#hardy har har hyena

[arealtrashact]

The endless patience of a sidekick 

#yogi bear #boo boo bear #quick draw mcgraw #baba looey #lippy the lion #hardy har har hyena #hanna barbera #character design #my art #I've got one more hanna barbera centric post to make after this one and then y'all are free...

[sohannabarberaesque]

You'll never guess what explains why Lippy the Lion IS Lippy the Lion, to begin with ...

So let's take things from the top, as it were: "You might say it all started with the circus--more specifically, a rather down-at-heel circus. I was in the act of a certain second-string lion tamer who, by his own admission, hadn't been paid properly in some while, which drove him somewhat crazy to the point that it was affecting as much the act as the circus itself! And sensing that I was never meant to be the object of a half-baked lion tamer act anyway, I managed to effect escape just as the circus was leaving this rather hick town in Nebraska, I believe it was, the circus manager's hope being one of trying to fleece the less-educated rurals through distraction. And I was to learn within a couple of days that the circus itself had to close suddenly and without warning because unpaid bills by the score...."

And how did Hardy Har-Har get into the act, so to speak? "You might say he was cut from the same cloth of the circus that had closed ... he was billed in the sideshow as 'The Hyena Who Couldn't Laugh,' and I kid you not on that point! And I have to admit there that Hardy's inability to laugh, especially at the foibles of life, may have been from an accident when he was young, as in affecting certain muscles of the jaw as generate laughter. A zoological veterinarian has confirmed this likelihood, in its turn explaining why Hardy can tend to be so pessimistic while I am the more optimistic such of the duet!"

At any rate, then, it's more or less the vagabond life for you and Hardy: "Which is more or less accurate. And admittedly, you want to try and avoid problems with the police, especially in smaller communities where nothing seems to be going on until we come through ... and to camp out, in a way, beside some stream or lake and do a little diving, in a way, just getting up with the sunrise couldn't be a better approach to living!"

So let's talk about your being with Peter Potamus' Magic Divers for a moment: "Hardy and I were just floating around in some lake up in Wisconsin, I believe it was, and for some reason, Peter Potamus, himself on a diver's holiday, couldn't help but take note of my underwater style ... especially my rather cute-looking derriere in the leonine fashion, graceful and yet fascinating! Such, then, was enough for Peter Potamus (who, you might like to know, sounds a little like yours truly) to have me join him for a little instruction to improve my own diving technique and pick up on SCUBA as well! Hardy was also invited ... and though hyenas may not quite be decent swimmers, especially pessimistic-sounding, almost Debbie Downer such, Hardy managed to learn breath-hold technique and embrace the one-piece mask/snorkel combi as seems so fashionable of late! "Somehow, a lion like myself can't help but feel that certain sense of ecstasy while diving, and especially when you can wear just yourself for the most part ... especially when it's between the legs, you just can't help but sense a certain magical wonderment, as if my rear end wasn't attractive enough a sight to otherwise bored divers. Or even such youths in summer camp where I'm able to provide some inspiration and instruction in the art of diving and the diving experience to fellow campers, sometimes having to counsel one or two campers perhaps there on camperships out of a need to move them away from abusive or dysfunctional parents such as were giving them a hard time; how much improved many such campers I've had the company of being mentors to were after some private diving lessons!"

But even then, such campers can't help but admire that bottom of yours underwater-- "It's bound to happen at any rate. Many of the campers are of that age where they're likely learning much about their anatomies to the point of curiosity, sometimes in ways that parents or teachers are hesitant to approach. And there's probably still a few summer camps out there where swimming and diving are still expected to be done naked, especially the early-morning swim just before breakfast."

And when you go diving yourself, what are the things going through the top of your head? "One thing for certain is that this lion can't resist such a sheer and fascinating feeling of being underwater ... especially if it were in some coral reef in the Caribbean; such warm waters and such a fascination the reef can bring about! Not to mention such playfulness when a dolphin or two comes into the equation!"

Otherwise, you're more or less content with the vagabond life: "Tora-san, eat your heart out!

*************

@warnerbrosentertainment @joey-gatorman @theweekenddigest @funtasticworld @xdiver71 @archive-archives @themineralyoucrave @thylordshipofbutts @princessgalaxy505 @thebigdingle @screamingtoosoftly @warnerbros-blog1 @iheartgod175 @groovybribri @jellystone-enjoyer @railguner34 @warnerbrosent-blog

#hanna barbera #fanfic #fanfic friday #profile #insights #lippy the lion and hardy har har #vagabond life #on the road #diving life #diving experience #discover diving #hannabarberaforever

[virtualsonic]

Leoncio el León y Tristón H. E. F. en un G.

