Surely you’ve heard of the Okefenokee Swamp? Even if you don’t just love rolling that name around your tongue, you may be old enough to remember the Pogo cartoon strip by Walt Kelly, which was sited there. Well, yesterday, lathered in bug spray, we satisfied Don’s childhood dream of visiting the swamp. It is yellow fly season, don’t you know.
Our guide Melvin took us on a tour through a small part of it. The whole thing is huge, extending into Florida. The plant life is beautiful, but the animal life is a bit scary. Alligators aside – far aside, thank you – nothing defines “creepy” like a group of vultures staring at you from a tree in the Okefenokee Swamp. A good time was had by all, summed up nicely by the official t-shirt.
Next we went to the Georgia Museum of Agriculture. And just so you get a sense of our commitment, this is not just around the corner from the Swamp. No, we drove miles and miles to get to this reliquary of various examples of early settlers’ homes and shops and mills, all moved here from points around the state. The guides were dressed in period costume and were happy to talk at length about the history of the buildings and the way of life. One lovely Japanese lady was very passionate about “her” home, speaking to us in a sort of pidgin English enhanced by a distinctive Southern accent. Wonderful to hear. Other ladies in more rustic homes prepare meals on wood-burning stoves when school tours come through. Don’t know how they do it. It was over 90 degrees when we toured and the thought of a fire burning was beyond my imagination. Why they didn’t move en masse to Alaska before air-conditioning is beyond me.
What made it all worthwhile was seeing the National Peanut Museum and the Georgia Egg Hall of Fame. Eat your heart out.
Looks more like an egg-head hall of fame. What does one need to do become part of the egg hall of fame?
Obviously whatever it is is so secret and important, or else so commonly known in Georgia, that there is absolutely no need to explain it. You just bow your head in passing these head egg-heads and marvel at the undoubted scope of their accomplishments.
I was going to ask the same egg question. Starting today the weather is suppose to be much less humid for several days (NC). Hope you have the same as you venture deeper into the South.
Be sure to have alligator before your leave. It tastes just like chicken.
I think we’ll stick to Georgia eggs. They must be special!
Love the “Bite Me” t-shirt. But then you knew that. And I am totally mystified by the Egg Shrine. A Peach Shrine I would understand . . .
You underestimate the vast diversity of the Georgia agricultural economy! Did you forget about King Cotton? And all those peanuts? And yes, the t-shirt was for you.