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Coopertown, Fla -- At first,
Jesse Kennon, no stranger to the Everglades, and to strange sights, did
not believe what he was seeing. He rubbed his eyes several times to
banish the vision, but it was still there--a pink alligator, A
VERY PINK ALLIGATOR. Now, Jesse had seen creatures of this hue before in his travels. He'd spied pink flamingos and roseate spoonbills, but this was the first pink alligator he'd ever laid eyes on. So Jesse quit rubbing his eyes and got his camera out to make sure he had some proof of this unusual reptile. Unfortunately, he only had a few frames left in the camera to capture this rare sight. Carefully, he snapped off those precious few frames, his hands as steady as one could expect from a man standing only yards away from something he was sure no one had ever seen before. He wanted to make sure no one would think that his having seen a pink alligator was the result of too much time in the sun, or too much of something else. He didn't want to spook the critter, but he was determined to "catch him on film." If someone else had seen this pink fellow, or another one of his breed before, Jesse knew he would have heard about it. Jesse has been driving airboats in the Everglades for decades. He lives in the middle of the Everglades on Tamiami Trail, which runs across the state, from Miami to Naples. His home is where his family has lived in since 1945. Being in the Everglades for just a day is long enough to find out that no one should believe what anyone else says about seeing or catching things in the 'Glades -- unless some sort of proof can be seen. "Braggarts and storytellers are as thick in the Everglades as mosquitoes," Jesse said. So Jesse waited until the pictures were developed before even he could believe that a pink alligator existed. Jesse saw the pink alligator in an area that's rarely traveled. A minefield studded with coral-like limestone protruding from the soft muck. "That hard rock can cut through an airboat hull as easy as a machete slices through stalks of sugar cane," Jesse said. The potential destruction to expensive airboats is more than enough to keep even the most seasoned Everglades explorers out. But the recent, unusually high water levels drew Jesse deep into this area where very few have ventured. "I sure hope I can find that 'gator, or one like him again," Jesse said, "but that 'gator seemed kinda shy." If such extremely high water ever returns, Jesse will go back. He did tell a few family members about pinky 'gator. And now, Jesse's granddaughter wants one for Easter. By the way...APRIL FOOLS! |
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High resolution for printing: Lightwave Photography: Bird Pictures Reduced size:
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Lauren Lynch New Leaf Graphics http://www.newleafgraphics.com New Leaf Graphics was created to push the limits of canned design output and to offer the latest in graphics technology while addressing the practical needs of modern businesses. Our mission is to help you stand out in a highly competitive marketplace with a distinctive image and a fresh marketing strategy. Maresa Pryor Lightwave Photography, Inc. http://ourworld.cs.com/lwphotog1/ Our company provides full professional photographic services for your business or publication. Lightwave is ready for the future with full electronic capabilities for the customer in need. Jesse Kennon Coopertown Airboats http://www.coopertownairboats.com/ Professional guides to take you on a personalized educational tour into the vast open sawgrass and through a hardwood hammock (small island), stopping at alligator holes and viewing other wildlife such as birds, turtles and raccoons. |
