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4/13/2019 The Okefenokee Swamp. Time to return to mother nature for a little while. We have done lots of cities and lots of “city stuff”. This stop was all about getting away from that and seeing something completely different. We had no idea what to expect from this place either. Literally, no idea what was here, what we’d see or what we’d do. What came of it though was almost our favorite stop to date. It was an amazing place with SO much to see and SO much to do. If I don’t get back here again someday, I will be very disappointed.
4/13/2019 The Okefenokee Swamp. Time to return to mother nature for a little while. We have done lots of cities and lots of “city stuff”. This stop was all about getting away from that and seeing something completely different. We had no idea what to expect from this place either. Literally, no idea what was here, what we’d see or what we’d do. What came of it though was almost our favorite stop to date. It was an amazing place with SO much to see and SO much to do. If I don’t get back here again someday, I will be very disappointed.
We are, literally, in the middle of a swamp.
We are, literally, in the middle of a swamp.
Here is the theme you are going to see in my pictures from this stop: CREATURES! There is “life” all over the place out here and you do NOT have to look very hard to find it. Dragon Flies are out in force and obviously starting the process of making new Dragon Flies.
Here is the theme you are going to see in my pictures from this stop: CREATURES! There is “life” all over the place out here and you do NOT have to look very hard to find it. Dragon Flies are out in force and obviously starting the process of making new Dragon Flies.
We saw thousands of these little spiders, but in this particular web, this one had made an extremely unique pattern in the center. Never saw another one like it.
We saw thousands of these little spiders, but in this particular web, this one had made an extremely unique pattern in the center. Never saw another one like it.
Here’s a fun fact: certain kinds spiders simply shed their exo-skeleton as they grow bigger. This spider “Shell” was on the nature hike trail we were on and it was so in-tact and so life like that it scared Dylan half to death and it took us all about a minute to figure out that it wasn’t actually a spider.
Here’s a fun fact: certain kinds spiders simply shed their exo-skeleton as they grow bigger. This spider “Shell” was on the nature hike trail we were on and it was so in-tact and so life like that it scared Dylan half to death and it took us all about a minute to figure out that it wasn’t actually a spider.
Okay, here’s what you ARE going to see in the Okefenokee Swamp and in my pictures; Alligators! They are EVERYWHERE! They are like the deer back home in Colorado, they are just everywhere and they become part of the backdrop. Outsiders who come in are enamored with them and the locals just look at them like “yeah, and…..?” However, it's our turn to be the outsiders and I PROMISE you that it doesn’t matter how many you’ve seen in captivity, they have a whole new appeal out in the wild. I took LOTS of pictures of Alligators!
Okay, here’s what you ARE going to see in the Okefenokee Swamp and in my pictures; Alligators! They are EVERYWHERE! They are like the deer back home in Colorado, they are just everywhere and they become part of the backdrop. Outsiders who come in are enamored with them and the locals just look at them like “yeah, and…..?” However, it's our turn to be the outsiders and I PROMISE you that it doesn’t matter how many you’ve seen in captivity, they have a whole new appeal out in the wild. I took LOTS of pictures of Alligators!
This is “Big Boy” and he’s about 10 foot long and lives in the waters of the Marina near our campsite. He never leaves and loves to come check you out if you are fishing.
This is “Big Boy” and he’s about 10 foot long and lives in the waters of the Marina near our campsite. He never leaves and loves to come check you out if you are fishing.
4/13/2018 Sunset Boat Tour. On Saturday Nights, they offer a sunset boat ride where a Ranger loads up some people in a boat, gives you a little tours of a few nooks and crannies around the swamp and you then get to watch the sunset out on the waters of them swamp. After that, a little more exploring by flashlight to see the “after dark” creature and then back to for bedtime. It was a GREAT activity.
4/13/2018 Sunset Boat Tour. On Saturday Nights, they offer a sunset boat ride where a Ranger loads up some people in a boat, gives you a little tours of a few nooks and crannies around the swamp and you then get to watch the sunset out on the waters of them swamp. After that, a little more exploring by flashlight to see the “after dark” creature and then back to for bedtime. It was a GREAT activity.
Now this is a big ‘gator. Ranger thought something in the 13 foot range and probably 450-500 pounds.
Now this is a big ‘gator. Ranger thought something in the 13 foot range and probably 450-500 pounds.
I really had high hopes for this picture with the sun setting behind the swamp and the hawk sitting there on the tree branch. It’ turned out a tad too grainy for my taste, but I included it here anyway.
