A Change of Plans

Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message

Boat dock on Billy's Island in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Cypress trees, Spanish Moss, canoe, life jackets, swamp Trek. March 2015.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015, 8:30 AM - Tuesday, 8:30 AM - Faith in the forecasters completely changed our plans. Because of a predicted 80% chance of precipitation, instead of heading north to the mountains, we decided at the last minute to head south to the dryer and warmer swamp. I had done a good bit of planning and packing for an Appalachian Trail hike, but the memory of wet boots, soaked socks, and cold bodies was still all too clear from our January hike up to Blood Mountain. Heading south would also fit in with our need to drop Grandma and Grandpa at the Atlanta airport.

However, upon stepping outside the house departure morning, I momentarily second guessed the meteorologist’s accuracy when warm air and clear blue sky surrounded me. Should we have kept to our AT plans?  Nevertheless, an Okefenokee paddling trek would be an exciting adventure. It had been nearly twenty years since I went to the Okefenokee. But, we were off...! 

American Alligator in wwamp prairie hammock, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia

​We arrived near 4:00 PM at the ranger station. I found the park more populated than I had imagined; several cars in the parking lot, retired couples occupying the rockers of the registration office porch, and sauntering along the drive. Each pier was occupied by a lure-casting hopeful.  As we toured the two campgrounds hunting for a suitable spot, our first wildlife encounter was a single Wild Turkey jenny. We selected the yellow-placarded site #9 as our home. Our first order of business was picking a shady retreat, for the day had considerably heated up, and dousing ourselves with bug repellent to back off the annoying “flocks” of gnats and stinging mosquitoes.