Fri, May 14 2010 - Okefenokee Swamp Safari: Canoeing & Carside Camping Weekend (View Original Event Details)
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Our friendly group of 22 AOC "Camper-Paddler-Swampers" had a fabulous time together in Georgia's exotic Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Our home base for this excitingly different weekend was Stephen C. Foster State Park, an "island oasis" near the center of the swamp where we camped just a few yards from our cars Friday thru Sunday in the Park's beautiful Pioneer Campsite.
We look forward to posting here as many links as possible to our hundreds of great photos that we shot during the trip. Here's what I have thus far:
Ray & Joann Redmond:
http://picasaweb.google.com/cleanchain/OkefenokeeCanoeAdventure?authkey=Gv1sRgCOfeyISLuN6OeQ&feat=directlink
Jason "T-Bone" Cummings—here's the links to my favorite pics from the weekend:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcummings23/sets/72157623954890779/
Our Saturday "headliner adventure" was an unforgettable 10-mile-roundtrip 7-hour canoe safari deep into the swamp during which we observed and photographed an amazing array of wild alligators, gorgeous birds and blooming waterlilies framed by moss-draped cypresses, "trembling earth," and rushing blackwater streams. We enjoyed a leisurely paddling break with a hike at the "loggers' ghost town" on historic Billy's Island—then after 3 more miles of winding canoe trails rafted our boats together and settled down for a laid-back lunch and "social hour" on the covered dock and dining platform at Minnie's Lake.
While at Minnie's Lake we got lots of great photos including incredible "macro shots" of a tiny yellow bird nesting in the hollow of a cypress knee by the dock and the "suspended-by-his-tail" mating display of a small lizard. Other memorable wildlife sightings included two large black bears spotted by Ray & Joann just 100 yards from our campsite and owls mating and roosting at night. Stargazing was spectacular both nights, with a thin crescent moon and Venus setting in the western sky, Saturn and Mars decorating opposite ends of Leo the lion.
The Pioneer Campsite at Stephen Foster came very well appointed, with more than an acre of level partially shaded St. Augustine lawn for our tents, two 10'x15' covered "Adirondack" camping shelters, showers & toilets, and convenient parking for our vehicles just a few yards away. Its 16' x 40' covered dining pavilion was perfect for this trip's "family-style potluck meals" and featured 4 large picnic tables, a fabulous double charcoal grill, good-tasting potable water. We were fortunate to have clear weather and comfortable temps all weekend ranging from mid-60s at night to about 90 late Fri & Sat afternoon. The mosquitoes and deerflies were a bit aggressive in the early morning and late afternoon, but generally weren't a major problem with the help of a little repellant applied to our exposed skin and a couple of citronella candles burning on the picnic tables.
Thanks to everyone in the group for your delicious contributions to our food and refreshments all weekend and to the many who did more than their fair share of cooking and cleanup—especially to our "Birthday Boy" and Trip Co-Leader Bobby who did the bulk of both the shopping and cooking for our big Saturday evening feast! Especially memorable were Ray & Joann Redmond's walnut-pecan pancakes and exotic syrups that were the big hit of our Sunday breakfast. Thanks also to those of you who did such a great job building and stoking our wonderful campfires both nights.
Our congratulations to Nadine and Quentin for their resourcefulness in setting up camp Friday night on the shoulder of the entrance road just outside the Park a few minutes after the gate had closed—also for their good cheer and enthusiasm in joining the group all day Saturday despite having to make it back to Atlanta by early Sunday morning to prepare for Nadine's new job.
Finally, our thanks to Denise Sladky who provided us a "team-building opportunity" during the Saturday morning breakfast hour. She had departed Atlanta at 3:00 and driven down solo in a rental car. Just as she arrived she proceeded to lock the keys inside the car! About six of us put our heads together, first succeeding in popping the trunk lid lever beside her driver's seat with a coathanger. Then Mike Vitale discovered a "secret arm route" from the trunk compartment up and over the back seat toward the seat release lever -- then John Ariail with his slightly longer -- and more rubbery? -- arm managed to trip that lever, crawl inside the car via the trunk, and voila -- success!!!
—Writeup by Volunteer Co-Leader Charlie Cottingham, May 20, 2010
OKEFENOKEE "SWAMP SAFARI" PADDLING PARTNERS:
John Ariail, Bindu Kandula & Angela
Ray & Joann Redmond
Brandon & Taressa Sergent
Quentin & Nadine Wright
Terry Murphy & Sunnie Heil
Jason Cummings & Melissa Medori
David Boyer & Jason Hicks
Charlie Cottingham & Denise Sladky
Mike Vitale & Casey Walker
Warren Rudert & Loan Dang (in Warren's friend's canoe)
Bobby Marie (solo)
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