A Lovely Walk in the (gator) Park

On Sunday, we took a drive, still learning about our new environs and we happened across a lovely little park.  We parked the car and noted a pretty little paved path that weaved it's way through the trees.  As we walked along, we saw a wide variety of birds, who paused to make sure we weren't going to do anything rash before resuming their birdie little lives. We saw the biggest grasshopper I've ever seen (seriously it was at least half the size of my foot!) and lots of pretty flowering shrubs and trees.  Here and there we saw water through the trees that, I believe was the Myakka River. There was a small boat launch, perfect for a kayak or a canoe. Here and there were even little benches and occasionally a covered picnic table.  It was peaceful and I had visions of picnic flitting through my imagination.
Then we came to the end of the walkway.  At the end was a larger body of water, a bench with two older ladies fishing and this sign.

---

Clearly we are crazy because we walked up to the waters edge in search of said alligator.  Silently, we stood there searching. Nothing.  We looked in every direction and still, nothing.  Oddly disappointed, we shrugged and were about to leave when one of the fisher ladies said, " He's over there"   
We both turned to look at the speaker.
"Beg Pardon?"  Tim asked
"The gator" she continued, "he's across the way, covered in mud".  The ladies then packed up their fishing gear and left.
We strained our eyes looking across the water where she indicated.  "Oh I see him now"  Tim said.
I saw nothing other than what I had seen before.  Pretty water, pretty trees, nothing remotely gatorish.
Tim pointed, he described, he indicated. Still nothing.
So we left. As we came around to the other side of the water by the boat launch, it occurs, that maybe we will get a better view here.  So we walk down onto the floating dock, quietly. I still don't see it.
Finally Tim says," You see those two logs partly on the sand and partly in the water?"
I nod.
"Well it's the second log. That's the alligator".
I squinted, blinked and suddenly realize that yes, by golly. That is an alligator!  Can you see it in this photo?

So, I took the photograph and we left thinking, "Cool!  Saw a gator today".  And then I revised my original picnic plan. If I am that gator-blind, I am the prefect prey.  Should he decide that I would make a fine main course, I would never see him coming.  Perhaps I would prefer to not take a chance at being the lunch in question.