Tag Archives: Shirley Kokidko

Griffis Fish Camp Suwannee River Water Trail signs planted –Richard Fowler 2024-12-15

Thanks to Richard Fowler for these pictures of the WWALS Suwannee River Water Trail signs being planted at Griffis Fish Camp.

[Griffis Fish Camp, Suwannee River Water Trail signs, planted 2024-12-15, Photos: Richard Fowler]
Griffis Fish Camp, Suwannee River Water Trail signs, planted 2024-12-15, Photos: Richard Fowler

Thanks to Linda Tindall for digging and leveling, to Shirley Kokidko for pouring, and to camp manager Walter Hickox for advising on where to plant the signs.

Thanks to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA-DNR) for the generous grant that paid for these signs, the signpost, the concrete, and the screws.

See also the other pictures of this sign planting, and also at Fargo Ramp:
https://wwals.net/?p=66605

And pictures of the paddle Shirley organized the previous day from Stephen C. Foster State Park in the Okefenokee Swamp down the Suwannee River back to Griffis Fish Camp:
https://wwals.net/?p=66675 Continue reading →

Pictures: Stephen C. Foster State Park, Okefenokee Swamp, to Griffis Fish Camp, Suwannee River 2024-12-14

It was a fast paddle from Stephen C. Foster State Park in the Okefenokee Swamp to Griffis Fish Camp on the Suwannee River, as part of the WWALS campout and paddle: barely more than three hours. Or four hours, counting getting ready at the Park and getting out at Griffis.

But it still looked fun, through the Narrows, past piers of an old logging railroad, and through the Suwannee River Sill, with birds and gators.

[Stephen C. Foster State Park, Okefenokee Swamp 2024-12-14 to Griffis Fish Camp, Suwannee River]
Stephen C. Foster State Park, Okefenokee Swamp 2024-12-14 to Griffis Fish Camp, Suwannee River

Fast because expedition leader Shirley Kokidko decided to go through the first gate at the Suwannee River Sill, considering water levels were too low to go up to the second gate and back down the west side of the Sill.

Thanks to Shirley Kokidko of Pearson, GA, for leading and for one picture here, and to Phil Royce of Live Oak, FL, for the other pictures. And thanks to the paddlers, from Miami to Alabama to South Carolina, not to mention Hahira and other places in Georgia and Florida.

Stay tuned for pictures of the campfire cooking and the turkeys the next morning.

For more WWALS outings and events as they are announced, see:
https://wwals.net/outings Continue reading →

Suwannee River Water Trail signs planted at Fargo Ramp and Griffis Fish Camp 2024-12-15

Update 2025-01-02: Another view: Griffis Fish Camp Suwannee River Water Trail signs planted –Richard Fowler 2024-12-15.

We got two sets of at-water signs planted Sunday on the Suwannee River in Georgia, at Fargo Ramp and Griffis Fish Camp, just downstream from the Okefenokee Swamp.

[Suwannee River Water Trail at-water signs planted at Fargo Ramp and Griffis Fish Camp 2024-12-15]
Suwannee River Water Trail at-water signs planted at Fargo Ramp and Griffis Fish Camp 2024-12-15

Thanks to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA-DNR) for the grant that paid for these signs for the Suwannee River Water Trail (SRWT).

Thanks to Ray Figueroa of Miami for digging the hole at Fargo Ramp.

Thanks to Linda Tindall of Umatilla, Florida, for digging at Griffis Fish Camp, to Richard Fowler of I’m not sure where for photographing, and to Shirley Kokidko of Pearson, Georgia, for bringing water for the Quikrete.

Thanks to camp manager Walter Hickox for telling us where to plant the Griffis signs.

There are also signs for Stephen C. Foster State Park, but those are waiting on final sign-off by the Park and by the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

There are more images below. Continue reading →

Pictures: Departing Floyd’s Island, Okefenokee Swamp 2023-11-05

We got up early enough to see the sun rise above the outhouse on the east side of Floyds Island. I got some pictures of the inside of Hebard Cabin, built in 1925 after the logging was finished. A few of us made a side trip over to Billys Island to see the Lee Cemetery and the few remains of the logging boom town. With alligators and turtles, of course.

[Departing Floyd's Island, Okefenokee Swamp 2023-11-05, Plus Minnies Lake and Billys Island]
Departing Floyd’s Island, Okefenokee Swamp 2023-11-05, Plus Minnies Lake and Billys Island

This was all on the Floyds Island Campout and Suwannee River Paddle in the Okefenokee Swamp, November 4-5, 2023.

