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.  

Covered Bridge & Autumn Colors

Watson Mill Bridge State Park

A quick getaway to Watson Mill Bridge State Park, east of Athens, just before Thanksgiving yielded crisp autumn air and a gorgeous display of orange, red and yellow leaves, and a pleasant afternoon visit with one of Jamie’s former State Trooper co-workers.

A flowing waterfall

 The preserved covered bridge is the highlight of this tiny state park.  A park so tiny, and so tight, that making the hairpin turn on the campground driveway required precision with our 35’ trailer; otherwise, we’d have taken a tree trunk with us, or worse, left a side of the camper at the campground.  Just a word of warning:  if you’ve got a long rig, enter this campground during daylight.

A genuinely photogenic weekend . . . historic covered bridge, flowing water, autumn leaves.  A wonderful way to begin Thanksgiving break and to bring our 2016 camping adventures to an end.

Food + Fellowship = Fun

Friends, family and a grill - a quick and easy camping outing.  Just a mile or so from the house, we set up a campsite where soybeans are juxtaposed to pecans.

John & Becky, and Jerry & Angie joined us with their campers.  Little did we know, we would be in for some booming surprises.

Three campers set up

Just after we had gotten the electrical cords situated and put the potatoes in the Dutch Oven to bake, something exploded.  Was it the potatoes?  Jerry checked.  Was it a breaker?  John checked.  We ladies sniffed around, seeking the source.  A battery.  Yikes!

John & Becky headed into town to get a replacement. Then, noises.  Did that battery explode again? Nope.  Truck trouble!  What a way to start a Saturday afternoon camping trip!

But all's well that ends well.  The battery got replaced and the truck got repaired, and the camping continued.

The warm afternoon sun and light breeze created flawless Fall weather.  The gentlemen grilled some Coca-Cola chicken on the Weber and baked potatoes in the Dutch Oven.

Those birds will be delicious in a little while.

The temperature dipped after nightfall, so we gathered close to the campfire, grateful for the warmth on this first cold experience of the season.  The clear night sky allowed for some stargazing.

Sunset

We toasted the arrival of Fall with marshmallows, graham crackers and Hershey bars.

Camping close to home has its benefits.  The pianist among us made it to church on time to fulfill her responsibilities.  Gipper, Huck and Sara came for breakfast.

Jamie & I lingered late into the afternoon enjoying the outdoors, wishing we could have this kind of weather year-round.

Autumn at Hannahatchee

At the end of a dark, dusty, two mile trail, our headlights illuminated the locked gate.  Jamie retrieved the hidden key, located exactly where the caretaker told us it would be.

We continued along the half mile drive, moonlight making us aware that much of the treescape had changed from our previous visit here.

The time was just after 11:00 PM as we arrived at our weekend campsite.  Deserted. Alone in the wilderness. Far from civilization. So it seems.

Hannahatchee is our ideal, last minute getaway spot after a Blazer football game against Stewart County. No reservations needed. No neighbors to disturb.

Friday night sunset from the football field

A couple extra hours of sleep - no Saturday agenda to rush us.  I awoke to find he had set up our campsite with table and chairs, brewed the Maxwell House Original Roast, and started breakfast. I am blessed.

We set out after breakfast to explore: a walk around the square in Lumpkin, a desolate ride to Eufala for BBQ at Phil's, a brewery tour & tasting in Omaha, and gator rides across the rugged terrain of this Georgia gem.

In the woods at Hannahatchee

A view of the distance at Hannahatchee

This fella never cared that we were in his space.

Rugged terrain with some logging roads and comfortable autumn temperatures made for an adventurous afternoon

The tasting room at Omaha Brewing Company

Spent leaves in shades of gold and rust fluttered like Monarchs falling to the forest floor ahead of us.  This, along with the low humidity and light breeze, sang "autumn is here" at last. Music to our soul.

Speaking of butterflies, they were plentiful, but flittering hither and yon, they eluded my camera lens.

While our steaks grilled on the Weber, we marveled at the yellow, orange, and pink hues of this October sunset from what appears to be the highest elevation in this area.

The Weber and Kingsford in a bucket - prepping for a steak dinner

I love the colors of a sunset.

A weekend in the SolAire is always a welcome respite from the hustle of our weekday responsibilities.

Until next time . . . 

Uneventful Relaxation and a Second Blogspot

Our latest travel adventure was an uneventful, relaxing getaway to the lake.  I mentioned it on my In a Nutshell Baconton Blogspot.  I have begun jotting down a few thoughts on occasion about professional topics and my Attitude of Gratitude joy journey on that page.

If you're interested, skip over there to see what's been on my mind lately.

Here's a funny video for you.  Gipper begged for Jamie's attention while Jamie was mowing grass this week.  So, what did Jamie do?  Attach the trailer so Gipper could ride along.  I laugh every time I watch this.  Gipper brings me joy!

Home, James! ... or... All Good Things Must Come to an End

DAY 14 ~ Our Great River Road Adventure

Our caravan of two travel trailers hit the southbound highway early Friday morning at Louisville, Kentucky.  Six hundred miles, two relax-and-rejuvenate meals, several fuel fill-ups and sixteen hours later, we arrived home. A good trip, indeed!

In total, more than 3500 miles, 13 nights, 8 campsites, with excursions by foot, ferry, boat, bus, train and subway, and navigation assistance provided through 2 Google maps on Android phones, 2 hand-held radios, 1 CB radio, 1 Garmin GPS unit, and a Rand McNally atlas.

Over our last meal together, we discussed our favorite parts of the trip.

John's favorite - you guessed it - the baseball stuff: Field of Dreams, Wrigley Field and the Louisville Slugger factory.

at the Field of Dreams movie site

At the pub across from Wrigley Field

at the Louisville Slugger factory

Becky's favorite: Hannibal, Missouri, and Galena, Illinois, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder site, some of the historic places we visited.

in Mark Twain's Hannibal, Missouri

at President Grant's home in Galena, Illinois

at the Laura Ingalls Wilder site

Jamie's favorite: tracing the river all the way to the Headwaters.

Studying the river at the Mud Island

at Mud Island

along the river at Wabasha, WI

at the Headwaters museum

wading in the headwaters stream

Mary's favorite:  the aerial vistas along the river - Chickasaw in Memphis, Lewis & Clark Observation Tower near Alton, Illinois, Lookout Point at Mississippi Palisades, Memorial Park in Red Wing.

Chickasaw overlook in Memphis

Lewis & Clark observation tower near Alton, IL

wayside vista near Guttenburg

at Lookout Point in Mississippi Palisades State Park

from Lookout Point at Mississippi Palisades State Park

What we want to do next time:  explore the river from Memphis south to the Gulf of Mexico.
What we wish we had:  more time to spend at each stop - when can we retire for real???