Day 1 in the Okefenokee Swamp

Saturday, Mar.1
In the morning we take the guided boat tour of the Swamp. Good idea as it gives us ‘courage’ to rent a boat tomorrow for further explorations. We learn a bit of the history and see alligators, egrets, turtles, and loads of cyrpress knees – small rounded formations around a cypress that stand about 6-8 inches above the water. Apparently no one is absolutely sure of their purpose, speculating that they represent some sort of stability for the tree; for sure they are not little trees. I find them absolutely fascinating, looking more like mini statuettes, gorgeous texture and colours.
In the afternoon we walk the dogs on the mile long, 4’ high elevated boardwalk. No alligators here, but lots of water lilies and turtles.That evening we attend what is supposed to be a video about alligators only the overhead projection system doesn’t talk to the ??? After rebooting the sytem 4-5 times, our guide launches into the script for a very, very old slide show about the formation of the swamp and the Lee family who homesteaded there in the late 1800’s raising 14 children.