Timeline for seeing the flight of the Whooping Cranes:
4:00 A.M. Alarm goes off. Get up. Shower. Truett gets up. Showers. Pack jackets, scarves, handwarmers.
5:30 A.M. Drive to Dunnellon, Florida in hopes of seeing the Whooping Cranes migrating south, following the ultralight planes. Way too dark to be driving. We're both getting really, really old when headlights play games with our visions.
7:15 A.M. Arrive Dunnellon, Florida airport. Thank you, God.
7:18 A.M. Truett and I head to the airplane hangars and the viewing field. Truett has difficulty breathing and has leg cramps so bad he rests on a step while I trek toward the viewing field. My heart is all a-flutter when I see booths set up with whooping crane memorabilia.
7:30 A.M. Thank God for sunlight and seeing the prettiest English Bulldog I've ever seen. I want to talk to everyone. I ask a few people, "Have you seen the flight before?" Some say, "Yes. It's the most amazing sight ever." Others say, "No. First time."
7:35: A.M. I pet the prettiest English Bulldog ever. Rich chocolate brown coat. . .and friendly. I think the name was Spunky, but that may not be right.
7:37 A.M. I look at the travel trailers and mobile homes of the Operation Migration team that has traveled for months to Florida. I am in awe. I do realize that most of the OM team are people my age or older and am disappointed that no young people are in Dunnellon, Florida to watch the flight of the Whooping Cranes. Hmmm. I have to do something about that. The cranes migrate EVERY year. Surely, a high school science class would think this a worthwhile field trip.
7:45 A.M. Operation Migration trailer. What an awesome sight that must be on the interstates. I know I would follow them, if I could, and pull off at the rest stops and take their photographs. I am so excited. I want to be one of them. I want to learn more. . .do more . . .contribute $$$.
7:50 A.M. "The Viewing Field." About twenty chairs are set up but I can't sit. No. I don't want to sit. I want to be able to be free to move around. To follow the Whooping Cranes with my camera lens. Plus, I am one of the younger people there. That's really sad to me. There should be young people. There should be kids marveling at the flight of the Whooping Cranes behind the ultralight plane. But there aren't, so it's sad.
7:52 A.M. This young fellow all decked out in his leather coat and pantsuit announces there will be a delay until possibly 9:00 A.M. before the flight of cranes leave Gilchrist County. That is no problem for me. i will wait until eternity.
7:55 A.M. An announcement comes over the loud speakers that the winds aloft will keep the cranes from flying in today. . .and we hope you can come back tomorrow.
8:00 A.M. I meet with Truett who is still sitting on some steps. We load up and head home.
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I was not disappointed today. I WILL see the flight of the migrating Whooping Cranes, even if I have to drive all the way to Dunnellon, Florida in the dark. I'll do whatever it takes.
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