evident hope of recovery. I plan on replacing it with a water-proof digital camera as soon as I can.
SOooooo , this weekend's journey to Mixon's Hammock camp site on the western side of the Okefenokee is without photos. So you will just have to listen to my descriptions and paint yourself a picture in your mind.
Some friends of ours were being handfasted (pagan wedding) in the Stephen Foster park this weekend, so we took advantage of being there and made an overnight kayak trip out of it.
The ceremony was around noon, and we were able to get on the water by 2ish. We had never been to this campsite before. Usually, camping in the Okee means throwing up your tent on a floating chickee platform. This campsite is on a small island in the swamp that is a very short paddle (just under 2miles) from the Stephen Foster launch site.
It was our first time for all three of us to be able to go camping in the swamp together, and Lynn's first ever kayak camping trip. We had fears that we would not be able to fit all of the stuff that we had brought into the three kayaks, but it turned out that we had room to spare.
All three of us use 16-17ft sea kayaks. Michelle is using a Wilderness Systems tempest 170, Lynn is using a Perception Shadow, and I am using the sexiest kayak ever built... the VCP Anas Acuta. After getting the gear packed into the kayaks and the car parked, we set out in the 90 degree heat. We were all three wishing that we hadn't eaten QUITE so much at the wedding ceremony. Once we got out onto the water though, it was very nice.
The breeze was strong in our face and it was clouding up nicely. There were quite a few alligators, but they seem a bit more shy this trip than usual. The first mile of the trip is in the wide water of Billy's Lake. Then it begins to narrow down as you approach the narrows that lead to the Suwanee Sill. There is plenty of evidence of last year's huge fires that destroyed many old trees, but already the swamp is growing over the charred wood, replacing it with green. Cypress stumps, hollowed by fire and charred black are plentiful, but it doesn't seem that noticable in all of the green.
Just after the waterway narrows to the point where we have to go single-file, the campsite landing dock is on the right. At first it seems much like the other platforms throughout the swamp, a wooden dock with a composting out-house on it. However, at all other sites we have stayed at, the camp site itself is right next to the dock, or even part of the dock. At this one, we find out that the campsite is actually several hundred yards down a path towards the center of the island. This means that once we dock and unload the gear, we have to hump it over the the campsite. Even so, it is well worth it. The camp site is in a nice clearing, with a fire ring in the middle of the site. We pitch tent and get a tarp over it just as the afternoon thunderstorms arrive, perfect timing.
The yellow flies are still around, but not tooooo terribly many of them this time.
Michelle saw a young spotted fawn on the trail to the campsite. Anticipating being raided by raccoons in the night, and possibly even a bear, I hoist our bag of food high up in the air with a rope thrown over a tree branch. We wait out the short storm under the tarp that extends from our tent like a car-port.After the rain, we re-apply our 40% deet bug spray and start a fire. The portable hammock that we brought gets hung up between two trees and we discover that it IS possible for three people to lay in a hammock at the same time. We have hummus, crackers, granola bars, fruit, and CHEESE IN A CAN!~ for dinner. Then cookies and marshmallows for dessert.
Some time after dark, we hear a loud splash and a cracking noise coming from the direction of the kayaks.. so we all three went rushing that way to make sure that there was nobody or nothing messing with the kayaks. Kayaks were fine, and we determine that it was probably a gator munching on a turtle.
Time for bed. We are grimy, dirty, and smelly... especially mine and Michelle's feet ( our water-shoes were really funky). Fortunately, we brought along a camp shower! This marvelous invention is like a kayaking dry-bag with a hose on the bottom with a small shower head attached to it. I HIGHLY recommend taking one with you on EVERY overnight camping trip.
Along with Dr. Bronner's magic soap... it make's your hoohoo tingle.
After our minty fresh shower, we all climbed into the tent and slept like the dead all night long, although Lynn says she woke up once to the sound of something crashing about in the brush, probably the fawn or it's momma. We awoke the next morning to find that our campsite was not ravaged by the raccoons as expected. We had a lovely breakfast of granola bars, fruit and cheeeeeze in a can !!
I believe no camping trip is complete without this amazing stuff, cheese in a can. Lynn believes it to be the nastiest stuff ever invented, but what do you expect from a yankee northerner.We begin breaking down camp and making trips to the outhouse... Lynn returns first to inform us that there is a very grumpy alligator hanging out UNDER the dock, next to the kayaks, that hissed at her instead of fleeing into the water. By the time we break camp and carry all of the gear down there, it has gone away though.
Instead of heading straight back, we decide to head towards the Suwanee Sill for a bit. This takes us past the campground down a very narrow and winding stream that moves us through beautiful greenery. The current increases as we get closer to the sill, which is where the waters of the Okefenokee become the Suwanee River. Not far along, Lynn rounds a curve to find herself face to face with a snake hanging from a branch right at eye level. Fortunately, it was only a green snake, not a moccasin. Even so, it is decided that she will not go first. (have I mentioned that she does NOT like snakes and only tolerates them because she loves me?)
We continue on through the forest with the stream picking up speed, passing several alligators along the way. There are spider webs that span the whole width of the stream... I wish I knew how they accomplished that feat. Finally, the waters move us into a wider open area with tall grass growing on all sides of us instead of trees. We decide this is the best place to turn around.
There are hundreds of dragonflies buzzing around us! Great clouds of dragonflies are darting around, eating yellowflies and other yummy bugs. We sit and watch them for a bit before heading back upstream into the forest area.
The paddle back was just as beautiful and we stopped for a snack and water break at the campsite where we had slept before continuing on. Thunderstorms are approaching and the distant booms are getting not-so distant by the time we arrive at the launch. I run (ok, I walk in a hobbling, crippled, cramped fashion) to the car and bring it around to the kayaks. We get everything loaded just as the rain begins. A quick stop at the ranger's station to check out, and we are on our way..... except for the fact that the gas light is on and we are 20 miles from a gas station. We manage to make it to the gas station with not a drop of fuel to spare and head home.
All in all a wonderful trip.
