Okefenokee Swamp

Following a somewhat budget breaking time in New Orleans, we got back on the road, leaving Louisiana, but knowing we will definitely return (a trip with a week-long budget might be more appropriate – it’s hard not to eat out and pay for music in New Orleans…) We drove across five states in one day (this sounds impressive, but it only took us about 36 minutes to skirt the bottom of Alabama at the Gulf Coast), ending up in northern Florida for the night, having missed the park closure at the Georgia state park we were aiming for that evening. Providing evidence to changing weather patterns, during our one night in Florida it frosted!!! In Florida. The next day, we made it to southern Georgia, to a park that accesses the famed Okefenokee Swamp. Our first impression of Georgia in early March was that it was way cooler than we expected. Apparently they were having an unusual cold snap. We are adept at hitting cold snaps everywhere we go it seems.

Although in the last few weeks we have had ample opportunities to canoe in wetland/swamp areas, and have seen fabulous wildlife from a canoe, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity for a final swamp experience – the Okefenokee, the mystical swamp featured in myriad children’s stories and bad movies.


Black water and lily pads

We spent two half days paddling through the waterways of the swamp, and with black waters covered with lily pads and surrounded by cypress and oak trees dripping with Spanish moss, the Oke did not disappoint. On our second day, we counted 18 alligator sightings. And we’re pretty sure we didn’t double count. The slightly chilled weather also provided us with one extremely good benefit as we prepared to canoe the Okefenokee – fewer mosquitoes!



Just can't get enough 'gator pictures...