“Do you know if there are lily pads, it means the water isn’t deep?” Leo, the 6 year old expert asked his sister Stella.
“Well, I can paddle through these lily pads,” Stella replied as she put her short metal paddle into the water.
Thirty minutes earlier, Stella, age 4, was unsure about getting into a canoe, but she quickly became a brave expert.
“Look, Stella! I’m making a tunnel with my paddle!” Leo discovered how water passing over a paddle makes a wave.
“I see two, no four birds!” exclaimed Stella.
Papère asked, “Do you see those bubbles? That means there’s something under there.”
“Maybe it’s an alligator?” Leo responded with no fear in his voice.
As we paddled, we came across a real alligator. Here’s a video of our encounter.
Our canoeing morning was just the right end to a weekend with our grandchildren.
Reflections on the Teche 
Oh to listen to the bird and float along the water. Even with an alligator close by – lovely morning!
What an adventure. I love the confidence in the photo and the video. Conversations with a gator. Sweet memories.
The conversation snippets and images really let us come along on the canoe ride with you. It’s really cool you are on a bayou — my son would have loved this experience!
I love that they are getting this experience and learning not to fear alligators but to respect them in their environment. That’s so cool!
Way cool! Lucky you, lucky kids, and lucky US to get to come along!! Lots of bird song, lots of fish rising. Gorgeous.
woah, I am envious! What exciting grandparents you are!
Oh, my goodness. That is amazing. I’m in awe, thinking of you all passing by that alligator. It’s sitting so still. I loved hearing Stella’s whisper, and the birds sound glorious.
Building memories with your grand children. So much to experience and learn about and from nature. Stella’s joy from the first photograph says so much.
What a grand adventure you all had on the water! I love their conversation and Stella’s smile is beautiful. Is she the child whispering to the alligator? How cute they both are. Love the bird chatter! Thank you for sharing! I almost feel like I was a fly on your canoe. You guys are fun grandparents.