Español Hola amigos ¿cómo están?, espero que bien amigos, bueno amigos, aquí va un nuevo dibujo y que presentamos a un dúo de personajes que pertenecen a un muy recordado cartoon del universo de Hanna-Barbera, quiénes debutan en uno de mis dibujos y que además lo hacen mostrando el nuevo aspecto físico que han ido ganando poco a poco y que esperan mostrarlo para algún evento futuro que esperan participar y con eso, poner a prueba los resultados que están pudiendo conseguir y que podemos esperar más de alguna sorpresa, bueno amigos, sin dar más vueltas presento a Lippy the Lion y Hardy Har Har Ponerse a Realizar Ejercicios Físicos en un Gimnasio Aquí vemos al joven león y de actitud siempre optimista hacerle compañía a su amigo hiena pesimista y que usualmente tiene pensamientos negativos de todo y todos en su alrededor, cosa que lleva a que lo lleve a un gimnasio para ponerlo a realizar una serie de rutinas de ejercicio físico para que pueda desarrollar una mejor confianza en sí mismo y que notamos que al momento de ponerse a comenzar a realizar su actividad física notamos que el chico león disfruta de su rutina de ejercicios físicos, mientras se sorprende de ver al chico hiena ponerse a ejercitar junto con él y que lo haga sin que le ande presionando para que pueda al menos mostrar una sonrisa en su cara y que notamos que el chico hiena comienza a sonreír de una manera peculiar, cosa que deja ver que él tenía mucha fecilidad reprimida en su interior y que ello puede hacer que poco a poco vaya descubriendo el cómo eliminar los pensamientos negativos que le hicieron crear siempre un problema y que se observa a ambos chicos ponerse a disfrutar de su rutina de ejercicios que además de ayudar a ponerlos en forma, les ayuda a poder sentirse mucho mejor anímicamente dejando ver el cómo el ejercicio físico no sólo te ayuda a construir musculatura y perder grasa, sino que también ayuda a construir un mejor autoestima, además de que ello lleva a pensar al chico león una idea sobre en qué podrían usar su fuerza ganada tras una breve rutina de ejercicios y es la de poder participar en algún torneo de lucha libre y quizás ganar un buen monto de dinero en ello, aunque para ello necesitarán trabajar mucho para tener un buen aspecto físico para ello Bueno amigos, espero que les guste, ya que es un dibujo que hace tiempo quería hacer al ver que son personajes poco dibujados y que quise darles una oportunidad al ver el cómo me va y que debo decir que me salió mejor de lo que había esperado por ser la primera vez que los dibujo, mientras espero poder hacerlo con más frecuencia a ver el cómo me va, además de que este tipo de dibujos me sirven para explorar posibles ideas que pudieran poner en futuras historias, aunque ello se verá en su respectivo momento, bueno amigos, disfruten el dibujo y nos vemos Leoncio el León y Tristón la Hiena (Lippy the Lion y Hardy Har Har) (C) Hanna-Barbera Productions y Warner Bros Incorporated English Hello friends, how are you? I hope you are well friends, good friends, here is a new drawing and we present a duo of characters that belong to a well-remembered cartoon from the Hanna-Barbera universe, who debut in one of my drawings and that they also do it by showing the new physical appearance that they have been gaining little by little and that they hope to show it for some future event that they hope to participate in and with that, to test the results that they are able to achieve and that we can expect more surprises, well Friends, without further ado, I present Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har Getting Physical Exercises in a Gym Here we see the young lion with an always optimistic attitude keeping his pessimistic hyena friend company and who usually has negative thoughts of everything and everyone around him, which leads him to take him to a gym to make him perform a series of workout routines. physical exercise so that he can develop a better self-confidence and that we notice that when he starts to start doing his physical activity we notice that the lion boy enjoys his physical exercise routine, while he is surprised to see the hyena boy get to exercise together with him and that he does it without being pressured so that he can at least show a smile on his face and that we notice that the hyena boy begins to smile in a peculiar way, which shows that he had a lot of repressed happiness in his interior and that this can make him discover little by little how to eliminate the negative thoughts that made him always create a problem and that both boys are observed Going to enjoy their exercise routine that, in addition to helping to get them in shape, helps them feel much better emotionally, showing how physical exercise not only helps you build muscle and lose fat, but also helps build a better self-esteem, in addition to the fact that this leads the lion boy to think of an idea about what they could use their strength gained after a brief exercise routine and that is to be able to participate in a wrestling tournament and perhaps win a good amount of money in this, although for this they will need to work a lot to have a good physical appearance for it Well friends, I hope you like it, since it is a drawing that I wanted to do for a long time when I saw that they are little drawn characters and that I wanted to give them a chance when I saw how it goes and that I must say that it turned out better than I had expected for being the first time I draw them, while I hope to be able to do it more frequently to see how it goes, in addition to the fact that these types of drawings help me to explore possible ideas that they could put in future stories, although this will be seen in their respective moment, good friends, enjoy the drawing and see you Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har (C) Hanna-Barbera Productions and Warner Bros Incorporated

#Lippy_The_Lion #Hardy_Har_Har #Lion #Hyena #Making_Physical_Excercises_In_a_Gymnasium #Preparing_For_The_Summer

[tategaminu]

Happy hyena day!

#six fanarts #six fanarts challenge #hyena #spotted hyena #hyena day #aggretsuko #Haida #neal beato #blacksad #the lion guard #jasiri #bud and lou #miguno #beastars #hardy har har #tategaminu art

[crocutacollection]

Warner Bros

Hardy Har Har

8"

1999

#plush #spotted hyena #stuffed animal #soft toy #toycore #kidcore #plush doll #plushblr #plushcollector #toycollectibles #toycollection #plushcore #plushies #hardy har har #hanna barbera #cartoon network #warner bros #i will allow one (1) lion on my hyena shelf and that lion will be hardy's husband if i ever find a plush of him

[geekbroll]

Hanna Barbera’s Lippy The Lion and Hardy Har Har - by Patrick Owsley @patrickowsley 1996 - Colors by me To celebrate the upcoming Warner Archive release of Lippy The Lion and Hardy Har Har on DVD, Patrick Owsley posted b&w art he re-inked in 1996 for the Arby’s puzzle cubes toys for their kids meal. So naturally I decided to color it. This post includes that b&w art, pics from an eBay auction of the puzzle box, and the DVD cover from the wbshop site. Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har: The Complete Series (MOD) - Pre-Order Ships 7/09/2019 - $24.99 https://www.wbshop.com/collections/warner-archive-pre-orders/products/lippy-the-lion-and-hardy-har-har-the-complete-series-mod Amazon seems to be getting these Warner Archive releases months later. #hannabarbera #lippythelionandhardyharhar #lippythelion #hardyharhar #wallygator #toucheturtle #yogibear #quickdrawmcgraw #huckleberryhound #warnerarchive #arbys #puzzlebox #puzzles #kidsmeal #kidsmealprize #kidsmealtoy #hannabarberaclassiccollection #completeseries #thecompleteseries #cartoons #cartooncharacters #funnyanimals #catsofinstagram #lion #hyena #yogiyahooeys (at Portland, Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bza7r7mhFdM/?igshid=k2gap11qiehk

#hannabarbera #lippythelionandhardyharhar #lippythelion #hardyharhar #wallygator #toucheturtle #yogibear #quickdrawmcgraw #huckleberryhound #warnerarchive #arbys #puzzlebox #puzzles #kidsmeal #kidsmealprize #kidsmealtoy #hannabarberaclassiccollection #completeseries #thecompleteseries #cartoons #cartooncharacters #funnyanimals #catsofinstagram #lion #hyena #yogiyahooeys

[don56]

“The New Hanna Barbera Cartoon Series (September 3, 1962 - August 26, 1963)    The show ran for 52 episodes with three equally billed segments. 

Touche Turtle was a swashbuckler from France with a sidekick named Dum Dum voiced by Alan Reed who voiced Fred Flintstone.

Wally Gator lived in a zoo and was in constant conflict with the zoo manager Mr. Twiddles.

Lippy the Lion had various adventures with his hyena  sidekick Hardy Har Har.

#hanna barbera #touche turtle #wally gator

[katphantom69]

Bromance between u and mistressmirfic

"Thank you all for coming tonight , this clown will see you around next time!" Mistressm said honking her nose as the crowed cheered as the curtains closed signalling the end of the circus show. Mistressm jumped off the stage and looked around to see if anyone was looking before whistling loudly "Hey you can come out! Coast is clear!" She said with a smile. From up in the rafters came a bit of movement as a ghostly figure floated down to her friend. Kat grinned at her "See I told you the crowd would go wild! It's not every day that you see a clown fly!!!" She said as she floated around Mistessm chuckling. The clown laughed "You could say it was SPEC..TACULAR.." she said with a wink pointing two finger guns at the ghost. Kat rolled her eyes "oh hardy har har very funny" she said shaking her head at the pun. Mistressm chuckles "hehehe what can say? This clown lives off laughter and cheering of her crowd. That's showbiz for ya!" She said as she went over to her mirror to touch up her make up. "What do you say we celebrate our glorious circus act by grabbing some lunch?" She asked as she fixed her eye liner soon grinning widely as she looked at Kat through the mirror... "There's a very good pizza place down the street. Their extra cheesy supreme is to... die for" she said snickering. Kat crosses her arms "Tisk! I'll let that one pass only because Id gladly die again for pizza" she said licking her lips.

