Stargazing in the Swamp

These unseasonably warm February days are teasing us.  Spr-inter, spring before winter, has given rise to camping fever, so off we went on our first weekend jaunt of 2017.

Stephen Foster State Park, 18 miles east of Fargo, Georgia, in the heart of the Okefenokee Swamp became our weekend destination. 

 A morning guided tour boat ride through the swamp gave us up-close views of native wildlife – gators galore, cormorants & egrets, and turtles, along with lots of lily pads nearing bloom in this blacker-than-black water.

Gator Nursery

Turtle

 We hiked along a boardwalk that dead ends where the 2011 fire ravaged the swamp and claimed a portion of the walk.  Downed trees and plant life rot, adding to the peat floor.

We were amazed by the exquisite display of astronomical awe after dark.  In this designated “dark sky park”, minimal light pollution gives way to incredible views of the night sky.  Enthusiasts with high powered telescopes invited campers to gaze through lenses, bringing the heavens into focus:  Venus, in its crescent phase; the green glow of Orion’s nebulous visible through magnification.   The sheer number of stars visible with the naked eye and with binoculars was amazing, and so worth the trip to this southeastern wonder of Georgia.

And our bicycles made a comeback!  A spin was long past due.  Perfect weather. 

Jamie grilled dinner both evenings on the Campmaid.  What a neat contraption to create a mini-grill! Charcoal makes dinner tastier.

Sunday morning coffee was made more enjoyable by the presence of two deer, hanging out in the campground.