My daughter, Linda, wanted to go to the mall today. I told her I had a better idea, go to the swamp! This was her first trip to Okeefenokee. We took the road to the old Chesser homestead, the last holdout when the gov't made it a National Wildlife Refuge. He was a swamper who lived off the game and fish in the swamp. Folks back then kept the yards raked and swept to offer a fire break and better see snakes.


Then we went on a long walk in 96 degree heat to the tower for a view of the swamp.




A bumble bee kept chasing her around the tower. Never wear perfume of after shave in the swamp!

Here is the old man catching my breath after the climb in the heat.

It was too hot to see the big gators out in the sun, but I spied this one from my Jeep on the way to the boat docks.


And we saw this one from the tour boat, but it was into the sun.
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The swamp is a beautiful place, to me.
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Here's a gator I spotted that the guide missed.
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Back to the visitor's center. Not a a terribly rugged outing, but in this heat, tough enough for the fat old man.
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Wow, that looks like a fun day, HD. I can almost feel the humidity. The gators looked like a pretty healthy size <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> It would be pretty neat to own a piece of property like the Chesser homestead in a (relatively) remote area like that, and live a little more off the land than off the grocery store. I bet the sounds of the swamp were all around you, too! Thanks for sharing the pictures with all of us.

Great pics Vic! I hear that there are some MONSTER Bass in that lake. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

There are over 40 species of fish in the Okeefenokee. Lots of perch, bass, crappie. 750 square miles of swamp. A guy could get lost there. They have fishing tournaments there. I live about 50 miles from the swamp.

Awesome pics HD, looks like a great place to spend time.

Funny and beautiful place Vic. You and your daughter seems to be very happy! Thanks for sharing, I like to see different country!!

Note about heat: here in Alpes, were I live, we still sleep with a wool blanket!

Hey HD...Next time bring the family alittle futher south to MouseTown...I show you some fun places along the Wekiva and lake Jessup....The Black Hammock is my usual airboat station. We give a Tour called SurVivalQuest. You guys would love it..come in the fall or spring....97degrees feels like 110 here.

Nice pics Vic...it sure is pretty out there in the swamp.

Always enjoy your outings and reviews Vic. Great Job! Keep it up <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Nice pics HD <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Wow, I would love to see that swamp after your pics. I think that I might not leave though. The eat and humidity might be a little hard to get used to all the time but it would be worth it. BTW, the gators are big looking!

I usually think of swamps as being sticky, muddy, dirty, smelly places. For some reason, the photos made me think of a cleaner, fresher environment.