Okefenokee Swamp - #41-12

February 8, 2004 (Sun) - It was cold last night (42°) and didn't warm up much during the day. Our designated assistant navigator guided us easily along a series of county and state roads to the Stephen C. Foster State Park in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (Okefenokee Swamp) with only one minor misstep - recent construction had created a turn he didn't know about. We got here shortly after noon and had our lunch in our camp site. This is a lovely park. There are canoes, kayaks and jon boats to rent, guided tours into the swamp, and rental cabins. There are nature trails for walking and water trails through the swamp for canoeing etc. The sites are large and secluded - separated by wide swatches of natural tropical brush. The neighboring sites are empty (as are most in the campground) so we don't see any other rigs from here. Hookups include water, electric, and TV cable. All this for $15.20 a night!

After recuperating from our grueling 69 mile trek here, we walked to the marina and concession area, wandered around the museum/interpretive center, and explored one of the nature trails. Now we can watch some cable TV tonight without feeling guilty.

Cell phone service here is analog and there is no modem hookup facilities in the park so we'll be out of touch for a while.

February 9, 2004 (Mon) Stephen C. Foster State Park (Okefenokee Swamp) - When we were here several years ago we took the guided tour through the swamp. We decided then that the next time we were here we would rent a canoe. Well this is the next time and we rented a canoe.

We expected to see lots of alligators but they like the sun and the sky is overcast. We did see three and got some pictures. Along the waterway, Black Vulture watched from the tree tops and small birds fluttered here and there in the foliage. But the main attraction of the trip was the swamp itself. It was beautiful. The tropical plants and tall gray spanish moss draped Cyprus trees reflected brilliantly in the mirror smooth water in spite of the cloudy sky. It was hard to tell where reality ended and and reflection began. It was a living post card in every direction and around every bend. And quiet! It was so quiet that we could hear even the subtle sounds of nature, the faint gurgle as an alligator slipped into the water, the rustle of movement in the brush, a far off call of a small bird. The only intrusion was the sound of a jet plane high overhead.

In mid afternoon the campground host came by to invite us to a fish fry at their site. She said her husband had been out fishing all day and they wanted to share the catch. "Just bring forks, glasses, and chairs," she said. We joined four other couples, campers, and several of the park staff. The fish, perch and pic (apparently this is a long thin bony fish that probably most people throw back, but if it is cooked right the bones soften up) was delicious. They also served real southern hush puppies - made from mix and grits with cheddar cheese -- yum! Talk around the campfire was interesting, informative and, at times, hilarious. We had a great time.

Faithful readers of these epistles will remember that the campsite we were originally assigned in Manatee Stark Park was already occupied. It turned out that the couple sitting next at the campfire, Dave and Donna Keach, were the ones who were in site #70 last Thursday. They had also been in the Everglades (in the other campground) and Collier Seminole State Park about the same time we were. They are interesting people. Oh, And they're from Frederick, MD, where we stopped to replace our tires on the way down.

February 10, 2004 (Tue) Stephen C. Foster State Park (Okefenokee Swamp) - We were going to ride our bikes back out the access road 5 miles to a wildlife area. Apparently there is a long dam there supporting a trail into the swamp. But as we got ready to go and started out rain threatened so we cut the ride short. Although we were on the main road - the only road - in the park, only one vehicle (and a bicycle) passed us in our 45 minute ride - Dave and Donna on their way out. The rest of the day we sat around, read, and played games. It never did rain much but it felt like a rainy day.

Q058364 (69 mi) Fargo, GA - Stephen C. Foster State Park #50 w/e $15.20s (x3) A+

--------------------

February 11, 2004 (Wed) - It rained all last night - not heavily but enough to discourage even the thought of going out. And it was still that way as we broke camp and dumped our holding tanks. It was warmer (59°) than it has been though, making the jobs a little easier than they could have been. We stopped at a Winn Dixie in Waycross and while Joy picked up supplies Mark "did" email. It was early for lunch but Captain D's Seafood (fast food) was right there and the Double Twelve Shrimp platter beckoned. It was quite good - especially at $3.99 apiece.

There is a lot of logging in this area of Georgia, trucks loaded with logs were on the road going in both directions. (We wondered why the companies didn't just buy each other's logs so they wouldn't have to truck them so far.) There were several log product mills along the way - every thing from telephone poles to fence posts - with huge piles of logs lying around. We passed International Paper Inc's Atlantic Division plant. At one point the logging operation was close enough to the road for us to see the cranes lifting the log onto the large flat bed trucks.

This campground is an old standby for us. We've been here several times. It seems to be well placed for a stop. It's clean, pretty and quiet with large well spread out camp sites.

Q058548 (184 mi) Richmond Hill, GA - Fort McAllister State Historic Park #11 w/e $17.20 B