The Swamp Island Drive

Welcome back. While in the Wildlife Refuge and after my boat ride, I took advantage and drove Winnie through the Swamp Island 7.2 mile drive to view the sites of the Chesser Island Homestead and Boardwalk.

The first beautiful site to catch my eye was the fields of saw palmetto common to the Southeastern U.S. These low-growing, fan shaped palm-like plants provide foraging, nesting and protective cover for the over 100 species of wildlife that inhabit this Refuge.

The second sight that caught my eye was this monster alligator which turned out to be...

...a fallen log with perfect texture and color. These long, narrow ponds or "borrow ditches" along the left side of the road were created by "borrowing" the material used for constructing the road. 

I knew when I planned this trip that I was "out of season" and wouldn't see too many of the rich animal life indigenous to this Refuge. One example is America's longest snake, the eastern indigo snake. It's secretive life style keeps it hidden; up to 8½ feet long and distinguished by its iridescent shimmer when seen in sunlight.

Charred remains of a previous fire.

The pond I passed, in season, is a popular area to observe 'gators. Courtship begins in April and mating occurs in May. I've been in Florida at that time and their not-soon-to-be-forgotten mating calls, both male and female, are...memorable. Eggs are laid in June and July and the young hatch two months later.

In 1927, Tom and Iva Chesser built their homestead here in the Swamp. He's the grandson of William Chesser who, in 1858 built a log cabin on this site. As a tribute to the spirit of early settlers, they've maintained the homestead. Although sugar cane was their family's cash crop, they also hunted, kept livestock, tended beehives and had a substantial garden. Turpentine made from pine resin also provided an income. 

The walk from the parking area to the homestead took me back to my days teaching biology in the middle school and the nature walks I conducted frequently; the entire Refuge is a biology teacher's outdoor laboratory; taken in its entirety, for me, it's a living organism.

The long leaf pine bark.

Healthy, thriving lichen. Lichen is a combination plant (an algae and a fungus) living in a symbiotic relationship). They've been used by humans as food and as a source of medicine and dye. They also provide 2/3 of the food supply for the caribou and reindeer that roam the far northern ranges.

This rotting log will soon (in about 20-50 years) become part of the soil.

The white sandy yard gives evidence that the area was once an ocean bed and was kept swept and clean. The sand yards acted as a fire-break to protect from wildfires common in the area. Sweeping the area each evening allowed the mother to inspect and see if slither or paw prints were present the next morning before letting the children out to play. The five venomous snakes of the area were easily spotted on the white sand. The continual sweeping removed decaying, damp leaves and helped keep insects to a minimum.

All the information you needed right there at the entrance.

The Corn Crib and Stall: Corn was the principal cultivated crop. As it was needed, the corn was removed from the crib, husked and then shelled using a hand-cranked sheller. The loft was used to store fodder and hay.

The Hollow Log Well

The hollowed out cypress log was used as their water source. Its use in a well was important since the wood is continuously wet. Without the hollow log, freshly dug wells would immediately cave in and refill with the sandy soil.

The grindstone required two people to operate and often it was the children who turned the stone while their father sharpened his axe, knife, hoe or other tools.

On the property they also kept a syrup shed, a smokehouse, a hog pen, a storage shed, a chicken yard and coop, beehives and a sugar cane mill.

On the porch, a pantry...

...and broom.

Winnie waiting for me at the end of the trail. And now on to the Chesser Island Boardwalk.

Ahh, 3/4 of a mile to the tower? "Piece of cake", says I. Well, that was a mistake.

The path, straight and well kept...'easy-peasy', right?

...with its natural beauty

Chesser's Prairie.

Did you ever have reality come up behind you and slap you in the back of your head and ask, "what the hell are you thinking."

Reality caught up with me a little more than halfway on what seemed a never-ending walk. The green is where Winnie waits, I'm at the blue dot and the arrow is my would be destination. I bit off more than I could chew (walk) and decided to turn back. 

Entrance to the campground.

Back at the campground, I rewarded myself with a root beer float
for not dying alone in the Okefenokee Swamp.

Well, that takes care of Tuesday. My next adventure will take me 40 miles north to the Okefenokee Swamp Park. It's at the northern end of the Swamp. See you there.

P.S. The feedback about NOTIFYING in the comments indicate that it's not an option. Guess I'm the only one who can see it. Forget that.. So, if you comment, return to the blog in the next day or two where you'll find my response. Many write terrific comments to me in emails because they cannot comment in the blog. With your permission, I would love to "copy and paste" your emails to me in the comments as ANONYMOUS so all can see. Let me know in your email that I have your permission to do so.