Mistressm turns around fixing her bowtie. "Alright then lets get going!" She said. Both girls soon walk out of the circus tent and walk down the street. They arrived at the place and ordered before sitting down at a booth. Their drinks arrived first. Mistessm took her glass and raised it a bit "I propose a toast! To our new partnership! May the show go on for many years to come!" She said smiling. Kat took her glass and tapped it against Mistressm with a small clink. "And for always making the crowd laugh by... clowning around on stage " she said grinning. Mistressm winked pointing a finger gun at her "Now that's... the spirit!" She said giggling. Kat couldn't hold back and soon both girls were laughing like hyenas at their terrible puns.

Thus a new friendship was formed over puns... and a couple slices of pizza.

(( @askwonder13 hope you like it.))

#random shit #the kat has spoken #my writings #myself #mistressm #annonymous ask

[crocutacollection]

Warner Bros

Hanna-Barbera

Hardy Har Har

8"

1999

Hang Tag: Yes

Tush Tag: Yes

Stains/Rips/Holes: No

Store: eBay

Date: Aug 16, 2020

#plush #stuffed animal #toycore #soft toy #kidcore #plush doll #plushblr #plushcollector #toycollectibles #spotted hyena #hardy har har #hanna barbera #warner bros

[sohannabarberaesque]

At an early-morning food truck fond of breakfast ham biscuit sandwiches of the highest order (and good coffee to go along with same)

[Wherein we find Lippy the Lion and Bristlehound, as unlikely a combi to come along, ordering up some such biscuit sandwiches and coffee as well, eventually sitting on a nearby bus bench to so consume]

BRISTLEHOUND: I just have to admit that the owl shift scene so fascinates me big time ... perhaps even more so than when I had to deal with a certain Mildew Wolf in protecting Lambsy!

LIPPY THE LION: Look at myself, quite a study in contrasts--me, a happy-go-lucky leonine tramp taking things alongside a pessimistic and myopic hyena!

BRISTLEHOUND: I take it you and Hardy Har-Har get into much in the way of adventures rather interesting.

LIPPY THE LION: How did you know my compadre's name, to begin with? I just have to say these ham biscuit sandwiches must be rather tender and at once delectable ... you wonder what sort of flour they must use at the food truck!

BRISTLEHOUND: And what could go better with ham biscuit sandwiches than some wonderful coffee?

LIPPY THE LION: You certainly said it ... say, Bristlehound, could I interest you in some diving lessons sometime?

#hanna barbera #vignette #food truck #breakfast biscuit sandwiches #ham biscuit sandwiches #lippy the lion #bristlehound #early morning breakfast #hannabarberaforever

[sohannabarberaesque]

Poetry Corner

So what could possibly go wrong-- what could possibly go wrong-- when as unlikely a pair of diving buddies as any such as Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har-Har happen to take up the experience of the dive, the very thrill of the dive even, in some unlikely and unknown waters where Mystery seems to await the intrepid?

Lippy may forever be the happy-go-lucky lion, and Hardy may forever be the myopically despondent hyena, but for some reason or another, it emerges that they happen to be unlikely diving buddies who, try as they might have in finding sunken treasure, know that diving is a rather interesting and fascinating experience which can have its share of mishaps and accidents-- as well as unlikely episodes serendipitious.

There’s something to be said for our compadres in the dive when they’re out amongst the reefs of the Florida Keys or the kelp groves off Catalina or even the lakes of northern Minnesota; you never can tell what the dive will turn up, but the experience can get to feeling wonderful because of such an unlikely friendship as this being as exceptionally close as it is.

Which couldn’t be all the more complete when these two unlikely diving buddies have such a wonderful embrace in the deep by as much their thighs and their loins as in the more conventional sort of embrace-- which can see Hardy’s scared feelings somehow just magically dissolve themselves into the dive waters.

So what could possibly go wrong-- what could possibly go wrong-- when Lippy and Hardy are taking things easy by the magic of the dive?

In any event, I hope these exercises in Hanna-Barberian poesy are still appreciated by all of you readers. And if you have some poetry Hanna-Barberian worth sharing (especially of an original sort), please to share such.

@warnerarchive @hanna-barbera-land @warnerbrosentertainment @moonrock1973 @hanna-barberians @screamingtoosoftly @cottoncandy-wannabe @jg376 @surfer-roo01 @wherearethememesonmyplate @themineralyoucrave @hanna-barbera-blog @joey-gatorman

#hanna barbera #poetry #poesy #lippy the lion and hardy har har #unlikely buddies #diving #dive experience #discover diving #hannabarberaforever

[sohannabarberaesque]

Postcards from Snagglepuss: Seven bars for a town of 500 people ... how can this be exactly?!

Having enjoyed the breakfast experience with Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har in Necedah, yours truly seeks further interesting roads ... in this case, Wisconsin 80 to Wisconsin 82 through to Mauston ... then Hwys. 12 and 16 out of the Juneau County shire town towards a town rather unlikely for its size.

The town I refer to is no less than Lyndon Station, otherwise known to the railroad (as in the Canadian Pacific, successor to the once-proud Milwaukee Road) as simply Lyndon, population 500 within village limits.

And--shock! horror! Scooby-Doo, unmask the villain even!--no less than seven taverns being allowed in village limits. For a town of its size, especially as close as it is to the Castle Rock Lake and Wisconsin Dells resort areas, some might be thinking only one or two bars should be sufficient ... but seven, coming off Exit 79 on I-90/94 (as if a Notorious Adult Bookstore wasn’t awful enow)?!

One such place, Beagles Bar & Grill, sounds like the sort of place where The Banana Splits’ Fleegle would certainly feel at home in--perhaps with the entire of the band after playing a surprise concert somewhere between Lyndon Station and Wisconsin Dells, plein-air even, and maybe with some pizza in the bargain. Or, come to think of it, Beegle Beagle, no less than the brains behind The Great Grape Ape, whose own size can certainly attract the curious to some one-horse town big time practically spontaneously.

