Keys to secret treasures (Part 2)

On our first full day in the Florida Keys, our snorkeling adventure wasn’t scheduled until the afternoon, so we had the morning free. Checking literature for our base of operations for three days (Big Pine Island), our attention was drawn to something called The Blue Hole, which was said to be the only body of fresh water in all of the Keys. It turned out to be an old quarry that had gradually filled with rain water, but I learned from a fellow visitor who had been a guide there that when hurricanes come, they can blow seawater over the land next to the shore and into the pond, so it is at least partly salty. She said that three alligators live there, but we didn’t see any. We did, however see several soft- and hard-shelled turtles in the shallows. This one in particular intrigued me because of its ability to raise its hind feet and splay its toes, possibly so as to be able to absorb more warmth from the sun. I have tentatively identified it as a Florida chicken turtle (Deirochelys reticularia), but I’m perfectly willing to amend my ID if anyone who knows better would be so kind as to let me know. Whataver it is—what a remedy for cold feet!