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Borrego Springs, CA

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Yahooie Looie!

It looks like an extended visit to Georgia and the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is in my future for next winter.  I can’t wait to explore this new to me region of the country.  Gracie, the volunteer coordinator, and I were able to chat on our excursion to Grand Bay NWR today.  I hope to firm up arrival and departure dates tomorrow.  Can you tell that I’m excited about this?  Having to be in Georgia late next fall throws a different slant onto what I might do this coming summer.  I’m thinking the west is out, and I’ll be staying east of the Mississippi for a while.  There are so many possibilities…

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The Okefenokee group and I headed for Grand Bay NWR this morning to introduce them to this refuge and the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.  I posted about this reserve last February.  The afternoon activities included a canoe paddle.  We were cautioned not to bring any photography equipment with us unless we had a dry bag.  Well, I don’t have one of those, so I had to leave my camera behind.  Sad smile

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We paddled down this bayou, and as it turned out, I could have safely brought the camera with me.  You just never know, though, so I took their advice.  Dog gone it, as I got into my canoe, I painfully twisted my wrist which only aggravated that miserable arthritis I have.  Sometimes, growing older sure is a pain in the asparagus!  I felt like a real dinosaur trying to maneuver over the struts to the back seat.  Ugh!  Why is it that the body can’t keep up with what was so easy a few decades ago?  I gritted my teeth, and had a marvelous paddle.

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After the canoe trip, we returned to the visitor’s center and the rest of the group took the tour of the building.  I wandered outside trying to get a picture of the huge fox squirrels that can be found around here.  Once again, they alluded me, but I purely enjoyed a flock of pine warblers that were bubbling through one of the big live oak trees.

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After we returned home, Russell, one of the Okefenokee volunteers, took out a canoe for a paddle down the bayou here.  I sure would have liked to join him, but my wrist wouldn’t permit it, and it was more important to spend some time with Emma outside.  She had been cooped up all day in the rig.  I’ll have other days to make this paddle…

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

22 comments:

  1. Judy, as I stated in a much earlier post (sometime in November), because of all the arthritis, I decided to eat gluten free. It is now mid January and I am moving so much easier. I highly recommend a gluten free diet! Give it a try! What have you got to lose, but pain and stiffness? Both my pain and stiffness have decreased. Good luck, kiddo!

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  2. I agree that the physical infirmities due to the aging process are really hard to bear, especially when our minds are still sharp as a tack!

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  3. Congratulations on the Okefenokee gig.

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  4. OH YEAH!! I LOVE A NEW PLACE TO EXPLORE..As for the aging part...it sucks...Dennis is having problems with his middle back...SHIT! He is not horribly uncomfortable, but it IS aggravating...As our great old Dr. Grimes used to tell me.."Growing old is sometimes ugly, but it's better than the alternative"....soooo happy for you !!

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  5. Great news about Okefenokee! Congratulations!

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  6. Wow...drinks all around. Congratulations! Hope your wrist tames down.

    Just BS! (Bob and Sue)

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  7. Arthritic knees are really a pain -- hard getting up & down...getting old is the pits! Congrats on Okefenokee -- a new place for you and Emma to explore!

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  8. I am so happy for you. And think of all the great pictures we'll get to see. My hubby always says you have to be tough to get old. And it's not fun.

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  9. Your post today reminds me that I have to still hunt down the guy who coined the phrase "golden years" :)

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  10. Really beautiful picture of the canoe Judy! Very soothing.
    You are going to LOVE Okefenokee. SO glad you have been able to work that out!

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  11. Fantastic photos!!

    Mike and Dee White
    gonerving.blogspot.com/

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  12. Judy-for your Christmas wish list: http://tinyurl.com/7nrdmau
    Congratulations on Okefenokee...fascinating place. The state parks in Georgia are incredible, but for your interests you can't beat where you are going. Well, actually, you might want to take a look at this. I saw a Bald Eagle the last time I was in Reed Bingham. http://www.georgiawildlife.com/node/1356 You'll be in my state! Maybe I'll be able to get down there to meet you and Emma!

    I know none probably compare to your camera, but in a pinch and on the water, you could at least get some pictures. I, recently, gave my SLR away and bought a tiny little camera that has good reviews--didn't get a waterproof (though I considered it for rain) because I'm not a paddler. With my back woes, I'm trying to eliminate as much weight as I can on hikes if I can ever do another one.

    Sorry about your wrist, and hope it heals without any treatment.

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  13. Hope the wrist heals up quickly. Before we went to Antarctica we bought what we were told were kayak bags. Not as elegant as camera dry bags perhaps, but a great deal more wallet-friendly and completely waterproof. We bought the backpack size, but they come in all sizes ... perhaps something like that would work to keep your camera safe when you're out paddling ... not a bad idea even in the calmest waters.

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  14. Another great gig- congratulations! I don't understand why our bodies can't feel as young as our brains do. Hope that wrist feels better soon.

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  15. Gotta love our red fox squirrels, they keep us entertained all year long here outside of Baton Rouge. Sorry 'bout that wrist. Getting old ain't for sissies!

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  16. I don't have a dry bag for my camera, but I use three freezer type zip lock bags for camera and cell phone when we go in the boat or canoe. Works well, and I take it out, use it, then reseal bag into bag into bag!


    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    Karen and Steve
    (Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/

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  17. Great news Judy, you will be close to Florida maybe I can plan a road trip up that way!!! Sure would like to get away. I know what you mean by getting up in years, lol Feet still giving me fits.
    blessings donna

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  18. Congratulations on landing Okefenokee for next season. We recently met some people who had worked there; I believe it ended up being one of their favorite volunteer sites.

    I thought of you the other day, we visited nearby Harris Neck NWR, just up the road from us here at Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation. We were there biking, appreciating the wildlife, and meeting up with some other NWR volunteers. Looks like a great place to stay for awhile.

    John and Ellen
    connectedtothevinephotography.blogspot.com

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  19. No water hazards out here in Arizona so my cameras stay high and dry:))

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  20. Well, you could always mosey up to New Jersey this summer. We're east of the Mississlippi! :)

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  21. butterbean carpenterJanuary 13, 2012 at 4:05 PM

    Howdy Judy,

    I just received an email with really good pics of an ALBINO (RUBYTHROATED)
    HUMMINGBIRD!!! I don't know how to get it to you!! my email address is:
    butter45bean00@yahoo.com

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  22. congratulations on the Okefenokee job next year...you will love it. Hope the wrist gets better and your body acts like your mind thinks.

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