover, and Spud.
I have to tell you, the University Campus is really a grand place, and the architecture totally impressive!
(Spud secretly wondered if they'd maybe let a bear enroll in school there?!)
As some of you might already be aware of, Clover is especially a big QH buff, so naturally, a visit to the infamous All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio was in order!
We managed to take in a show while we were in town, and got to witness some mighty fine freestyle reining!
Of course, if you're going to visit the QH Congress anyways, then it goes without saying that a jaunt thru their shops would be warranted as well!
Here we are, shopping for pricey new bling bling for Clover's wardrobe (to the tune of $3600!).
(and yes, I would like Fries with that please!)
One of the things I LOVE about my pal Spud is his terrific sense of humor! While our humans "pretend sailed" on a large replica at this one park we visted, us smaller traveling companions decided to have some fun of our own on a Santa Maria mini replica inside the coutillion. That's me, Bud Bear, at the helm! ("Ahoy matey!")
One of my favorite past times is making all sorts of new friends, like this guy whom I met while visiting the Columbus Zoo (which was VERY nice by-the-way, and very very BIG)!
There were loads of exotic birds nearby, flamingoes of course, and even a brand spanking new baby gorilla! That little cutie pie definately stole the show!
We were in Portsmouth, OH one afternoon and happened across this section of town called "The Floodwall" where giant murals ran all the way up & down from one end to the other. This little section with a cat waiting patiently on the sill for her milk, was one of my favorite spots.
And here's Bud Bear and myself, in the "monkey garden" at Jan's friend Arlene's house in Murray, KY. I had no idea how popular these were over here in this part of the country!
Since we were in the neighborhood, took in tours of several well-known authors along the way: James Thurber, Carl Sandburg, Hemingway, Jimmy Buffett -- ok, maybe I'm stretching it just a little by mentioning Jimmy, but you have to admit, this whole tale kinda feels like a typical Buffett song...
And here we are, relaxing down by the waterfront at Jan's friend Tawny's house in Rotunda, FL while the crew tries to stay alert for Crocs & Gators! (you never know over in this neck of the woods!)
Hey Clover, pass the sun block, would ya?
Any visit to sunny Florida MUST include the incredibly beautiful Everglades! There were mangroves and vultures, herons and egrets, iguanas and great big 'ol banyan trees everywhere!
...and ah yes, plenty of gators!
Key West in fact, is infamous for their gators, like this one encountered on our hike along Anihinga Trail at the Royal Palms.
(Honestly, I think he'd just as soon EAT me than look at me!)
One of the best highlights of our trip, I think, had to be the day spent exploring the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. (Merritt Island is on the Atlantic side of Florida's coast, ya know!)
Anyways, Clover, Spud, and Sylvia all hoped for a chance to see an actual Manatee up close, and boy howdy did we come to the right place!
What a GREAT country we live in!
Bud Bear & Clover
(This Page last updated July 17, 2007)
