Wilderness Camping Trip in Okefenokee Swamp - Day One

Two of my friends and I were supposed to spend three days and two nights camping at the reservable shelters in Okefenokee Wilderness Area which is most of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.  Only Pat made it.  He got in early enough for us to eat a late lunch, pack, then eat supper.

We put in right in the boat basin near where I live and work.  I was able to borrow a tandem canoe, since I  mine needs repairing. Pat and I did a good job of getting along in the boat, while pushing it as hard as it would go - about 3.8 mph.

We had fantastic weather - highs in the 70's or higher, lows in the 50's and clear to cloudy days and rain only on the last night after midnight. The last of the showers spit on us as we were eating breakfast and packing up.

The best part of the first day was the part of the trip we did on the Day Use trail which parallels the Suwannee River Canal. Birds were active and lots of alligators were out.  We even found a large alligator family with maybe twenty babies.

Ready to leave

Kingfisher 

Perfect Day

Some of the baby alligators

Closeup of baby alligator

Good eating is down here somewhere

Field of Golden Club

Golden Club up close

After we merged into the Suwannee Canal, we saw people a few times, including when we stopped at Coffee Bay shelter to eat lunch and take a restroom break.  After that, we saw two more groups, one in an motor boat, and one in two kayaks.  They turned off  the trail to Roundtop.  We continued on to our shelter, Canal Run.

Canal Run  - out destination

Pat is famous in our paddling circles for his guacamole. As soon as we landed and unloaded the canoe, he found all the fixings and had our snack underway. 

Pat catching rays and making guacamole

Then we had to decide how to set up our tents.  We knew we would not have any rain so decided to keep them out in the open to be able to enjoy the stars after the half-moon set. 

Pat's camp - no need for tent flies. 

My camp, complete with  hammock and camp chair

After the camp was set up, we had lots of time to enjoy the view, including the slow current which carried colorful leaves by us, the birds, and a late-visiting alligator who snuck closer and closer, before hiding behind our canoe.

Chillin'

Camp visitor

To be continued............

We got back early this afternoon and now are in the midst of repacking for a colder night tomorrow night on the St. Mary's river.  We also need to research our trip more and set some way points. The river is near or at flood stage so we'll also need to know where the camps on high banks are. 

Early Christmas Gifts from Okefenokee Swamp

In both the days when Indians lived in and around the swamp and when they were replaced by white settlers, the swamp gave them almost everything they needed, including food, building materials, and even fibers.

Today it's gifts are more for our spirit, and Okefenokee was especially generous Christmas Eve Day. Cindy and I left the East Entrance boat launch at 7:00 A.M. and started down the day use trail in time to watch the sun come up through the left-over clouds from yesterday's storm.  But soon the sun had brushed away the gray clouds, leaving only pink and white ones for us to enjoy.

Sun coming up 

View in the day-use trail

The early light turned the ordinary into magic and everywhere there were things that needed to be remembered and shared with photos.

I was particularly enthralled with the mastery this leaf had in rolling itself up into a golden horn. I listened closely but it must be waiting to play its music Christmas day.

I love the plant called golden trumpet, or never wet. I has the most beautiful blue-green and glowing leaves. Water will not stick to it so you never see water drops on it.

Orontium aquaticum

Just the best clouds left

Birds were very active our entire trip.  I started taking pictures of red-tailed hawks about the time the sun came up.  Catbirds and American goldfinch were often within sight and hearing, but too far for pictures.  Also two flocks of cedar waxwings stayed out of camera range. Lots of great egrets and first year little blue herons were too far and two brightly lit to make good pictures. A flock of ibis obligingly flew over while I had my camera on and ready to take their picture.  And we got really close to other species later.

Part of a flock of white ibis

The best of several photos of red-shouldered hawks

Cindy dressed for our cold (fifties) weather

This combination of colors and textures was another gift

A pair of sandhill cranes let us get close to them. Cindy was in the best place, closer still. 

Another crane landed just in front of Cindy, too close for her to take out her camera

Cindy found this barred owl and then guided me to it. It patiently sat around 

for both of us to take lots of pictures during two visits. 

The patient barred owl

Christmas vignette

I must have spent ten minutes enjoying bubbles made by our paddles and trying to photograph them.  For most of them, the camera wanted to focus on the reflections of trees instead of the bubble.  This one popped just after I got this shot.

Only a few minutes after we started, it was already time to go home. I was afraid to push my shoulders, or I would have been willing to stay out all day.  As it was, I got home a little after noon.

The end - for now

Merry Christmas.  Hope you have a wonderful time with friends and family.