Trembling earth?

If I remember correctly, the word Okefenokee means ‘Land of the Trembling Earth’.   When I volunteered at Okefenokee NWR last winter, I got to experience first hand what that trembling earth meant.  It kind of reminded me of standing on a bowlful of Jell-O.  And isn’t that just about what everyone’s future plans are written in… Jell-O? 

About a month ago or so, I had pretty well decided that I would not return to Anahuac NWR next year, but would instead try a winter in Arizona.  I contacted a refuge out there, but never heard back from them.  So, I thought I’d take a winter off from volunteering, and began investigating RV parks in the Casa Grande area.  My brother Kurt and his wife Jody have helped me by looking at a site down there.  I also corresponded with Sandy about her opinion on a park very close to Kurt’s house.  I’ve been very close to calling that park and making a reservation for the winter, but have been a little hesitant.  I’ve never thought of myself as a resort RV park kind of person where you’re packed in like sardines in a can.  Most of the activities offered don’t really appeal to me either, but I’m also not a boondocker.  I like full hookups.  I was just about to bite the bullet, and give that lifestyle a try.

Until this afternoon when I got a call from Nate at Imperial NWR.  He wanted to know if I was still interested in volunteering for next winter’s season there.  We chatted for some time, and I got all of my important questions answered.  There’s adequate air card coverage, and I’ll work three days a week.  (I’m done working four days a week.)  I also think it helped to have a good word put in by my friends Linda and Jay, who are volunteering there right now.  Thanks, you guys!

The refuge encompasses the lower portion of the Colorado River before the dams near Yuma.  So, I’ll be living in the desert, but I’ll have the green and wetlands of the river basin as well.  It’s been a number of years since I’ve been in the southwest.

I went back in my photo archives hoping to include some appropriate pictures, but this is the only one I had.  Some of you will recognize the great RV gathering at Quartzite in the distance.  Considering I owned a house in Ajo for more than a decade, you’d think I’d have some pictures of some saguaros, but life happens and this is all I could come up with.  My shutter finger is itching to get back out there and shoot away. 

My latest plans do include stopping in Casa Grande for a couple of weeks before traveling on to the refuge.  I do want to visit with Nurse Ratchet and possibly meet up with some of you southwest bloggers. 

I had intended to post more about the High Island rookery tonight, but I just wanted to share this news first.  Can you tell I’m excited?

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy