Day 22 - Jan 30 -Okefenokee Swamp, GA

  We spent most of the day at the Okefenokee Swamp at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Sanctuary.  We started with the visitor's center and a informational movie, then went on a 1-1/2 hr boat tour.  We were the only ones with the narrator, who was extremely knowledgeable and informative.  It is a unique, huge, swamp in our country, with a very diverse ecosystem and wildlife.  It was pretty chilly today, with no sun, so we didn't see much wildlife--a few baby alligators, and a few amazing birds.  Then, we went over to the site of some early homesteaders -- swamp dwellers.  They have restored a homestead from 1927, from a family that lived there until the 60's.  They needed to be really self-reliant.  But, the water is pure, and game is abundant.  We ended up with walking a 3/4 mile boardwalk into the swamp, out to an owl's observatory.  That was really neat.
  We had heard about the "Folkston Funnel", which is in the town where we are staying.  About 45 -60 trains come through each day.  And we get to hear them at our RV site.  The place has attracted "railfans", so that they have built a viewing station, and put the radio chatter between the engineers on a loudspeaker.  These folks know all of the different kinds of trains and engines etc. that come through.  We went through the little train museum, and spoke with the local docent who actually finds the trains a nuisance, when trying to get through town.  The trains are REALLY LONG.  We sat and watched one.  OK, been there, done that.

Okefenokee Swamp boat tour photos:

Swamp Trail hikes and Homestead photos - (the white around the homestead is NOT snow, but white sand, which they swept clean):

Boardwalk hike into the swamp and photos from the observation tower:

Finally, the Folkston Funnel pics: