It's Florida and we got Gators!
In the grocery today.
The October Bridge Tribute found
I wrote recently about a lady who was eaten by an Alligator. So yesterday I rode my bicycle back to 'the scene of the crime' to see if I could find another gator. I pulled up a map of the area and noticed a city park just south of the crime scene. That's where I started my search.I didn't find any gators, but did notice signage warning.
Don't swim with the gators? Duhhh (#TarzanMovie)
I didn't find any Gators at the city park, so I rode back
to the bridge to continue my search riding North.
The city added this new sign at the creek. #Subtle
I rode my bicycle on the grass along the left side of the creek looking for Gators. I didnt see any Gators but did run across another tribute. This cross was planted beside the creek, just North of a fence into another city park.
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INTERNET SEARCH RESULTS:
"A park ranger investigating a report of this Pinellas County truck stuck in the easement of McKay Creek found a county employee face down in the creek Nov. 27. Rafael Lorenzo Ufret Ortiz was pronounced dead at the scene.
Largo Fire Rescue pronounced 63 year-old Rafael Lorenzo Ufret Ortiz of St. Petersburg dead about 12:14 p.m. Ortiz was a Senior Spray Technician, who had been employed by Pinellas County Mosquito Control since July 2002. Detectives with the sheriff’s Robbery/Homicide Unit say Ortiz was conducting tests of the water along McKay Creek for Mosquito Control. He was last seen heading to his assigned area about 7:30 a.m. About 11:44 a.m., a park ranger was notified that a county truck appeared to be stuck on the easement and the front driver door was open. The park ranger and another employee drove to the area and found Ortiz face down in the creek. Detectives say the cause of death is unknown but does not appear suspicious in nature."
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I didn't see any Gators on this larger lake, but plan to try again in the future.
More research shows that the creek enters from the river and flows through several miles. I was told by a local that Taylor Lake has LOTS of Alligators in it. I went on through the neighborhoods and continued my daily bike ride, till I was in front of a Hospital and ran into an Alligator.
See the Culvert. #GatorHoleCulvert Opening. (I did NOT go down there)
The Alligator was up sunning himself on the warm concrete when I rode up. I wasn't expecting to see a Gator, and I dont think he was expecting to see me? He splashed down and was gone before I could get my camera out. I think I was more startled than he was! It was about 6ft long and very 'thick.' (bigger around than my thigh, but smaller than my stomach.) I dont want to Fat-Shame him, but he had not been missing any meals. (He was not big enough to eat a homeless lady, but big enough to eat a leg.)
I'll continue to research this.
Gator Hunter, Skip
