So ends another Journey

Back again in wet and chilly Ohio. It was a nice winter in the south. We renewed some past  friendships and established some new ones. Anyway, this is it for the "and yet again" blog. We have no idea what we will do next. As always, just ask if you want any subject covered here expanded or other question about RV travel.

It's a beautiful day in the (Okefenokee) Neighborhood.

We got to the swamp while a light haze remained. Sort of swamp weather. I hoped Pogo, Albert, Howland Owl, and Churchill LaFemme would be around. A couple were there. We arrived in the cool morning.

A couple of friends were there.

and the Boardwalk guides

You gotta love the Okefenokee

But where are our friends? Then there was Churchill LaFemme.

He was babysitting some of Albert Alligator's family. Cute kids, don't you agree?

Then back at the pond, in the first photo, there was Albert and his friend.

REMEMBER

YOU ARE BEING WATCHED

Old South

Picturesque cemeteries are not unusual in the south and St. Marys, Georgia, has Oak Grove. Other towns have Oak Grove also. Beyond the scenery you can end up with questions such as what was the World War I vet's unit "7th Prov. GP MTD," or why did "Beatrice 1893-1897" die. The wall down the middle seperates the Black and White areas. One tale says the Confederates buried Union soldiers in the Black area as an insult. Such is history.

Beachcombing

In the 50's and a strong wind but St. Simon's Island called. It is not that no one knows about the Georgia Coast Islands, there are more than enough people but we have talked to RVers that have never visited. Looking south toward Jekyll Island.

Then, looking North to wherever.

All sorts of curiosities, crabs and jellyfish (maybe whale snot).

And the greatest mix of shore birds we have seen and the whole group was not fifty yards long.

Royal Tern

Forester's Tern

Tern with two Bonaparte's Gulls

Yet to ID

Back to the Sea

Ocean, Atlantic

Bird

Homeward Bound

Being unnaturally in-tune with nature, we took the hint when Mr. Cardinal said it was time to migrate north.

So, we set out on a grueling trek of three hours, actually four as we stopped at a Chinese buffet, and now have set up camp in one of our favorite parks, A Big Wheel, in St. Marys, Georgia.

We will probably revisit some friends and places that we have seen before, such a renewing our acquaintance with Pogo and Allie in the Okefenokee and the beach-combing birds along the ocean. I promise new photos even if they look like those from previous times. 

February Showers Bring March Flowers

A flock of sixteen robins landed nearby a few days ago headed, we assume, for Ohio. The same day our first dandelion appeared. How's that for an omen? And some other friends appeared.

Some arrivals do not "shine" at first but eventually put ir all together.

Florida Horse Park

Although we are camped a bit closer to the Florida Horse Park than we were three years ago, this was our first visit. During our previous "snowbird" winter we went there three times. We found they have built a new jumper arena and a new dressage arena. This was a training event. They take horsey stuff very seriously in this part of Florida. You drive past many fancy farms/training facilities.

Florida Wildlife Park

Florida had a tradition of commercial roadside wildlife parks. Public opinion soured on this particular exploitation of animals and the park's part in the tourist trade. The State took over one park, in Homosassa Springs, and built a state park featuring native animals. If you use the main parking, you ride a boat or tram to the entrance. Three hours + and 75 photos later. . .  Here are some highlights. Most of the photos are of birds. The large animal (panther. wolf, etc) enclosures were not photo-friendly.

The boat ride. It is a nice transition from the road work to the wild.

Even before the actual park a couple of Osprey posed at extreme zoom.

Red Fox

Flamingos of course.

"The Bird, Mister Spade."

"He's nothing but a dandified buzzard, . . . dandified."

Canebreak Rattlesnake.

River Otter.

Florida Black Bear.

The boat driver said that the TV producer, Ivan Tors (Sea Hunt, Flipper, Science Fiction Theater, AND Gentle Ben, among others) owned or had something to do with the old park. Gentle Ben (it was his screen name) wintered there. (A "snowbear?") Anyway Ben wander about loose and would go across the highway (19) and knock on the back door of a restaurant and the cook would feed him. Heck, it might be true.

Ya just never know when you might make a new friend

So I am walking along the back road at the park and I looks up to see a curiosity.

What's that, says I, hanging out of the hole in the tree?

This is the first snake I have seen with a hangover. I commiserated with him as I have had a few experiences with the condition.  I don't think it helped.