I really had high hopes for this picture with the sun setting behind the swamp and the hawk sitting there on the tree branch. It’ turned out a tad too grainy for my taste, but I included it here anyway.
4/15/2019 We rent a boat of our own. This seemed like a classic beginning to a tale like Gilligan's Island; for a very small amount of money, they will allow anybody to just hop in a boat and take it out to go exploring. That seems like a really bad plan in some cases. One of those cases might be when someone from a landlocked state (that’s me) walks in and specifically says “I have zero experience with a boat”. Doesn’t matter, they respond with “We have boat #9 available, make sure anyone under 13 is wearing a life jacket.....everyone else, eh, life jackets are optional”….and just like that, you’re off into the swamp with someone else’s boat.
4/15/2019 We rent a boat of our own. This seemed like a classic beginning to a tale like Gilligan's Island; for a very small amount of money, they will allow anybody to just hop in a boat and take it out to go exploring. That seems like a really bad plan in some cases. One of those cases might be when someone from a landlocked state (that’s me) walks in and specifically says “I have zero experience with a boat”. Doesn’t matter, they respond with “We have boat #9 available, make sure anyone under 13 is wearing a life jacket.....everyone else, eh, life jackets are optional”….and just like that, you’re off into the swamp with someone else’s boat.
It was a GREAT time and we all REALLY enjoyed the heck out of it! Turns out we are "boat people" after all!
It was a GREAT time and we all REALLY enjoyed the heck out of it! Turns out we are "boat people" after all!
You know what, if they can see fit to trust someone like me with a boat, I should go ahead and trust an 8 year old girl with a boat!
You know what, if they can see fit to trust someone like me with a boat, I should go ahead and trust an 8 year old girl with a boat!
Val gave it a try as well.
Val gave it a try as well.
This is a dumb picture, BUT doesn’t the black water of the swap look like Coca-Cola/Pepsi in the wake of a motorboat?!?! I thought it did!
This is a dumb picture, BUT doesn’t the black water of the swap look like Coca-Cola/Pepsi in the wake of a motorboat?!?! I thought it did!
At the end of the ride, "Bog Boy" was just hanging out, sunning himself on the boat ramp.
At the end of the ride, "Bog Boy" was just hanging out, sunning himself on the boat ramp.
At the end of all this, we were driving through the park, just enjoying the scenery when what do our wondering eyes see?!?!? A snake on the side of the road. What are you supposed to do when you see an unknown snake slither away into unknown territory? Of course you exit the car, follow it and take pictures of it! ….and of course it’s a cottonmouth…..which means venomous. We later questioned a ranger about this guy and he said “You know they are really mad when they coil up and open their mouth to show you their fangs”. Coiled up? Check. Mouth open to display fangs? Check.
At the end of all this, we were driving through the park, just enjoying the scenery when what do our wondering eyes see?!?!? A snake on the side of the road. What are you supposed to do when you see an unknown snake slither away into unknown territory? Of course you exit the car, follow it and take pictures of it! ….and of course it’s a cottonmouth…..which means venomous. We later questioned a ranger about this guy and he said “You know they are really mad when they coil up and open their mouth to show you their fangs”. Coiled up? Check. Mouth open to display fangs? Check.
4/17/19 I'm over in the marina with Bear for his morning walk and this little guy really captured my heart. They are borderline cute when they are small and this one was making "chirping" noises as it swam by me which made it even cuter. Later a ranger would confirm that it was calling to mom to let her know of a possible threat.
4/17/19 I'm over in the marina with Bear for his morning walk and this little guy really captured my heart. They are borderline cute when they are small and this one was making "chirping" noises as it swam by me which made it even cuter. Later a ranger would confirm that it was calling to mom to let her know of a possible threat.
......and sure enough, here comes mom to check me out.
......and sure enough, here comes mom to check me out.
Note: I do not have a telephoto lens. This is just how close this one was willing to get to me. I'm elevated from this gator as there is a sea wall right in front of me, so I feel semi-confident that I'm not in danger.
Note: I do not have a telephoto lens. This is just how close this one was willing to get to me. I'm elevated from this gator as there is a sea wall right in front of me, so I feel semi-confident that I'm not in danger.
Boat Rental again! Yes, again! Here’s how this works; they rent the boat in 2-hour increments. We all thought that 2 hours would be fine and we’d be ready to come back after 2 hours. Nope, we felt like we ran out of time and 2 hours didn’t cut it. So, we rented one for 4 hours this time and got the one with the comfy seats because mom and dad are old-ish.
