The Okefenokee Swamp GTG

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The Okefenokee Swamp GTG

Postby BirdbyBird » Fri Jan 22, 2010 9:49 pm

Carolyn and I did the swamp thing today. Puppies had to wait back at the rigs. We were not especially popular about that :? But they got over it. Such understanding pups. But after sitting out Thursday's thunderstorms and inches of rain....which I used to read, sleep and snuggle with Remi who decided he was afraid. :D today was just beautiful. Two other women from Carolyn's park went with us and at times it took all four of us to keep it together....read the road signs, make sure the trunk of the car was closed, make sure the starving chihauhua was rescued...... A wonderful young lady that worked at the Visitor's Center volunteered to take it to a shelter. After she made multiple calls on her cell phone it became apparent that the only opening she could find was a shelter in the next county and they charge money to accept a dog from out of county. :roll: A collection from the small group that had gathered (including Rob, our guide, who we watched turn over his tip money that we had 30 minutes before given him) was enough to pay the pups way. He was so thin every bone showed but his skin appeared healthy as did his eyes and though his ears were dirty they did not appear infected.....and he was friendly.......All I could think of was Carol's Miss Maggie. The boy needed a home.

We entered the Wildlife Refuge from the east (Folkston) entrance and took a boat ride down what is/was a man made canal that was originally dug with the thought to drain the swamp and timber the cypress. That timber company went bankrupt in the 1800's..... The eastern side of the swamp is more open per Rob, our guide with open water areas that are referred to as Prairies. Rob said that the western side is more forested with timber. We saw several alligators just out sunning themselves. The temps were perfect and few or no bugs.... Didn't see the birds we would have enjoyed but just can't have everything.

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Here it Carolyn's Mr. Buffet enjoying the views from the boat.
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Carolyn and I both kept watching the kayaks with envy. This area really was meant to be explored by canoe or kayak......

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SLow the boat, there is another one! The four of us were the only ones on the tour so we got to do just about what ever we wanted to...
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After the boat ride we drove over to Swamp Island and walked the 3/4 mile boardwalk to the Owls Roost Tower where you can climb up and up and up.....and see out over the swamp.....

This fellow was just sitting along the side of the road sunning himself. Carolyn's friend from the camp ground got out of the car and got a close picture...but I did not. I don't run as fast as I used too....

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And Carolyn taking pictures....
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Back at the campground Herschel and the Twins asked Sedona to come out and play with them and Herschel was able to play with OT one more time before OT had to leave and go back to Sedona's Rig.

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The Twins and OT did have one final toast to all adventures before parting.

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Herschel and the pups and I are heading up towards Lori, The Sultan and Savannah tomorrow morning. Carolyn is going to try to meet up with us Sunday morning to join us for a driving tour of Savannah...or whatever else we might find interesting......for yet another spontaneous GTG :D
Tina and the furry companions...Lark, Audrey and Jane
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Re: The Okefenokee Swamp GTG

Postby Mollysmom » Fri Jan 22, 2010 10:35 pm

I love the pictures ! What a strange and wonderful place.
I went on a swamp tour when I was in New Orleans several years ago but we didn't see any gators - I'd really like to see one sometime, guess that shouid go on my list.
Thanks for taking me along on your journey and thanks to you and "the others" for saving the little doggy !
Enjoy your adventure :D
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Re: The Okefenokee Swamp GTG

Postby retiredhappy » Fri Jan 22, 2010 11:23 pm

Thanks so much for all the interesting pictures. Glad the puppies stayed in the rigs. What did I miss? What starving dog? Glad you were able to get him/her taken care of. So glad I didn't find him - I might have ended up with a dog for my dogs.
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Re: The Okefenokee Swamp GTG

Postby Acadianmom » Fri Jan 22, 2010 11:31 pm

A lot of these pictures look like my area but we don't have as many Alligators. But be have found them in our yard, barn and pond. You know you have too many Alligators when you see them killed on the road.

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Re: The Okefenokee Swamp GTG

Postby BarbaraRose » Fri Jan 22, 2010 11:40 pm

I have a question...won't the alligators go after someone in a kayak? I would be afraid they would tip the kayak over or could climb right up onto the kayak and munch me for lunch! I doubt I could paddle faster than they can swim!