But for perhaps the most whimsical-solunding name of Lyndon Station’s seven bars, it would have to be The Swagger Inn. Perhaps the name carries a sort of unlikely double-entendre all its own, does it not? No matter ... yet maybe a couple rounds of the old pinball ought kill some time. At least until none other than The King shows up, denim jacket and everything, as if epitomising the spirit of the bar’s name.

“HEYYYYYYY--!! Snagglepuss?!!”

“Your Majesty--if I may call you so--”

“Just call me King, if you please,” as The King went into the “Kookie” routine of combing through his mane with a little Brylcreem on the side. I can tell by its aroma, obviously. “And what exactly drives you here to this neck of the woods?”

“I spent some time at the cabin up at the Brainerd Lakes, what with coronavirus having cancelled the Minnesota State Fair. At least you have an interesting change of scene, accented by the aromas of pine and the serenity of one of Minnesota’s Ten Thousand Lakes in the bargain.”

“So that explains things, Snag buddy!” was how The King responded.

“And I ran across a close cousin of yours earlier over breakfast in Necedah. Lippy the Lion, to be exact.”

“You mean my half-witted cousin, leonine foil to a myopic hyena--”

“Otherwise known as Hardy Har Har.”

“Maybe you should meet Yukayuka from my crew sometime. He can’t resist the classic practical jokes as a party icebreaker!”

“Let me guess--whoopee cushions filled with Miracle Whip ... joy buzzers ... fake cat vomit ... garlic chewing gum ... “

“I believe you get the idea, Snag old buddy! Those corny jokes from the Johnson Smith catalogues, and then some!”

Which was enough to get a bar burger ordered, and rather seriously. But at least they’re rather serious about the burgers here, even if it’s likely such come frozen and require some serious heating on the griddle. Not to mention insisting on the bun being toasted lightly. Yet to have a bacon cheeseburger with some barbecue sauce instead of the traditional ketchup was--let’s just say it was filling and yet satisfactory. The King, for his part, preferred a grilled chicken breast with ranch dressing to sate his appetite.

“I have to acknowledge, Snagglepuss,” The King remarked, “that you’re a rather interesting sort.” [Pause] “And have you met my girlfriend, Sheena?” Whereupon she came out in a somewhat cheesy turtleneck sweater, a somewhat cheap-looking rhinestone charm necklace and a come-hither sort of stylee.

“So you’re the legendary Snagglepuss,” was how Sheena parsed it.

“Guilty on that count,” replied I.

“Yet for all his faults on occasion,” Sheena remarked, “King and I manage to come out swinging!”

“Meanwhile,” The King responded, “where do you plan heading to next?”

“Probably back to Crazy Claws’ place at the Dells. Maybe spend awhile there.”

To which The King and Sheena nodded their approval.

@warnerarchive @hanna-barbera-land @warnerbrosentertainment @hanna-barbera-blog @dinobirdy @themineralyoucrave @screamingtoosoftly @hanna-barberians

#fanfic #hanna barbera #snagglepuss #postcards #road trip #lyndon station #taverns #tavern scene #the king #heyyy it's the king #bar lunch #sheena #hannabarberaforever

[sohannabarberaesque]

Underwater America with Peter Potamus: Florida’s Space Coast

art by MaudeDraws (https://www.deviantart.com/maudedraws)

This story continues a Friday Fanfic series which debuted late last year, in which Peter Potamus and friends go on a cross-country tour of the nation’s most interesting diving sites in the hope of selling their adventures to television. This story takes place early in the summer of 1970.

I drove the bus out of Ocala at around six o’clock in the morning while everyone else inside was still sleeping off our latest refreshing adventure.

Early into the next leg of our cross-country tour, I pondered taking the winding country roads instead of the highway. I eventually decided on the highway, for the roads were generally less bumpy—thereby making the crew less irritable—and faster, even though we had lots of time to get to our next stop: Florida’s famous State Road A1A, featuring the longest stretches of beaches one could ever hope for.

About 90 minutes later, once everyone was awake, alert and begging for breakfast, we stopped at a diner in Ocoee, not far from Orlando, Walt Disney’s latest conquest. In fact, as we sat in two separate booths looking at menus, the conversation turned to the resort.

“What do you think he’s got there?” Breezly pondered.

“Do you think we could get up close and take pictures?” asked a slightly hyperactive Squiddly, shivering with delight.

“Yeah!” Magilla giddily exclaimed. “Maybe we could have a piece of history!”

“Please,” Mildew said in his usual sassy style. “I doubt they’d let anyone near a construction site. Plus, this is Disney we’re talking about, so they’d probably shoot you!”

“Indeed,” I added, dead serious. “I’m not going to waste valuable time going there. We’ve got Cape Canaveral coming up in a few hours.” The thought of me or any of the others possibly getting arrested for trespassing immediately came to mind. “Let me remind you all that even though we’re all having fun here, I’m spending my life savings to make this dream happen. You all have nothing to lose, but not me.”

Squiddly and Magilla clammed up immediately. I figured they knew what I was talking about: nobody else had any means of support. Hokey and his partner Ding-a-Ling only had their street smarts to get them out of jams. Lippy and Hardy were just struggling. While Magilla could simply go back to Peebles’ Pet Shop, it simply wasn’t a life. This was a ticket to a new life for them and I was not about to risk that for something stupid.

Breakfast, otherwise, was nothing special. The coffee was a little too strong for some of them, and some of the meals just weren’t up to par. Lippy, sitting opposite from me, wasn’t thrilled with the slightly-soggy pancakes, either. We still paid for the meal, though, and went on our way. At least Squiddly loved the bagels and lox.

To compensate for the lack of Disney in our lives, we made an unplanned stop at the Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area in Orange County. The area brings hunters, birdwatchers, campers, hikers, botanists, fishermen and wildlife enthusiasts together under one roof, and today all of the above were out enjoying themselves.

We took plenty of pictures of birds that morning, with bald eagles and kestrels hunting for their next meal, while herons and ibises, among others, hung out in the wetlands. We were also able to get on camera a group of wild turkeys congregating nearby, with Mildew and Hokey instantly regretting not bringing a shotgun—if only we had one.

“Monsters,” Loopy said with a smirk, although I am certain that, deep down, he would’ve wanted it.

The excursion turned out to be a good thing: the heavy showers came in a few miles after we got back onto Route 524. Better now than later.

“Oh, dear,” Hardy moaned. “That’s going to ruin our plans.”

“Aww, don’t sweat it, Hardy!” replied his optimistic friend, Lippy. “Better now than when we’re out on the boat, right?”

“If you say so,” the sour-flavored hyena moped. “I suppose it could have been worse. We could have been out in the water when—“

As if on cue, lightning struck a few hundred feet away from us, startling everyone but especially Hardy, who would’ve jumped into Lippy’s lap had the seat belt not prevented him from doing so—and yet, we all soldiered on past the rain and out of danger, and just in time.