See also pictures from the previous day. And facebook photosets by Continue reading →

Pictures: Camp and paddle at Griffis Fish Camp + Cast Iron Cookout, Suwannee River –Shirley Kokidko, 2022-12-02

“We paddled, we camped, and we cooked! Thank you to everyone for making this a fun weekend,” wrote Shirley Kokidko.

That was at Griffis Fish Camp, where they camped two nights and paddled the Suwannee River from the Okefenokee Swamp.

[Campfire Cooking, Griffis Fish Camp 2022-12-02, Suwannee River, Okefenokee Swamp]
Campfire Cooking, Griffis Fish Camp 2022-12-02, Suwannee River, Okefenokee Swamp

We’re doing it again, December 13-15, 2024.

Thanks to Shirley for these pictures from 2022.

See also facebook posts by: Continue reading →

Pictures: Banks Lake Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle 2024-08-19

Shirley Kokidko reported, “Not much full moon viewing with all the clouds tonight but a relaxing time and fun conversations make for a very pleasant evening.”

[Banks Lake Full Sturgeon Moon, Cloudy but good conversation 2024-08-19]
Banks Lake Full Sturgeon Moon, Cloudy but good conversation 2024-08-19

Previously she noted, that Sturgeon moon was also a super moon and a seasonal blue moon, which occurs when there are four full moons in a single astronomical season, instead of the usual three, according to Space.com. Continue reading →

Pictures: Banks Lake Full Harvest Moon 2024-09-17

It was a gorgeous evening for a glassy Banks Lake paddle, with bats, sunset, and full moon, September 17, 2024.

[Banks Lake Full Harvest Moon 2024-09-17, Shirley Kokidko, expedition leader]
Banks Lake Full Harvest Moon 2024-09-17, Shirley Kokidko, expedition leader

Thanks to Shirley Kokidko for leading this expedition. Continue reading →

Griffis Camp to Fargo, Suwannee River Paddle 2025-01-11

Update 2025-01-06: Rescheduled: Griffis Camp to Fargo, Suwannee River Paddle 2025-03-01

Come out and join us for a winter paddle on the Suwannee River in this remote 14-mile section of wilderness from Griffis Fish Camp to Fargo.

Very important to dress for a cold day and bring a change of clothes. Everyone must wear a PFD at all times on the water. Have a bow line/rope for your kayak.

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end 4 PM, Saturday, January 11, 2025

Put In: Griffis Fish Camp, 10333 Ga Highway 177 Fargo, Georgia 31631. From Fargo, travel south on US 441 to CR 177; turn left and travel 10 miles northeast; Griffis Fish Camp is on left, in Clinch County.

GPS: 30.7845, -82.446333

[Griffis Fish Camp to Fargo 2025-01-11, Suwannee River, Dress warmly]
Griffis Fish Camp to Fargo 2025-01-11, Suwannee River, Dress warmly

Continue reading →

Banks Lake Full Harvest Moon Paddle 2024-09-17

Update 2024-11-26: Pictures: Banks Lake Full Harvest Moon 2024-09-17.

Come out and join us for a leisurely sunset and full moon paddle.

When: Gather 6:30 PM, launch 7 PM, moonrise 7:31 PM, sunset 7:35 PM, end 8:30 PM, Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).

GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

[Banks Lake Full Harvest Moon 2024-09-17, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, Georgia]
Banks Lake Full Harvest Moon 2024-09-17, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, Georgia

Continue reading →

Floyd’s Island Campout, Suwannee River, Okefenokee Swamp 2024-11-10-11

Update 2024-09-13: Brack Barker got a Floyds Island camping permit for Sunday, November 10. Since Monday, November 11, is a federal holiday, Veterans Day, that should work.

Join us to paddle 9 miles upstream on the Suwannee River for primitive camping on Floyd’s Island in the Okefenokee Swamp.

You must RSVP on meetup to get a spot.

This is the farthest you can get from any road in Georgia, with very dark sky.

You can camp inside the century-old Hebard Cabin, or in your tent or hammock outside.

Yes, you will see gators, and probably other wildlife.

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end All Day, Sunday, November 10, 2024
Launch 9 AM, end 1 PM, Monday, November 11, 2024

Put In: Stephen C. Foster State Park Ramp, 17515 GA-177, Fargo, GA 31631. From Fargo, travel south on US 441 to CR 177; turn left and travel to Stephen C. Foster State Park in Charlton County.

GPS: 30.826833, -82.361333

[Floyds Island Campout, Okefenokee Swamp 2024-11-02-03, Suwannee River, Fargo, GA, Stephen C. Foster State Park]
Floyds Island Campout, Okefenokee Swamp 2024-11-02-03, Suwannee River, Fargo, GA, Stephen C. Foster State Park

Continue reading →