Down 441 and then east on 82, our next parking spot for the day was at Laura L Walker State Park, just inside of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Swamp. Our “mobile motel” faced the lovely little lake where the campsites were more than ample. H had been thru this area on one of his previous trips to Florida and decided it was time to stop and explore. We went to the Okefenokee Swamp Park, which was further down the road in the swamp. The park’s name should have been HOKIEfenokee Swamp Park instead. We were the only passengers on the ½ hour, ¾ scale train ride thru a small area of swamp. We did see one alligator, a turpentine mill and a small-restored farm on a tiny little island. There were a few pens with animals and of course the standup of Pogo! In the reptile building was the restored studio of Pogo’s creator, Walt Kelly. IF you are not at least 60 yrs old- you have no idea who Pogo is/was!!
Tuesday we moved from the swamp to the ocean and drove from sunny to cloudy and rain and back to sun again. The temps warmed up enough for short sleeves and H even ventured to wear shorts. The bikes came down off the rack and we rode from the Jekyll Island Campground on the north end of the island to the historic district 3 miles away. The magnificent “cottages” were all decorated for Christmas and visitors were allowed in a few of them that are now museums. We walked thru the Jekyll Island Club Hotel and felt like we were at the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island Michigan! The Macys, the Goodyears, the Rockefellers, the DuPonts and the Morgans all had huge mansions (cottages) right on Riverview Rd and all were surrounded by live oaks dripping with Spanish moss. The bike path from the campground to “town” was a delightful 6ft wide swath of cement that wound in and out of swamp and oak groves. On our way back to the park we met a 3 ft long corn snake that let us get up close and personal! Isn’t he cute?!
Later, when it was dark we drove back thru town to see how it was lit up for Christmas. The main boulevard onto the island was lit up from one end to the other! Tree trunks were wrapped, limbs were draped w/double strands of blue and white which made it look really frosty (in 66 degree weather?). On our way back we drove thru several neighborhoods and saw at least a dozen deer munching away in several different front yards or ambling down the dark back streets. It’s now 8:30pm and is 66 degrees still!
