"Don't worry about them alligators, it's the spiders and snakes that'll getcha!"

It appears to be an ambition to both see and possibly even touch an alligator!  After some shenanigans about finding exactly where we needed to present ourselves, we eventually found Big Toho Airboat Rides in the gas station on Neptune Road, obviously!

I am now a follower of the wisdom of Captain Bob who took us out on Lake Toho on his boat.  The heading of this post is one of his, of course!  I think we decided it's best not to question Capt Bob too much on the basis that he's in charge of the boat, he's proud to be a Redneck and he flies a Confederate flag...

So we got on a boat with this chap for a while to see what we could see.

This little guy was about the right size!  I was pleased to hear that the 'bigguns' would be in the deep water rather than in the swampland we were passing over.  But, as you know, Bob says it's the spiders and snakes that you really need to watch!  Apparently he likes nothing better than shooting snakes in the trees and watching them drop...

Amazing wildlife all around, it was a great way to spend a sunny morning - and we had to hang on to our hats when he took off across the lake!

Now, Capt Bob told us he could guarantee alligators... why?  because he has one in the back of his pick-up of course.  This caused some consternation - do we say hello to the alligator? how do we feel about alligators kept in a bag in the back of the pick-up?  how do we feel about him having his mouth taped shut?  Relieved? think it's cruel?  Said alligator was about 3 years old and has lived with Capt Bob.... on the previously mentioned logic of not questioning Capt Bob too closely, we had a go.  I've only included the pic of me with the gator, so as not to compromise other family members who may feel unsure about what happened next!

He was a cute little guy all cold and soft!

In the afternoon the 'girlies' went shopping in the rain, pouring rain, (no pictures of that are necessary!) and John entertained the young-uns.  Nathaniel scored a spectacular win at Monopoly.  Definitely king of the property market but equally definitely not king of the pool table on present form!