The timing was perfect: the sun shone brightly on the Indian and Banana rivers, the first things one sees before entering State Road A1A from the north. Sandwiched between the two rivers is Merritt Island, home to the John F. Kennedy Space Center, known throughout the world for NASA’s Apollo space missions that eventually put man on the moon for the first time in history.

We stopped at the northernmost point of Florida’s Space Coast—the town of Cape Canaveral, where space tourism and beach tourism combine to provide an unforgettable experience. As we were on a mix of both pleasure and business, however, we immediately sought out a boat to rent for today’s underwater journey.

Once we secured one, we got to work loading our gear from the trailer into the boat. To avoid confusion and clutter, not only are the swim fins and masks hooked to the belt of the harness, our names are marked on the backs of the harnesses so we do not end up wearing someone else’s kit. We then started on our way, into the Atlantic Ocean.

As we continued on our way, we were able to get a glimpse of houses lined along the streets, not far from the Space Coast’s gorgeous beaches. These streets bear the names of past U.S. Presidents, the greats and not-so-greats among them: Washington Avenue. Adams. Jefferson. Eventually ending with Harding.

“Huh. Coulda sworn Van Buren would get his due,” Wally said before letting out his familiar, ear-pleasing laugh, noting the absence of his own street.

Further along the coast, the beaches were endless, although the places had different names. Cocoa Beach? Satellite Beach? Melbourne Beach, just a drive away from the city of Melbourne? It’s all good. You get to enjoy the feeling of sand between your toes.

I made certain to check my gear to ensure everything was operational. I took a breath from the regulator and found no problems. While everyone else was testing their tanks and regulators, I went into the cabin to plot out a course for ourselves using a nautical map.

Now, Cape Canaveral itself is not an ideal place for diving. Consulting the guidebook, I had two options: either explore a natural reef twenty miles out of Port Canaveral in an area called Pelican Flats, or explore the wrecked Dutch steamship Laertes, the Allied cargo vessel sunk by a German U-109 in May 1942. We couldn’t tackle both at once, as those two were a mile apart. As I looked further through the book to see if there were other reefs, it turned out there are plenty of other wrecks along the waters off A1A, some of them much, much older.

My mind was made up: we would be exploring a reef that day. …Or at least, I thought! Maybe some of the gang wanted a change of scene early. If there were other natural reefs along the coast, they were hard to come by. So, I told them we’d go to the reef.

After agreeing amongst ourselves on 90 feet for 40 minutes with a seven-minute decompression stop, we geared up for our journey into the depths in our familiar way: tanks secured to harnesses; harnesses worn and buckled securely; fins snugly worn; mask lenses spat-at-and-rinsed before donning; regulators being given a final check.

art by Kandlin

After a final safety briefing and the dropping of the anchor line, we were about to back-roll into the ocean when an Atlantic flyingfish flew up from the water and landed right on Breezly’s lap. We all had a terrific laugh over it, even after Breezly non-chalantly threw the fish back in the ocean, toward where the little fella had hoped to go.

“We could’ve had some lunch!” Lippy laughed. “Why’d you throw it back?”

“I didn’t want to punish him for one simple mistake!” Breezly replied with a warm smile to match his warm heart.

After that slight delay, we back-rolled into the water and slowly followed the anchor line down to the ocean floor, right next to where the reef was located.

Immediately the ten of us split up into several groups, giving us several times the opportunities for fun things to happen, though the feeling of water against one’s skin or fur is always a source of delight, regardless of the results of these dives.

One thing we noticed was that the reef was not a coral reef as some of us had hoped. Instead, we found plenty of short seagrass, an important source of nutrition for some of the aquatic life. The lack of coral gave me the first impression that the reef resembled a formation of mossy rocks and boulders one would perhaps find in the woods.

On the ocean floor nearby, Hardy swam close to what appeared to be a small, wide formation. It looked like it was a little smooth to the touch, unlike coral, so he brushed a few fingers along the length. The “formation” moved slightly, causing Hardy to jump back a little. The thing Hardy touched was a Florida sea cucumber, one of many such invertebrates found along Florida’s waters. To reassure Hardy, Lippy gently picked it up and showed its underside, with its many rows of tube feet, and the oral tentacles on the front side. Hardy nodded, having fully understood.

Meanwhile, Hokey and Wally, apparently not yet over their hunger pangs, scoped out a sizable group of lobsters congregating beneath a portion of the reef. With no net with which to catch them, and no way to bring them back, lest they carry it with them throughout the dive and even the decompression stop, they were at a loss. Even so, they were not about to be defeated.

Hokey beckoned for Loopy to swim over. Once Loopy joined the pair, Hokey pointed to the lobsters that were taking cover, then rubbed his belly to communicate everyone’s favorite language—food.

Loopy looked at Hokey quizzically, pointing up to the surface: did Hokey really intend to take his dinner up to the boat? When Hokey and Wally nodded in the affirmative, Loopy shook his head, not wanting anything to do with it.

Wally, however, had a plan, and he started to take off Loopy’s scarf, despite the wolf’s objections. Once Hokey got into the mess, Loopy had no chance. He then laid down one end of the scarf by the lobsters, waiting on one of them to take the bait. It didn’t take long, as one of them gripped the scarf.

Excitedly, Hokey pulled the scarf out, but the lobster, sensing what was happening, let go and rejoined the others.

Wally laid out the bait again, but before a lobster could hook onto it, Loopy, disgruntled, snatched the scarf away and swam far from them in order to put it back on. So much for lunch.

Meanwhile, our camera-octopus, Squiddly, located a gorgeous queen angelfish swimming alongside me. The somewhat fluorescent-looking colors on its body make it stand out from most of the other fish. Getting to experience seeing one up close is exciting enough, but when about a dozen more show up in the vicinity, you get worried about whether or not you actually loaded the film into the camera!

Some of the others were able to witness a loggerhead sea turtle swim by them. Mildew started off by following it, with Loopy instinctively joining his lupine companion. Soon, Lippy and Hardy were on the chase as well, though I do believe they just wanted to pet it. For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why they couldn’t just get it over with and form a conga line.

I followed Magilla and Breezly when they decided to stray a little from the reef. We had reached a sandy area where the two of them went fish-watching, without any of the others getting in the way.

We were able to witness a group of African pompanos on their way to the reef. While the juveniles prefer to go where the ocean currents lead them, adults prefer the coastline, in depths of up to 100 meters.

Outside of that, we were unable to find many fish of interest, outside of a solitary cocoa damselfish that swam right between the polar bear’s and gorilla’s bodies. The two of them turned around in unison just as the fish passed them; perhaps those two should have signed up for synchronized swimming instead.

