Update 2026-09-02: Okefenokee Paddle to Minnie’s Lake, Suwannee River 2026-09-07.

Update 2026-09-02: Picture format mostly updated, and a outings list link.

If you weren’t among the small but hardy group of paddlers yesterday, you missed more birds than I’ve ever seen in the Okefenokee Swamp on a sunny cold December morning. We did draw the winner for the kayak raffle; we’ll announce that once we get a return telephone call.

Getting out, 2017-12-10 –jsq for WWALS

Before even entering the Stephen C. Foster State Park, we saw a great blue heron, the bird on the WWALS banner, plus a wild hog. Inside, we saw three small deer ambling across the road. Paddling, seemed like every tree had birds: great barred owl, red shouldered hawk, great blue heron, little blue heron, ibis, anhinga, duck, buzzard, and many more. Doubtless Gretchen will post her bird pictures soon. Meanwhile, here are a few pictures, a few movies.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1713399999772478/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Dc1eBSvo5wp/

https://youtu.be/sH_MkhAmimg

And a google map.

Minnie Lake, Shirley Kokidko, Gretchen Quarterman, 2017-12-10 –jsq for WWALS

The Fargo gauge was at 95 feet, well above low stage at 92.7 feet, and well below flood at 104 feet: good paddling level. We saw no trash, which was refreshing. Also only two other paddlers, who didn’t go as far out.

This was the same route we took three years ago, in ponchos in the drizzling rain. This time it was sunny the whole time, but there was only the one small gator, apparently due to the cold: it was just above freezing when we started, and maybe 50 degrees when we got back.

The cold also resulted in one fewer (5) paddler than three years ago (6).

Photo: John S. Quarterman, big gator, November 11, 2014; he was not visible this time.

See also Gretchen’s pictures at the start and Dennis Price’s pictures, both on facebook.

Next: first leg of the 2018 Alapaha Quest, Saturday, January 6, 2018!.

For more outings, see:

https://wwals.net/outings

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

Pictures

Starting

Paddling, 2017-12-10 –jsq for WWALS

Suwannee River

Upstream, 2017-12-10 –jsq for WWALS

Middle Fork, Suwannee River

Very tall Yaupon Holly, 2017-12-10 –jsq for WWALS

Minnie Lake

Minnie Lake, Shirley Kokidko, Gretchen Quarterman, 2017-12-10 –jsq for WWALS

Drone

Movie: Gretchen, WWALS banner, platform, Minnie Lake (342M), 2017-12-10 –jsq for WWALS

Downstream

Following, 2017-12-10 –jsq for WWALS

Back on the main river

Movie: Flying heron (4.9M), 2017-12-10 –jsq for WWALS

Movies

Click on this link, and a playlist is embedded below.

Google Map

Click on this link and it’s embedded below.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!