Brookgreen Gardens State Par

Kayaking With Alligators

Alligators were living in this lake, and Liz told they were peaceful, but…

– I was sleepy next morning, when, following their advice, cycled a bit back to see Brookgreen Gardens.

Photo: Brookgreen Gardens State Park

The manager, a cyclist himself, introduced me to the staff and volunteers.

Photo: Brookgreen Gardens State Park

When they asked a common question “where do you stay overnight”, I gave a common answer “on people’s backyard”. And Liz invited me to stay at her place.

Photo: Brookgreen Gardens State Park
– After a tour in the Brookgreen Gardens we drove to the same street I was the last night. Liz happened to be neighbors and friends with Anissa!
– The lake was on Liz’s backyard, so we kayaked straight from there.

Photo: Brookgreen Gardens State Park

Alligators were living in this lake, and Liz told they were peaceful, but… So we didn’t explored bushes on the other side.

Liz’s friends came for a dinner, we enjoyed chatting probably more then food, they were very nice though.

Photo: Brookgreen Gardens State Park
– In Charleston a local cyclist, Ethan, approached me. He were cycling home from his work. As it was on my way along the East Coast Greenway, I stayed with him and his wife Allison. They told that after a while the beautiful trail would turn into a R17 with narrow shoulders. I check the map, and it it was not just till Savannah, but Jacksonville.

Photo: Georgetown, Charlotte, Jacksonville
– Next morning I’ve got a ride, changed three cars, to Amelia Island, took a ferry, end up on Jacksonville Beach at night, and ran into the church out of the rain.

Photo: Georgetown, Charlotte, Jacksonville

Photo: Georgetown, Charlotte, Jacksonville
– The guy, who was working there, brought me to his porch, where I spent last night. If I’m right, I will have deal with thunderstorms every night. A very special season in Florida.

Photo: Rains and thunderstorms in forcast

Lena Faber used to work as a journalist at a mainstream Russian newspaper, wrote books for a major publishing house, and directed her original concept on TV. In 2009, she moved to South Africa, taught at the university, took up running, and earned a silver medal at the World Masters Athletic Championship in California and, in the meantime, won an international photo contest with following up solo exhibition. In 2014 she "shut the door" and gone hiking the Appalachian Trail, cycling from Chicago to LA (US Route 66), from Maine to Florida, from London to Orkney, etc. Now in MidCoast, Maine.