I stuck around Waycross yesterday, just killing time and getting caught up on a couple things.  I actually thought I’d get down the road a couple miles but the weather intervened.

The Okefenokee Swamp is just south of Waycross and there is a Civil War Prisoner of War camp fairly close so I packed the bike and headed out.  At the entrance to the visitors center at the swamp they have signs warning that insect repellent is not an option.  I don’t have hardly any skin exposed and mosquitoes don’t like me, so I figured I was safe.  I walked outside to check out some of their exhibits and within 30 seconds I discovered a yellow fly taking a chunk out of my finger.  I was warned about the yellow flies while I was in Milton, FL – very nasty little things and they secrete some kind of numbing agent so you really can’t feel them biting you until it’s too late – I didn’t feel a thing, just happened to see it.

Okay, I’m convinced – time to see if they sell bug spray, otherwise I’m going to have to pull the plug on this adventure.  They have bug spray for sale – 100% DEET bug spray in a little spray bottle the size and shape of a test tube.  I’ve heard that these yellow flies and other things that they have in abundance in the swamp are able to bite you through your clothes, so I’m applying this stuff liberally; especially since they are attracted to black & I’m wearing a black long sleeved shirt.  It worked too, it tastes really bad, but even though there were yellow flies all over the place, I didn’t get bit again.

There is a guided boat ride through the swamp, pathways you can wander around on, and a train tour that uses some of the tracks the lumber companies put through the swamp when they were logging; wonder what swamp loggers got paid – not enough!!  While walking around it’s important to stay on the paths, (no telling what’s waiting for you down in the water, but gators and snakes for sure) and to be very careful where you put your hands.  This is poison ivy and it is EVERYWHERE out here.

I went on the boat trip, did some walking around and even watched a bit of a reptile show but 20 minutes before my scheduled train ride, I heard the thunder and headed for my bike.  I got a little wet on the 15 mile ride back to Waycross and as quickly as possible checked back in to the Motel 6 where I’d spent the previous night.  End of the adventure for today but very successful in my opinion – in and out of the Okefenokee Swamp without anything but pictures & a little yellow fly bite that itches like crazy.

This morning I got an early start and was headed for Atlanta; more specifically Sharpsburg which is a few miles south of Atlanta.  I was worried that it might be another day in the rain because it was raining when I got up but that was the tail end of the storm and if these clouds didn’t cook up into thunderstorms it might actually be quite pleasant out there.It turned out to be a fantastic riding day.  The clouds burned off and the nearly vacant and smooth back roads were a joy.  This is rural Georgia and it’s not unusual to see these large stands of pecan trees on either side of the road.  Wonder how old these trees are….After the skies cleared the shade provided when riding through the Georgia pines felt good.  Another mostly peaceful day winding my way along, sometimes fast, sometimes slow – life is good, I’m thoroughly enjoying mine and wish the same for you.