Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

On Thursday, January 27th we packed up, left the Plantation SKP Park near Foley, AL and headed east to Okefenokee NWR in SE Georgia to begin a 4-month volunteer gig. We arrived after the refuge had closed so we ‘boondocked’ in the parking lot of the Refuge Admin Office. This is a return job for us as we worked here in 2008 and enjoyed it so much that we decided to repeat the experience.

 

On Friday morning we got all settled in at the Volunteer Village and on Saturday we woke up to no water!!!! A  pipe had broken and we  were without water till they found the break and got it fixed…… temporarily. So now we have water again…yeah!!!

 

 

On Saturday afternoon we headed out Swamp Island Drive to re-visit the refuge, starting with the Chesser Island Homestead. This area was settled by the Chesser Family in the the mid 1800’s and this home was vacated in 1958 and restored to original by Fish and Wildlife Service. You can visit the homestead for a great look at life in the swamp, fascinating! In a future post I will tell you more about this home and the family that lived there.

 

 

Then we headed for a hike on the Boardwalk out to the Tower which overlooks the swamp.

     

The water is very low in the swamp this year, but it is still a great hike, with all the hanging moss and Cyprus trees.

   

Saw Palmetto

Here’s an alligator passing by……               Blue Heron…

   

   Back at the Visitors’ Center

 

        and more Herons…..

This is just our first outing here at Okefenokee NWR so there will be more in future posts……..stay tuned!!!

Just Us Kids……….hiking in the swamp!