We were about to rejoin the group when we saw what appeared to be a large school of fish—at least from a distance. As they drew ever closer, however, we realized they weren’t fish, but a group of about three dozen manta rays swimming towards us and above us. We quickly turned around, kicking our legs as quickly as we could, swim fins waving up and down, so that we could alert the others. We were going to get a chance to swim along with the rays.

art by Enookie

Squiddly got in front of us so he could capture this epic scene. I positioned the other camera at a different angle, and we were on our way.

As we followed the group of rays, we were awestruck by the graceful movement of their pectoral fins. Taken individually, it’s a gorgeous sight, but to witness over thirty of them doing it was like viewing real-life natural art.

Mildew had the right idea when he swam the backstroke. The rays’ movements, combined with the limited light of the sun, made for the best viewing experience.

The mantas have a pair of horn-like cephalic fins on either side of their mouth. When the manta forages for food, these fins flatten in order to channel food into their mouths. At the surface they will feed on zooplankton such as shrimp and krill. At deeper depths such as these, they will feed on small or medium-sized fish.

As were were approaching a variety of fish, we had no choice but to let them be. Squiddly kept filming, yet kept a safe distance. As the rays fed on the sundry fish, I discovered, while editing this film for broadcast, that one of the rays may very have well feasted on that same cocoa damselfish Magilla and Breezly saw earlier. That’s the way life goes for an animal: one day you’re minding your own business, and the next day you’re gone. I would talk about life’s fleeting mortality, but that’s for some other show. It was time for us to ascend, anyway.

In deep dives, nitrogen starts to accumulate in the diver’s body. If a diver ascends like one usually would in a relatively shallow swimming pool, these nitrogen gases could turn into bubbles, thereby causing decompression sickness, which can be potentially fatal.

To help relieve the pressure, the diver’s ascent must be approximately thirty feet per minute. Depending on the details of the dive, a decompression stop may also be necessary fifteen feet from the surface. In this case, because of a 90-foot dive for 40 minutes, our wait was seven minutes. Even in dives at shorter depths, precautionary safety stops of three minutes may be required.

Because of the potential for danger, it is advised that dives are planned carefully. Use the most conservative figures when consulting dive tables. Know how much air you have, and do not plan lengthy dives if you don’t have the air to do a safety or decompression stop.

Squiddly Diddly, bless him, doesn’t have those disadvantages we mammals have. While we waited to ascend again, the good old octopus took the time to take one last tour of Pelican Flats, showcasing all its flora and fauna in its glory, however fleeting it may be. Who knows—maybe the fish Squiddly caught on camera could be the next to be swallowed up by a manta ray!

After the decompression stop, we made our final ascent to the boat, where we climbed out of the ocean, one at a time. Some of us laid back, gear still on, a little worn out from overstimulation.

“All those wasted years of trying to catch lambs,” Mildew chuckled. “Now this is living!”

“Who woulda thought? Swimming with manta rays!” Magilla said giddily, removing the gear one piece at a time and drying himself off.

“I think all of us needed that spark in our lives where we truly got to experience something special,” said I, stacking my fins and mask together as Squiddly climbed back onto the boat, the last to do so. “We’ve all forgotten how much of a thrill life could be. All we’ve been doing before is trying to survive.”

Lippy and Hardy, having known the feeling for years, nodded in agreement.

I slowly arose from the ledge and walked to the cabin. “All right. Let’s get this boat back, we get the gear back in, get our tanks refilled, and then finally we relax. I hear there are some good seafood places here.”

“How about a lobster?” Hokey said, smiling, eager for something exquisite.

“Me, too!” Wally added.

“Eh, we’ll see,” I said with a laugh, and the others were pretty much amused.

Once back on shore, we got the tanks refilled and all the gear loaded back onto the trailer. We bade farewell to Cape Canaveral and continued further south along A1A. Although Cape Canaveral isn’t a haven for divers, what we did see was good enough to warrant a visit, and the beaches are still very exquisite. If you would like to get to know NASA’s space program up-close and get wet and sandy—preferably not at the same time—set aside some time to visit the Space Coast.

Although we never got a chance to explore the Laertes shipwreck, a greater opportunity arose pre-dive when I learned of an early 18th-century Spanish ship, part of the doomed 1715 Treasure Fleet that transported goods and treasure from Spain’s territories back to the mainland. In our next episode, in which we travel to Florida’s Treasure Coast, we will explore one of those ships lost to a hurricane, the Urca de Lima, and perhaps come away with some treasure of our own.

#underwater america #scuba diving #peter potamus #fanfic #sohannabarberaesque #magilla gorilla #squiddly diddly #breezly bruin #hokey wolf #wally gator #lippy the lion #hardy har har #mildew wolf #loopy de loop #submission

[sohannabarberaesque]

Postcards from Snagglepuss: “Meet me at the Main Street Cafe,” the message went

And talk about a drive through the night heading out of Duluth: US 53 to US 12 out of Eau Claire, then Wisconsin 21 from Tomah eastward to Necedah, Wisconsin, fortified by rather strong coffee and a want of worthwhile overnight radio as was anything other than Larry King, Jim Bohannon or George Noory in their Luscious Glory of illogical absurdity attracting mostly late-shift welfare-to-work basket cases at the Walmart.

All because of a rather surprising message texted unto me coming out of Duluth: “Meet me at the Main Street Cafe, Necedah.” I couldn’t make hair nor hide of who might have sent the same, especially considering the fact of Necedah being a somewhat second-rate one-horse town notorious for a Discredited Apparition of Our Lady back in 1950, I believe ... an “apparition” of “Our Lady Queen of the Holy Rosary, Mediatrix of Peace, Mediatrix Between God and Man” as was found later to have been insincere, apocalyptic and not exactly on the same par as Lourdes, Fatima even, for sincerity and piety. (I will spare all the sordid laundry, mind you.)

But still, as the dawn came--a sort of grayish-looking dawn, with a few streaks of clear skies in the heavens--revealing essentially a terre mauvais of the highest order, with dead trees and tree limbs to be had everywhere, Necedah could not be that far off. And before long, approaching Necedah’s Main Street (Highway 80 otherwise), I began wondering who could have wanted me to meet them at the Main Street Cafe in Necedah, and the radionale therefor.

This even as I parked my car in the Municipal Parking Lot across the way-ho-way glill platonic time weatherborn (whatever that may be) ... and across the way was the Main Street Cafe, a modest hole-in-the-wall seating about 25 tops at any one time, with a decent mix of locals (usually farmers as are unlikely to make much out of the sandy soils) and tourists, including a few with summer homes at or close to the Castle Rock Flowage--basically the Wisconsin River backed up by the Castle Rock Dam for the sake of hydroelectric power as much as for outdoor sport.

