Manatees and Peaches visits the Atlantic Ocean

[Bethers]

http://ontheroadwithbeth.com/blog/2011/ ... -and-more/

[VickieP]

Beth, Ronnie said that was a jack up barge that you had a pic of. He used to work offshore and we saw a couple come in when we were camping down in Cameron. It is a barge with the long poles attached to it and it could be there for various reasons, they may be going to put a drilling rig out there nearby or they may be going to dredge there or work on pipe running underwater there or may even be a supply station where supplies are dropped off and then taken to rigs further out.

[Mollysmom]

I love Manatees !!! I really, really, really want to go to Florida and swim with them !!! There are a few places that will take you out and let you swim with them and I've been saving my pennies so I can do that someday. I still have to do a little research to be sure it's safe & humane for them, I wouldn't want to harm them at all, but if it's OK, it's definitely something I "have" to do someday.
Thanks for the pictures - they made me smile !

[kdmac]

I've seen those a few times where I grew up at the ocean in Washington, they are "jack-up" barges. The boat serves as a "kitchen, sleeping quarters, office, etc. and then is easily launched back into the water when the job is done...pretty clever, huh?

[Liz]

Last year I went to Crystal River to swim with the manatees at 3 Sisters Springs. It was certainly an awesome life experience that I wouldn't mind repeating. They are so big, but gentle and curious creatures. Great pics of them and loved the ocean/Peaches pics.

[Colliemom]

Loved the pictures. i remember seeing the Manatees when I was in FL. Such interesting looking creatures.

Peaches looked like she was indeed having a ball in the ocean. I can just see my dog Tessa doing that. She love to wade in water, but in her case, she also has to drink it up too. She ever tries that in the ocean, I can just picture the look on her face. "Who put salt in my water"...

[AlmostThere]

Wonderful pics, Beth. Who could not adore those manatees? I have seen them in FL before and more closely in zoos. They are amazing creatures.

[BarbaraRose]

I was visiting my friend in Crystal River a couple years ago and we went kayaking to the 3 Sisters Springs too. You are allowed to swim with them, as long as you don't harrass them or interfere with them. The Springs are beautiful and crystal clear so you can really get a good look at them. Some of them like to be petted and have their backs and bellies rubbed! They are very sweet, gentle and curious! That is the place to go, if you want to get up close and personal with them!

[Mollysmom]

Crytal River is the place I was looking at - it looks like it'd be an awesome experience !
I want to hug a manatee, they seem so sweet.

[BarbaraRose]

You will have to have really long arms to hug one! They are HUGE! And their skin feels rough with coarse little hairs on them. They are related to elephants, if you can imagine that!