Yesterday I had the opportunity to go to “Green Zone” training to learn more about the challenges and resources for student veterans and ASM’s. It was a great learning experience. I was really humbled by what these men and women go through to get their degrees and happy to learn some ways that I can help.
I was also heartbroken to learn that on average one veteran commits suicide every 65 minutes. We still have so much to learn about taking care of them.
Life has been a bit hectic lately. It’s all good stuff with lots of activity going on at work. This photo is from April 11 and the unveiling event for Clemson’s Formula and Baja SAE teams. Both of these student groups create vehicles for international competitions. It was an exciting night for the teams and the event went well.
Mr. McB and I drove up to an Asheville to see the gardens at Biltmore. Here are some snaps from the day.
We also made a quick stop at the NC Arboretum. Here are a few pictures from this stop.
We made our way to Waycross, Georgia just in time for dinner. After checking into our hotel, we visited Hog N Bones for some grub. The food and service were very good. I was happy with our choice.
We woke early the next morning to start our drive to Folkston, and the eastern entrance of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Preserve. The Okefenokee Swamp Park near Waycross is not part of the wildlife preserve. To see the “real” swamp, you need to visit the eastern or western entrances.
There is a $5 charge to access the swamp for seven days. This is a preserve, not a park. It is run by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It might seem minor but there is something about it that feels different from a national or state park.
Knowing that rain was coming, we sat off on the eight-mile driving loop. We soon encountered a small pond and our first gators.
Visitors are asked to keep at least 20 feet away from the alligators. There are no fences.
This juvenile gator was chirping as he enjoyed his morning swim. Between the sprinkles and his frenzied swimming, it was a bit difficult to get a good photo. This was one of those experiences that makes for better memories than photos.
We got back in the car and continued along the path. The rain was chucking down by time we reached the Chesser Island Homestead. This traditional home illustrates the swamper’s way of life. Constructed of yellow pine, the house was built in 1927 for about $200. Tom and Iva Chesser raised their seven children in this house. They left and moved to Folkston in 1958.
There is no vegetation in the yard. This helped the Chesser family spot any snakes that slithered through their property. It also helped prevent a fire that could have been caused by lightening striking a large tree.
A rocking chair and porch swing welcome visitors to the home.
The home was simple, airy, and somehow larger than you would expect. The house grew as the family did so there are windows in between rooms and half walls.
The family made syrup from sugar cane.
This is for making syrup, not hot-tubbing.
After we toured the homestead, we made the mistake of starting out along the woodland path to the boardwalk. This was my idea and I felt horrible because Mr. McB was devoured by bugs. He was wearing DEET but they still launched an aggressive attack. We hauled butt back to the car and took off toward the boardwalk. By this point, the rain was steady but not too heavy.
Floating swamp flowers
With the rain, we had the boardwalk to ourselves. For a long time, we just saw vegetation and upended trees. After a bit, I heard what I thought was the distant rumbling of a boat motor but we soon realized that this was the call-and-answer grumbling of two gators. While we were waiting out a particularly heavy shower, I spotted this.
Holy Moses! It was a growling, grumbling gator on the move.
We stayed in the shelter for quite some time as we tried to find him. For a while, we were sure that a log floating under the boardwalk was his snout but finally, I spotted him on the other side.
Squee!!! He was just there beside the boardwalk. After a few tentative sorties out of the shelter to snap his picture, we realized he wanted to sleep and wasn’t interested in us. We were soon on our way down the boardwalk again.
The boardwalk ends at the tall observation tower. You get a great view of the swamp at the top. It is so peaceful there.
This is a happy man who is too high in the air to be eaten by swamp bugs.
By time we walked back, the gator had moved back to the other side of the boardwalk to continue his napping.
We eventually made our way back to the car. We saw a heron eating a small fish and an alligator watching the whole affair. I was driving but Mr. McB has some great photos of this.
Before hitting the road, we stopped by the small pond again and found the gators in slightly different positions.
How many gators are here?
Two
The little fella decided to stop swimming for an afternoon nap.
We decided to visit the train platform at the Folkston Funnel before making our way back to Waycross. Most of the rail traffic going to and from Florida passes through Folkston. With a train zipping by every 15-20 minutes, some people might complain but the people of Folkston built a nice viewing platform, with fans and WiFi, and made it a social gathering place. The train traffic was slower than normal during our visit. After about 35 minutes, we spotted this beauty.
If you go to Folkston, try the small German cafe beside the tracks. Their funnel frankfurter and hot German potato salad are delicious. The owners are very nice too.
After the train, we were directed to Whistling Dixie for an ice cream shop. Miss Dixie also owns railside lodging in the Folkston area. She asked about our day and we enjoyed a few laughs before getting back in the car again.
Before making it back to Waycross, we took a little detour to see the Laura Walker State Park. It was buggy and we were tired but there were some good photos to be had. Look at this Carolina anole enjoying an afternoon snack.
We saw some interesting sites along the woodland trail.
There was also a pygmy rattlesnake but he quickly moved out of our way.
Thankfully, we didn’t know he was a pygmy rattlesnake until we got home.
That night, we grabbed some topical Benedryl and other soothing medications for Michael’s many bites. I discovered the seasonal carrot cake M&M’s. We fell asleep watching a 48 Hours murder mystery about a woman’s suspicious death which was originally blamed on her husband. New evidence suggests that an owl might have played a role in her death.