But back to the cafe: Featuring cheesy plaques with slogans like “Welcome To Our Bed and Breakfast--You Make Both” and “Those Who Criticise the Cook Will Face Starvation” (the last one over the entrance to the kitchen), and with a modest bit of clutter towards the back, such was said to come Highly Recommended--though probably not by Duncan Hines if he were still around with his Adventures in Good Eating, red cover and all. And it was at the backmost table, right-hand side as you enter, that--

“Is that you, Snagglepuss?!”

It was Lippy the Lion, of all the fellow Funatstics, and his morose-looking hyena companion, Hardy Har-Har, who was looking for me.

“Is that you--Lippy?! Hardy?!”

Which saw Hardy Har-Har remark in his usual pessimistic tone, “Oh dear ... oh my ... what exactly is the point of being here for breakfast, to begin with?

“Come now, Hardy,” Lippy remarked in cheerful counterpoint; “I bet you didn’t know where Snagglepuss was going to meet us here.” To which I responded, to wit: “What exactly was the point of your cryptic desire to meet me here?”

[Pause while coffee was being served and an opportunity had to check over the breakfast menu.]

Lippy: “I just thought we might say hi over breakfast--a more realistic sort of diner breakfast in some small-town cafe, not some sterile and antiseptically-predictable chain restaurant such as IHOP or Denny’s. More in the vein of some serious small-town colour.”

Hardy: “I just knew it--” [Followed by the rumbling of a Canadian National Railways train on the tracks just down the hill from the cafe, heading towards New Lisbon as a matter of record.] “Things are just going to get downhill from here on out!”

Moi: “I wouldn’t put it that way exactly,” even as I was sipping away on flat-tasting coffee from a coffee pot which seemed not to have been washed in some while. Descaled, even. And requiring some honey just to improve the taste.

As to the breakfast: One of my old favourites, a meat-lovers’ omlette, with hash browns even to complement the whole ... Lippy taking some pancakes, eggs over easy, sausage links, hash browns and white toast ... and Hardy, probably lacking any sort of appetite, contenting himself somewhat with corned beef hash.

“And might I just say there, Snagglepuss,” Lippy chimed in between mouthfuls of pancakes, “that you’re not all that bad yourself.”

“To be honest,” saith I, “that is a complement. Especially being on the road all this time ... and I assume you’re acquainted with Peter Potamus’ diving crew.”

“Are we ever!” was how Lippy responded. “I was just returning myself from a ‘sharing the dive’ assignment with a summer camp up by Minocqua, teaching teenage campers the basics of the diving experience.”

“Explain unto me,” asked I, “what this ‘sharing the dive’ is all about.”

“You see, Snagglepuss, between filming sessions of our Underwater America with Peter Potamus videos, or even the practice sessions at our diver’s colony outside of La Jolla, California, Peter wants us in his troupe to spend some time sharing the diving experience with especially disadvantaged groups, especially over the summer. It’s basically his way of encouraging people to Discover Diving in a somewhat unique sort of way.”

“So this involves spending time in summer camps or resorts like that--”

“To encourage people to get interested in diving. Skin diving, SCUBA even ... be it through demonstration dives aimed at getting people to discover the diving experience or even outright instruction! And what’s more, Snagglepuss,” Lippy added with some pride in the voice, “WE are all certified diving instructors!”

“Who exactly wouldn’t be among our kind?” was how Hardy added to the conversation in his usual myopic style.

Which brought about the chuckles.

“Meanwhile,” Lippy added, “I’d be curious to know if any of the waterpark resorts in Wisconsin Dells might have a need for such who could introduce diving to their guests, especially over the winter!”

“I’m not quite that kind, Lippy,” replied I. “But thanks for the enquiry.”

By the time it was all over and the cheque was paid, things had turned bright--and a little on the windy and warm side. So explaining a bit of fall leaf drop premature on the hill above the Municipal Parking Lot as we headed back to our cars--not to mention Lippy and Hardy reminding me to keep in touch.

As for myself, heading down Wisconsin 80 southbound from Necedah ...

@warnerarchive @hanna-barbera-land @warnerbrosentertainment @dinobirdy @hanna-barbera-blog @themineralyoucrave @screamingtoosoftly @hanna-barberians 

#fanfic #hanna barbera #snagglepuss #postcards #road trip #necedah #main street cafe #breakfast #lippy the lion and hardy har har #hannabarberaforever

[sohannabarberaesque]

Unlikely confab over the legendary smoked ribs at the House of Embers, Wisconsin Dells:

LIPPY THE LION, gnawing down on a slab of the legendary oversauced ribs: Believe you me, Hardy, aren't these barbecued ribs--

THE KING, interjecting his bit of cool into the proceedings: Perhaps the acme of exceptional taste! And as a matter of fact, have you ever met Big H from my crew?

HARDY HAR-HAR, unnerved: So who exactly is this "Big H"?

THE KING: The Original Hungry Hungry Hippo, I will have you know ... not exactly a competitive eater, but he's known to really have quite the appetite!

YUKAYUKA, The King's "clown jester," as it were: And what an appetite!

LIPPY THE LION, gnawing off another piece of the barbecued rib slab and still getting sauce around his lips: Which, if you ask me, is certainly appreciated around these parts--even with a hyena who can be rather pessimistic and myopic at turns!

YUKAYUKA: What more could you ask for as fans of barbecued ribs, trying not to get hot under the coals!

[Meanwhile, a waitress who couldn't help but listen in on the conversation came along to explain]

A WAITRESS: Actually, we use hickory embers to smoke the ribs ... is it any reason this joint has such an appeal in a place fond of the supper club culture?

THE KING: Heyyyyyy ... there's certainly got to be some experiences you have to try at least once or twice in your lifetime!

LIPPY THE LION: And for an unlikely cousin like yourself, King, what sage advice ... admitting ourselves that Hardy and I have had plenty that will certainly amaze you!

HARDY HAR-HAR: If that's the correct word, Lippy, especially in the circumstances!

LIPPY THE LION: I say life's for living in all honesty, and you've got to experience "the good things" at least once!

YUKAYUKA, chowing down on ribs all the more: And who otherwise wouldn't?

[Meanwhile, not far away within the premi--]

CRAZY CLAWS, taking stock of the whole: And you thought barbecue smoked ribs were too campy a thing for a Wisconsin supper club to play up! Or play down, when all is said and done, and besides, prime rib seems overrated when it runs out rather quickly on Saturday nights just because of the taste! (Chomping down on another section of the smoked barbecue ribs, and wiping his mouth with a moist towelette he just happened to have handy) But at any rate, just make sure there's plenty of moist towelettes when you're having barbecue ribs, regardless of where you're enjoying them!