Barbie

PS> Glad you guys chipped in to help the little dog!
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Re: The Okefenokee Swamp GTG

Postby VickieP » Fri Jan 22, 2010 11:43 pm

Barbie, if they are really hungry they might, but there are so many other things for them to eat that are not as big as a person, they tend not to, altho if Tina had gotten out, she might have looked tastey, LOL. She could have just tossed Lil' M to them! :roll:
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Re: The Okefenokee Swamp GTG

Postby mitch5252 » Fri Jan 22, 2010 11:47 pm

VickieP wrote: She could have just tossed Lil' M to them! :roll:


Oh, why don't you shut up - you know as well as I do, alligators don't eat sweet things. They prefer a sourpuss. Ahemmmmmm...
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Re: The Okefenokee Swamp GTG

Postby Acadianmom » Sat Jan 23, 2010 12:31 am

Barbie, I have wondered the same thing. Every time I go to Academy Sports store I have to pass by and look at the Kayaks. I would like to have a small boat one person could handle but the thought of being eyeball to eyeball with an Alligator keeps me from buying one. lol

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Re: The Okefenokee Swamp GTG

Postby snowball » Sat Jan 23, 2010 12:41 am

would so enjoy going on a tour like that....enjoyed the photo's thanks for posting them
enjoy seeing things in the wild as long as I can see them but that they are away from me!!
thanks again
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Re: The Okefenokee Swamp GTG

Postby dcricket » Sat Jan 23, 2010 4:26 am

Wonderful photos. I was able to go on one of those airboat tours when I went to Miami FL one year. Only me and on other gal on the boat and it was a blast. We actually fed marshmallows to the gators and birds....as we came close they knew the boat and came right up to it. Made me quite nervous as they can launch right up out of the water from their tails. Little bird jumped from the weeds onto the boat; up to the guys shoulder and grabbed the marshmallow and ran back to the weeds. Was sooooo neat. I agree though, I'd be quite intimidated to be paddling along out there. 1 due to the gators, and 2 due to my crappy sense of direction ;)

What a great thing you all did in helping get a temporary home for that starving pup. Hope he finds a new loving home soon.
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Re: The Okefenokee Swamp GTG

Postby Cedar518 » Sat Jan 23, 2010 7:16 am

Great pics and description of your tour,.... I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to kayak among the gators,.... Glad you were in a tour boat and safe. Maybe they wouldn't eat me ... but I'd probably die of fright if I flipped the kayak! :lol:
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Re: The Okefenokee Swamp GTG

Postby Liz » Sat Jan 23, 2010 7:54 am

Thanks for taking us along...great tour. The swamp is pretty even in the winter time. How nice you rescued the little dog...surprised one of you didn't adopt on the spot. Generally alligators will dive and disappear when you approach with a kayak....unless of course you flip it and thrash around in the water like a wounded duck!
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Re: The Okefenokee Swamp GTG

Postby Nasoosie » Sat Jan 23, 2010 8:46 am

I have fished with my son in a canoe in Shingle Creek, an old FL river right near my house down there, with just the same scenery/trees/Spanish Moss/and, yes, aligators as your pictures show. We paddled right over gators, and even went past some baby gators on the shore before my son told me that female mothers can be VERY protective and nasty when it comes to their babies! We paddled like mad away from there, after he took some video footage of the squeaking babies and me nervously scanning the area for Mommy! Although I was NOT scared in the canoe, I DID carry a pee bucket with us in the canoe so I didn't have to step on shore (or hang my butt over the edge of the canoe) to pee! Shingle Creek is always very beautiful, and, thanks to some power company, the shores of it are still as they have been forever, although the surrounding land has been so developed now that it's like a new ecosystem away from the water. After growing up here in an evergreen frigid zone, I am always fascinated by the creatures and ecosystems of the FL Peninsula.

How lucky for that little starving dog that you found him and rescued him from a sure-fire aligator feast. I am ashamed to say that I would have to wish such a fate for the callous human being who left that helpless little 4-footer to die in agony. That kind of person does not deserve to live to breed.
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Re: The Okefenokee Swamp GTG

Postby avalen » Sat Jan 23, 2010 9:07 am

looks like a place I would really like to explore. Thanks for the pictures and the narrative.
Glad you got the little dog rescued before it became some alligators snack.
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Re: The Okefenokee Swamp GTG

Postby mtngal » Sat Jan 23, 2010 9:18 am

Thanks for posting these fantastic pics. They are so beautiful!! I can't wait to visit this area!!
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