How many swamps are identified on a US map?? Not many, but the Okefenokee Swamp in southern Georgia is on some. There must be something interesting there, sure, why not visit a massive swamp hundreds of thousands of acres in size, sure. Just find a camp ground outside and check it out.  Wait, there is a park in the middle of the big a$$ swamp, and look, it has a camp ground (you’re kidding right?).  Hey honey, look at this great place where we can camp in Georgia! I am not sure how this all came together, but here we are driving to Fargo, GA, turning east into one of the biggest swamps in the US. The entrance signs are friendly enough. 

   On the drive northward from central Florida, we passed through up-state Florida country side, and were impressed with the Thoroughbred horse farms. Truly beautiful estates with big acreage managed with horse fencing. It felt like driving through a region of Kentucky horse farms.

The last city on this northbound route is Lake City Florida, where we can stock up on provisions. Pulling a truck and camper into a grocery store parking lot requires some care and forward looking for a place to park and a suitable exit route. Heading north on Rt. 441, the local radio broadcast is interrupted repeatedly by severe weather warnings, tornado warnings, in southern Georgia counties, in the exact direction we are driving!! The skies show hints on trouble. Citizens are urged to seek shelter immediately. Mobile homes and campers are not acceptable shelter, for obvious reasons. With an eye to the sky, we review the plan, pull over and park, lay face down in the ditch, hands over your head, and wait it out. Sounds like fun, right?  Good news, the storm only marginally crossed our path.

   It is mid April, on a Sunday, after a 17 mile drive past civilization, the drive is not unpleasant, you arrive at the park gate, which locks at 8:00 PM, no gate code, you are locked in, or locked out. No other options, no exceptions, the gate is locked (like the Hotel California…?). The camp trading post is also the camp registration office.  The staff is pleasant and helpful.  There is a “marina” outside of the trading post, with a couple small tour boats, fishing Jon-boats, and a hefty gator, swimming slowly, tail wagging in the water, with an eye which is always looking, looking. He may be pre-historic, but this creature is very aware of your position and posture on the bank, always aware. He(she) will pause when you move, sink when you approach, the eye is always looking and knows where you are. This ancient creature has survived millions of years after the dinosaurs, and is no dummy. 

    The camp ground is not far, there is site 48.  Where is everybody?? Are we alone??”. 
Not really… the camp is about 25% occupied.  The sites are spacious, with southern vegetation, dry ground, and well maintained. The site was an easy back in.  I used the advice a camper gave me at the last location, adjust both mirrors to view the camper wheels, and drive it in using the mirrors. Backing a trailer is all about the path of the trailer wheels.  Level it out with 1-2×10’, set the jacks, connect power and water, set up the food and provisions, ahhh.  A short bike ride is a good way to get to know the new place, and a walk on the nature trail for some interesting scenery and information.  We learned about the knees of Cypress trees, they have them, we have seen them, and saw some grand Spanish moss, kind of like my hair… oh boy

This location is out of communication range, again, no cell phone signal, none, no wifi, none.  It is quiet, peaceful, pleasant, relaxing. Okay, … we can get wifi at the Trading Post.

• 2019 Spring