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Day 9 Sunday, December 17, 2006
We awoke to more blue sky and warm sunshine. The “plan” for today was to hike the nature trails in this state park. Shortly after we started down the first trail, we came upon a Pileated Woodpecker hammering away on a pine tree. We were close enough to get good views and pictures. Soon thereafter we saw numerous other birds including a Black Vulture. Along the trail was the site of an old prohibition era still. We could even see the axe marks where the police had broken up the still when they finally found it. After lunch we hiked another park trail then stopped at the interpretive center where we found great bird displays and a replica skeleton of a 20 foot giant ground sloth. The fossilized bones of such a creature were found on Skidaway Island in 1922. Very impressive and we were glad it was a herbivore since it was so large. While in the center, we struck up a conversation with the volunteer working there. She and her husband, originally from Chatham, MA, now live in Maine and travel south in their fifth wheel trailer to volunteer in several Florida State Parks throughout the winter months. In anticipation of being more inland and isolated, we went to Sam’s Club to stock up on salmon filets and shrimp. We are eager and curious as we head for Okefenokee tomorrow to begin our volunteer stint there.
Day 10 Monday, December 18, 2006
HiHo, HiHo, it’s off to work we go. Well, sort of. We packed up and got an early start to Folkston. We got a warm greeting from the volunteer coordinator, Gracie Gooch, signed a few papers to make us official volunteers and settled in to our campsite. Once the coach was set up we went to the visitor center and chatted with some of the other volunteers. We became concerned that our stewardship of the wildlife in this refuge has gotten off to an inauspicious start. While we were in the visitor center, a staff member came in to report a dead alligator. When we went outside to see the gator, a yellow rumped warbler flew into the center window and dropped to the ground dead, likely of a broken neck. Gee, we’ve been here less than a day and there are two fewer critters. Surely things will get better. Our satellite internet system is working here so we can stay connected. Tomorrow is a full day of orientation and Thursday we get to see the kids!
Day 11 Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Today was a full day of orientation with Gracie. After a couple of hours in the conference room we toured the refuge facilities including the Visitors Center, Chesser Island Homestead, Okefenokee Adventure concessionaires where they rent boats and do guided swamp tours, the refuge boathouse where we can get boats to tour the swamp canals when we are off duty and the maintenance area where we get FWS vehicles to use while we are on duty. All very interesting but a lot to absorb in one day. There was another couple here for the orientation, although they will not start volunteering until December 26th. They are Kerry and Sharon Layton, originally from Illinois, now full timing, with volunteer experience in several parks out west. Nice folks and we will enjoy working with them. After orientation we made the first of what will surely be many trips to MacClenny, FL, 38 miles south of the refuge, for a supermarket. When we pulled into the parking lot, Carl noticed that the small SUV across from us had a huge bail of hay inside in the back. Welcome to farm/ranch country.
Day 12 Wednesday, December 20, 2006
We went for a run on the dirt roads through the refuge this morning. Very peaceful. After breakfast we spent more time reading about the history of Okefenokee and the people who lived here. In the afternoon we put on our volunteer uniforms and practiced the procedures for working at the Chesser homestead. We drove to the maintenance shop and got a refuge truck, drove to the visitor Center for a radio then drove out the Swamp Island Drive to the Chesser Homestead. We planned to walk around the grounds and in nthe house to get familiar with it and read more about the history. Although the homestead was closed today, a family stopped by while we were there so we gave them a tour. It was good practice for us and they seemed to enjoy it. After we returned the radio and truck, we drove our car along the wildlife drive to the ¾ mile boardwalk at the end. We hiked the boardwalk and climbed the 50 foot tower at the end. From there we were treated to the distant sight of white ibis and a few sandhill cranes. We also saw a beautiful sunset.
Day 13 Thursday, December 201, 2006
This morning we drove to an RV dealer in Jacksonville and talked to them about a new motorhome. We looked at a few coaches and talked about possible options. We then got a very big number to think about. We’ll do some negotiating after the holidays. After some shopping we went to visit the kids. We got a gleeful greeting from Garrett and Wyatt and spent a wonderful evening eating pizza, opening presents and playing battleship-the electronic version! We then brought the boys back to the swamp to spend some time with us. We were surprised that the boys didn’t fall asleep, even though it was 10:30. They kept watching the GPS display and talking about it. As we neared the refuge, carl shut off the display and within seconds, both boys were sound asleep.
Day 14 Friday, December 22, 2006
We awoke around 7:30 to the sounds of little voices in the front of the coach. After we got everyone breakfasted and dressed we went to the refuge Visitor center and showed the boys around. Sallie the ranger was great with the boys. She showed them the bats roosting in the ceiling of the VC porch and even took them on to the lawn to point out the Octopus Stinkhorn, a colorful and not surprisingly, given the name, smelly mushroom. We then headed for the boardwalk and hiked the ¾ mile to the tower. The boys had the new binoculars we gave them and wanted to see everything through them, even flowers three feet away. From there we went on the swamp boat ride. Due to low water the ride does not go as far but we saw lots of alligators, Great Blue Herons, Wood Storks and Great Egrets. Even though it rained and we got a bit damp, it was a great trip and the boys loved it. When we got back to the coach, Garrett said he had a wonderful day, The wetter it is, the better it is”, were his exact words!
Day 15 Saturday, December 23, 2006
Scott picked the boys up at 8 AM and we were off for our first day at work. Sandy was at the Visitor center and Carl was at the Chesser Island Homestead. Both of us had busy days full of new information to absorb and tasks to master. It was great and we are looking forward to the rest of our volunteer stint.