Boat Rental again! Yes, again! Here’s how this works; they rent the boat in 2-hour increments. We all thought that 2 hours would be fine and we’d be ready to come back after 2 hours. Nope, we felt like we ran out of time and 2 hours didn’t cut it. So, we rented one for 4 hours this time and got the one with the comfy seats because mom and dad are old-ish.
Almost as soon as we left the marina, Grace spots this guy sitting on the banks!
Almost as soon as we left the marina, Grace spots this guy sitting on the banks!
She’s less than impressed that I made her snake friend go away with my mean ole’ camera!
She’s less than impressed that I made her snake friend go away with my mean ole’ camera!
Dylan has a go with the controls.
Dylan has a go with the controls.
Remember when I said that there are gators everywhere……
Remember when I said that there are gators everywhere……
This guy was just sunning himself on a log. Easily the biggest turtle we saw anywhere. This one is probably in the 9-10” shell diameter range.
This guy was just sunning himself on a log. Easily the biggest turtle we saw anywhere. This one is probably in the 9-10” shell diameter range.
Buried quite a bit into the swamp, there is a shelter/rest area for boaters. We decide to stop to eat a quick snack and get out of the sun for a few.
Buried quite a bit into the swamp, there is a shelter/rest area for boaters. We decide to stop to eat a quick snack and get out of the sun for a few.
I didn’t see any signs about NOT Petting the Dragon Flies!!!
I didn’t see any signs about NOT Petting the Dragon Flies!!!
We stopped in a few places to cast our lines into the water…..we caught exactly nothing.
We stopped in a few places to cast our lines into the water…..we caught exactly nothing.
….again, driving back to our campsite, this one just crossed the road right in front of us! Yes, it’s another Cottonmouth and YES, I got out of the car with the camera again! At least it's mouth is closed this time!
….again, driving back to our campsite, this one just crossed the road right in front of us! Yes, it’s another Cottonmouth and YES, I got out of the car with the camera again! At least it's mouth is closed this time!
There are just all kinds of bugs and stuff here!
There are just all kinds of bugs and stuff here!
Bear and I stumbled across this guy during a walk one night. I had the camera right up next to him for this picture and he didn't move a muscle!
Bear and I stumbled across this guy during a walk one night. I had the camera right up next to him for this picture and he didn't move a muscle!
4/18/2019 Out for my usual first-thing-in-the-morning walk with Bear and we have some really interesting fog. This tiny little wisp was hanging in the air like someone simply drew a faint white line with chalk.
4/18/2019 Out for my usual first-thing-in-the-morning walk with Bear and we have some really interesting fog. This tiny little wisp was hanging in the air like someone simply drew a faint white line with chalk.
….and of course, hanging over the swamp in the cool morning air.
….and of course, hanging over the swamp in the cool morning air.
Yep, even the haircuts have to happen on the road.
Yep, even the haircuts have to happen on the road.
4/20/2019 Based on some tips from our favorite Ranger in the park, we have made a small trek to a rarely fished spot in the swamp. The goal? To FINALLY catch something! Dylan’s line wasn’t in the water for 10 seconds and he had something.
4/20/2019 Based on some tips from our favorite Ranger in the park, we have made a small trek to a rarely fished spot in the swamp. The goal? To FINALLY catch something! Dylan’s line wasn’t in the water for 10 seconds and he had something.
Grace just wanted to pet it!
Grace just wanted to pet it!
Several more fish were caught that day!
Several more fish were caught that day!
4/21/2019 The Easter Bunny has come to a swamp in Georgia….and left goodies for the kids to share.
4/21/2019 The Easter Bunny has come to a swamp in Georgia….and left goodies for the kids to share.
Then, Grant and Grace slowly recognize that the Easter Bunny has also hidden eggs!
Then, Grant and Grace slowly recognize that the Easter Bunny has also hidden eggs!
….and the hunt is on!!!
….and the hunt is on!!!
I LOVE this kind of stuff.....you're driving into the park and the speed limit is 55mph. It then drops to 45mph and 35mph as you pass a turnoff and some buildings. The next sign you see says "Resume Safe Speed". My interpretation; the decision as to what is "safe" is up to me! I'm not sure that would work so well in front of a judge, but I liked the sign anyway!
I LOVE this kind of stuff.....you're driving into the park and the speed limit is 55mph. It then drops to 45mph and 35mph as you pass a turnoff and some buildings. The next sign you see says "Resume Safe Speed". My interpretation; the decision as to what is "safe" is up to me! I'm not sure that would work so well in front of a judge, but I liked the sign anyway!
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