#vignette #hanna barbera #wisconsin dells #lovethedells #house of embers #barbecue ribs #lippy the lion #hardy har har #heyyy it's the king #crazy claws #smoked ribs #hannabarberaforever

[sohannabarberaesque]

My day with Peter Potamus at his beach house community, and then some (part I)

The following exercise in fanfiction, reader, is to be imagined in the style of some newspaper column of the sort devoted to the amusing and the interesting; keep this in mind when reading same.

For a safari-jacket wearing hippopotamus like Peter Potamus, who’s experienced quite a lot in his day, his taking up as an occasional TV concept a travelling SCUBA party could be considered the latest feather in his cap--or make that his pith helmet.

“If,” as Peter put it, “you can put feathers in a pith helmet.”

At any rate, taking up an invitation to meet up with none other than the creator, producer, director--and host--of Underwater America with Peter Potamus (syndicated; check local listings for day and time) was something fascinating, though Your Humble Narrator has to acknowledge that such excitement can almost be like the proverbial kid in a candy store who can hardly be expected to contain his excitement. And to meet him somewhere between Oceanside and San Diego, being greeted with a substantial “hippo hug” (as he likes greeting fellow friends), was the beginning of a rather interesting day out.

But still, what impressed me as much as his safari jacket and his warmth of welcome was the fact of my being invited to see his beach house colony, the exact location of which I was asked not to reveal just before entering. It’s almost on a par with some beach club colony of a sort preferred in its day by such of a certain (usually low) class for their annual vacations, and being shown around the same in a golf cart was impressive in and of itself. And imagine, sitting alongside the same Peter Potamus of that Magic Balloon from the cartoons of Saturday mornings long past!

“I have to admit, though,” Peter explained as we approached the colony proper,  “that it was my late father, Perry Potamus, who gave me an especial admiration for wanderlust and discovery. Imagine, going through time and space in that Magic Balloon of his--which I inherited from him after he died from a Rare Tropical Disease when I was about 16--as well as discoveries into a number of uncharted islands across Polynesia where the natives are still, for the most part, ‘naked and unafraid’--and they like it that way!”

“I take it,” saith I, “that you must be fond of Polynesia yourself.”

“Indeed I am ... especially in the diving department! Just imagine, diving utterly naked among such spectacular coral reefs ... and swimming among dolphins as it was meant to be experienced ... in nature!”

Explaining that we were practically in the beach house colony, Peter stopped the golf cart and we strolled around by way of a boardwalk placed in front of the houses.

“I decided to create this beach house colony,” Peter explained to me, “so that my fellow divers could get together from time to time to get some refresher lessons in diving technique, try out new diving equipment--and practice diving skills as well.” He paused for a moment before adding, “In a rather likable environment!”

Peter explained that he took his first dive somewhere in Uncharted Polynesia at the age of five, with the help of his father and a native gal. “And I’ve enjoyed diving since ... but what especially motivated me all the more into getting so into diving was the loss of my father. We were rather close ... and some close cousins of myself felt that I should not abandon myself to emotion by taking up the diving experience with a passion ... did you know hippopotami happen to learn swimming practically from birth?”

I admitted that I was pretty much aware of the fact when he began pointing out the very denizens and participants of his travelling dive party (or “par-tay,” as he likes pronouncing it, “to add some sophistication to the exercise!”), including:

Wally Gator, “the swingin’ alligator from the swamp,” who admits that diving “is much better than being cooped up in a pathetic-looking kiddie pool at the zoo, don’t you know!” (and also has affectation for the pre-Disney World form of Florida, back when Silver Springs and Weeki Wachee’s mermaids were the big draws);

Breezly Bruin, a polar bear formerly of Nome, Alaska, as was left more or less to his own devices after Camp Frostbite was deactivated by the Army (and, by his own admission, is “a natural-born diving bear, which can be more than the Hair Bear Bunch have admitted to”);

Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har-Har, a most unlikely pair of a life-loving lion and a myopically-reserved hyena who can’t resist seeing in diving the beauty of as much the underwater world as their own unlikely friendship in spite of their character differences;

Loopy De Loop, the self-professed “good wolf” forever trying (and failing hilariously) to correct the injustices and bad name wolves have been made to suffer for years, “yet finding in the diving experience something almost mystical” (especially once off the US Virgin Islands when a dolphin got to be exceptionally friendly with Loopy);

Magilla Gorilla, “at least free from the front window of Peebles’ Pet Shop” after repeated and unsuccessful attempts to sell him off (his discovery of diving came about some time after a surfing-related escapade “you probably may have heard about”, which at any rate fascinated the banana-milk-loving simian);

Hokey Wolf, rather flamboyant himself (his voice could easily be mistaken for the Sgt. Ernie Bilko character Phil Silvers created), even while diving (once, he tried capturing a live lobster off Florida’s Treasure Coast with his bare--and, “I hate to realise it now, ungloved” hands);

Squiddly Diddly, former clown prince of Bubbleland until its shock closing, eventually forcing him to embrace underwater photography, first by way of a secondhand Nikonos underwater camera (itself the first underwater photography camera with a built-in housing), graduating to an underwater camera housing for the film sequences (”You might say I learned along the way by trial and error”); and

Mildew Wolf, as came to Discover Diving quite by accident (”I just realised that the idea of catching lamb, and eating it ‘on the hoof,’ without a certain Bow-Wow Buttinski interfering would never be possible in my own case”), with something of a sense of snark as brings out laughs in the narration, yet while donning the SCUBA getup “can’t resist the sheer feeling of being free and almost light in the water--which easily beats another unsuccessful quest for lamb au naturel!”

And to hear Peter Potamus explain it, the beach house colony is “simply an interesting way to get together in one place and release the diving instinct,” as he explained it in the tiki-themed den of his own quarters over his rather imaginative coffee blend, as in the world’s rarest (Jamaica Blue Mountain) and the world’s weirdest (Indonesian Kopi Luwak, the legendary “cat poop” such--”just be thankful the beans are washed thoroughly!”) and related some rather interesting tales of his diving and other misadventures in Polynesia especially.

He also got to show me some diaries of his late father’s expeditions in Polynesia Uncharted, the friendships and the trust he developed with the natives and the native royalty in maintaining such closeness ... which, like an Excited Schoolboy, I couldn’t help but contain my excitement over.

“Rather fascinating stuff,” as Peter explained it. I couldn’t help but believe it.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

@warnerarchive @hanna-barbera-land @warnerbrosentertainment @joey-gatorman @hanna-barberians @hanna-barbera-blog

#fanfic friday #hanna barbera #peter potamus #beach house colony #diver camp #divers colony #vip tour #wally gator #breezly bruin #lippy the lion and hardy har har #loopy de loop #magilla gorilla #hokey wolf #squiddly diddly #mildew wolf #polynesian discoveries #uncharted polynesia #discover diving #hannabarberaforever