Gator Bait

This is the fifth in a series of seven posts made during a 2017 US vacation. 

1. Joshua Tree
2. The Desert is Alive
3. Wide Open Spaces
4. Spring Flowers!
5. Gator Bait
6. Tornadoes and Car Trouble

7. Spirits in The Desert

We made it! A couple of days ago we were able to put our toes into the Atlantic ocean near Savannah Georgia. Since then, we moved on to canoe with a few hundred alligators and a ton of other birds and wildlife in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (AMAZING, #1 Coolest place we've seen on this trip). See pics/videos and read about how I almost stepped on an alligator.

With all of our limbs accounted for, we're spending our last day at Jetty Park in Port Canaveral Florida. It's beautiful here, the weather is warm in the 80's but cool at night. The ocean is wonderfully warm and it's nice to be near the ocean again. The birds that hang out here are different and more abundant because of the warm water and the mixture of salt and fresh water.

NOTE: You may need to scroll to the right to see all of the map.

South Carolina

Charleston 
Hot boiled peanuts from Timbo in So. Carolina. My friend Frank (thanks Frank!) had mentioned something about boiled peanuts but it didn't register at the time. When we stopped for a short break from driving I turned around and there was Timbo! I liked the peanuts so much that I bought two pounds of the plain and another two pounds of the cajun style. The cajun was the best and I'm freaking out because I haven't seen any more for sale since.

Timbo's Hot Boiled Peanuts - Usually green (or dried) peanuts are boiled in a brine and served hot with or without Cajun spices etc. so yummy!

Georgia

Savannah
After avoiding any type of city like the plague I was able to talk Craig into visiting Savannah for a few hours for a historical walk. We really enjoyed the oak trees with Spanish moss and all of the old buildings.

The Atlantic Ocean near Savannah - Finally!

The Atlantic Ocean near Savannah - Finally!

Folkston
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

If I had to sum up Okefenokee in one sentence I would say that it is an amazing wildlife-rich habitat. I felt like I had stepped back to a time before human history.

Notes: *The largest swamp in North America* Roughly 700 square miles* Cypress swamps, winding waterways, and floating peat mats
* 400+ species of vertebrates, 200+ varieties of birds and 60+ kinds of reptiles.* Subtropical climate, rainfall is approximately 50 inches a year 

We must have seen dozens and dozens of alligators. Really big old ones, medium ones, and baby ones. We saw alligators with 6-12 baby's (she growled at us as she slipped into the water). There were jumping fish and a ton of birds. The best part was that we went out at the crack of dawn in a canoe and we were the first out, totally alone, and miles out. What a beautiful experience.

Below is a pic of my new best friend. I say best friend because he didn't bite my leg off when I walked past him/her and didn't see him next to the sidewalk. I was about a foot away when I realized he/she was there and cool as a cucumber he/she just looked at me even after I screamed and jumped back.

These guys were the big ones. They like hanging out at the boat ramp near the visitor center for an easy exit back to the water if necessary. This was quite an intro into the park!

Another big guy hanging out in the grass. 

Paddling out to the remote prairie early in the morning. You can see an alligator to the left up ahead.

Great example of moss

Birds feeding in the prairie

The baby gators are so colorful!

Keeping a low profile.