Wednesday, November 05, 2014

Paddling in the Okefenokee

One of my bucket list items has been to paddle in the Okefenokee Swamp.  Ever since high school, when I purchased my first canoe, I had thought about paddling the swamp.  Moving here made it a much easier goal and last week I seized the opportunity.  My father, who took up kayaking a few years ago, was visiting.  On Thursday afternoon, we drove down to Folkston Georgia where, early on Friday, we headed out to the swamp’s east entrance at the Sewanee Canal.  We were on the water a few minutes after 9 AM. 
Click to enlarge the photo (and really see the gators)


The first two miles were spend paddling straight down one of the canals that attempted to drain the swamp.  Prior to the late 30s, when the swamp became a National Wildlife Refuge, the swamp was logged and seen as a place where, once drained, the land could be farmed.  But the drainage never worked and since then, the swamp has been allowed to return to its natural state.  We were greeted right away with herons and cranes. It was wonderful to hear sandhills cranes again.  I feared I had left them behind in Michigan.  We were also able to see evidence of the fires that are a part of the natural state of the swamp.   There were terrible fires in 2007 and again in 2011. 
 
About a mile down the canal, we passed a sign designating the wilderness area boundaries.  About the same place we saw the first alligator swimming across the canal maybe a hundred yards ahead.  We would see numerous such beast, maybe 50 or even more, by the time we called it a day.  But the gators don't bother us.  Most slowly and quietly submerge when we approach, much like a submarine drops below the water at the approach of a destroyer. The dark stained water is the perfect hiding place.  The temperature must have been just cool enough for the snakes to stay hidden as we didn't see a single one.

We first explored Chesser  Prairie, a vast open area filled with lily pads and shallow water.  Mixed in within the lily pads was the occasional brilliant white flower.  Next, we found the portable outhouse (built up on a platform as there is little solid grown in this part of the swamp).  This was important as I needed to relieve myself of my morning coffee. 
My dad with his cooler (he wanted ice in his drinks)

prairie

At places, the channel constricted.

That's me in a prairie

We paddled onward toward Coffee Bay, where we planned to enjoy lunch on the shelter there.  The canals became narrower and the gators more frequent.  A few places where we were able to get out of the channel and explore the swamps surrounding the canal, we did.  We see a variety of trees.  Where there is a sliver of high grown, long leaf pines can be found, as well as sweet gums, live oaks and water oaks.  Cypress and juniper are found throughout the swamp, growing in the water.   And Spanish moss, dangling like the Taliban's beard, is everywhere.


After lunch, we headed back toward the landing, taking some time to explore the Mizzell Prairie and another section of the Chesser Prairie We were back at the launch by 4 PM, having paddled 14-15 miles.  On the way back to Savannah, I decided we’d stop at the Folkston funnel and learn about the large number of trains running in and out of Florida (but that will be covered in another post). 

20 comments:

  1. oh what a cool trip...i miss the gators and spanish moss from florida...ha...we used to live down a lane bridged by trees clinging with it...

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  2. What a beautiful area.. so many wonderful sites to see. You take the most interesting paddling trips.

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  3. I've always heard that the Okefenokee is a beautiful place and now I know it is.
    Great photos and narrative Jeff.

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  4. A true wonderland. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  5. Reminds me of a book we read in junior high called "The Marsh Land". Our teacher was very strict, and from North Carolina. But looking back, he was great! This post brought back all the wonder of that class and the teacher.

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  6. Wow, how fun to have your dad visit too. You sure look great on that water, and so wonderful that they had an outhouse too, what a creative but mostly thoughtful idea that was to have one. All your photos are just stunning, especially the reflections! Now this is living!

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  7. Love the views, but could do without the gators

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  8. Of course, this looks quite a lot like home for me. I do enjoy a good swamp tour, though I haven't kayaked. That would allow us to see a lot more deeply I'ms sure.

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  9. I was loving the post until you mentiond the gators. I would have turned around right there and then. :-) Great photos and lovely post. I really enjoyed it. Thanks.

    Greetings from London.

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  10. I am happy for you Jeff that only the locations have changed for your excursions.

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  11. Amazing shots Sage. I love that shot of the Heron!!

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  12. The place looks so tranquil. But the reptiles swimming by? Oh gosh! But great shots here. Good for you!

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  13. Love this! Whole post and your normal bucket list wish.
    If one is to climb Mt Everest solo please it hide it from me
    On my before my bucket list list is a wish to travel the south this year and next so I will be in your neck of the prarie someday...
    We don't have trains but I've discovered the magic of buses.

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  14. I did write a comment but it seems to have vanished.

    Looks like a lovely day out. And your dad must be pretty spry to tackle such a expedition.

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  15. My comment seems to have disappeared too....

    Lovely photos and it sounds like a great place to visit.

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  16. I have always wanted to experience that place too. I've read a lot about it over the years. Very beautiful pictures!

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  17. My husband loves that stuff. He definitely married the wrong woman...I'm a girly-girl!

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  18. You are really seeing a lot of the natural beauty of Georgia! I can imagine how cool it was to see those gators!

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  19. Wow! Looks like an amazing time. Thank you for sharing. Though, I'd be perfectly content to live the rest of my life never seeing a gator up close.

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