The next morning we were back at the swamp for a boat tour. With time to kill, we made a quick trip around the driving path.
Good morning gators…
We boarded the boat and headed down the narrow canal behind these kayakers.
The captain answered questions and pointed out interesting plants and animals. He took us close to gators but also carefully pulled the boat way when they really started to hiss.
It seemed that most of the gators were not on my side of the boat.
This gator, who didn’t feel the need to hiss, was on my side.
We saw a red shouldered hawk’s nest. Later we would see both a young hawk and a frighteningly fast adult hawk.
We made our way to the grand prairie where there is plenty of plant life. These are golden clubs. The plant is also called “never wet” because the stalks do not get wet. You can dunk them under the water but it simply wicks away. The makers of high-end rain gear are studying the plant in hopes of improving their product.
As we entered the canal again, a curtain of Spanish moss blew open to reveal a majestic barn owl. I was just about to mention this to the guide when I remembered the 48 Hours episode and my ornithophobia kicked into high gear. I kept my mouth closed and we kept moving back toward the dock.
This little turtle is the last bit of wildlife that we encountered.
We were soon back in the car and taking the back roads home. Since it was after noon before we started, we did not have the luxury of making many stops on the way home. By time we reached the house, both Mr. McB and I were very thankful to stretch our legs and move around.
It was a great trip. I was very impressed by the way the preserve was laid out. The driving loop made it easy to see the natural areas. The boardwalk is great and very accessible for those with disabilities. They would not be able to use the observation tower but you can see quite a bit before reaching the tower.
I would definitely recommend Okefenokee to anyone with an interest in wildlife. I would also recommend a mix of planned and spontaneous activities like we enjoyed.
Last weekend Mr. McB and I hopped in the car and headed toward Waycross, Georgia and the Okefenokee National Wildlife Preserve.
The drive takes somewhere between six and seven hours. The interstate features unremarkable scenery, limited dining options, and infrequent exits but you can legally zoom along at 70 MPH for most of the trip. We left just after 8 a.m. and made a lunch stop about 40 minutes after crossing the Georgia state line. Shortly after lunch, we decided to make a detour and visit St. Simons Island and Fort Frederica.
When Fort Frederica was established in 1736, the Spanish controlled nearby Florida. The fort was build in what was known as debatable land with the goal of keeping the new colony of Georgia and its port of Savannah under English control.
Georgia’s founder James Oglethorpe, decided to take things a step further in 1739 by conducting small raids on the Spanish forts west of St. Augustine. Oglethorpe had success in these conquests but failed to take the heavily fortified St. Augustine in 1740. He and his men returned to Fort Frederica.
In time, the Spanish decided it was time to return the favor and came north to visit St. Simons and the fort. The English won the battles of Gully Hole Creek and Bloody Marsh in 1742. These battles were small but significant because the Spanish never again mounted an offensive campaign against British colonies in the east.
There is a charge of $3 per person to visit the national monument. Visitors can see exhibits and view a film in the welcome center before exploring the ruins of the old fort.
Spanish moss clings to the trees surrounding the fort. This air plant is generally full of chiggers so resist the urge to touch.
Street signs help visitors understand what the fort’s layout would have been in its heyday.
The ruins of the barracks
The structure also served as a prison. One inmate, Charles Priber, urged the colonists to seek independence from Britain. He was a man ahead of his time.
The ruins of an opossum
I don’t believe these date back to the 1700’s. With two turkey vultures circling the area, I’m not sure the remains date back 17 days.
The king’s magazine
A cannon provides defense against traffic along the river.
This monument stands away from the water on a shady path.
A cascade of dogwood blossoms surrounded by Spanish moss
After exploring the fort, we took the short walk to Christ Church. This structure was built in the 1880s to replace the house of worship that was destroyed by Union soldiers. There has been active worship on the island since 1736. John and Charles Wesley helped shape the ministry efforts here.
Visitors can see the inside of the church Tuesday-Sunday from 2-5 p.m. The church and its grounds are not open to visitors on Mondays, Easter, or Christmas. There is no charge but donations are accepted. The inside of this church features a number of beautiful stained glass windows.
This window details the history of the church.
Tomochichi and Oglethorpe
Tomochichi was a Yamacraw chief who is credited for his mediation skills and facilitating peaceful interactions between the native people and the settlers. Without Tomochichi’s efforts, Georgia might not have been a successful colony.
This is the church’s largest window.
Confederate soldiers are buried in the church cemetery.
After leaving the church, we took the woodland walk to the park that honors the Wesley brothers.
Fragrant azalea bushes lined the path.
I did not think about applying bug spray during this excursion. There are a number of hungry gnats on the island and this is a mistake I would not make again. We returned to the car and decided to visit the St. Simons lighthouse before getting back on the road. The route includes a couple of odd traffic circles which made both the GPS and me cranky. When we finally made it, we realized that the lighthouse was closed to visitors due to an event at the historical center. It was a bit of a bust but still nice to see the shore.
High tide
The park was full of boisterous grackles. I wish filmed a little of their loud chirping.
We were soon back to the car and off toward Waycross. There is a lot to cover in the swamp and surrounding area so I’ll save that for another post.
Mr. McB’s stints at home are never long enough. He is off to Carson City, NV on Monday. I am thankful that his trip coincides with a hectic week for me. Our time apart always flies by when I am running from one project to the next.
Sugar, come sit a spell. 