Blackwater Swamp Excursion
We left Atlanta with a light snow coming down and temperatures fallen into the 30's - relatively cold for late February in North Georgia. My good friend Jeff and I were heading south on I-75 with a destination in the southeast corner of the state: Okefenokee Swamp . There, we had booked a trip with local outfitter Okefenokee Adventures for a three day paddle along some of the canoe routes criss-crossing the expansive refuge. Day One: Arriving at the refuge entrance outside Folkston, GA, we met our bearded guide, Chip Campbell, who turned out to be a real character. He and his wife own the outfitting and guide service there, and he entertained us the entire trip with his extensive knowledge of everything from swamp flora to local lore to current TV series to conservation practices! His enthusiasm for the creatures there and the swamp itself was clearly evident, and he managed to impart a whole lot of knowledge in just a couple of days. My favorite laid back li...