Camping at the Okefenokee swamp

Finally, we're camping at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. We chose the Stephen Foster State Park because it's better situated in the middle of the swamp.

You can get some good information on the Okefenokee at http://www.fws.gov/okefenokee/.
Connie has been wanting to visit this park for a while...so there we are. Debbie and I, with Connie and Duane, camping.  The park is nice with good facilities i.e. electricity and water at the camp site, and bathrooms with hot water.

You can find a blog post of our trip with a little different in formation on the swamp at okefenokee camping trip. 
As always, we enjoyed the serenity and peace of camping, but the Okefenokee Swamp offers something extra. Sure, excellent variety of wildlife including great birding, but also the opportunity to rent canoes or boats and explore the swamp.

We took a motorized boat one day and two canoes another day to enjoy the Okefenokee. Oh yes, the alligators were all over, keeping a safe distance. This is also a great birding place. We've identified a handful of new birds (to us) such as the Swallow-tailed Kite, the Northern Parula, ..., and we enjoyed birds coming to our campsite. The Pileated Woodpeckers and the Red-shouldered Hawks were regular visitors, not to forget the Catbirds, various woodpeckers, and warblers.  All together, we've seen over 40 different birds on this trip. 

If you're not already enjoying the pleasures of tent camping, you probably need to check this tent camping  site out.

The Okefenokee is unique in many ways. You have a dark colored water that reflects the vegetation and the sky like a mirror. (The dark color comes from tannin which actually keeps the water clean). 
You'll also find some rare plants here such as the carnivorous sundews. The cypresses, tupelos, water lilies and pines always give a unique feel to the canoe rides through the swamp...

...And as always the great peaceful feel of camping amid a rich wildlife.

Before we knew it, time has passed and we needed to head back after a four-day three-night camping trip.  We want to come back to the "land of the trembling earth" as the Indians used to call this place.

Esther's 40th birthday

The big 4 0 for Esther was celebrated at her house on the 2nd of April. All the Coquerels were invited but only those in the U.S. made it to the invitation for obvious reasons.

How nice! It's been a while since we all got together like this. It always seems that we like to see each other when we meet. The children of the children of Papa Coquerel are teenagers and young adults now. How At 40, Esther is looking great. Young and beautiful, not to forget smart and dedicated.

Taking turns, Jacques and I (I'm Andre) shared encouraging words and memories about their sister. Jean-Luc gave the blessing. Emanuel, Esther, and their children prepared some delicious dishes for all to enjoy.time quickly time passes by!

The drink? They also had drinks but then it seemed that everyone had the same idea. "I'm been invited...let me bring...a bottle of wine!". So, we ended up with more bottles of wine then they were wine drinkers in the group. We all forget to think about who actually drinks in the family. They will be...well, I won't say. Not too many.

Phoebe's Mom was there as you can see in one of the pictures. That was nice. She is always good company. I'm guessing she doesn't want to miss Chloe's arrival. Chloe is going to be the new addition in the Coquerel family, to Phoebe and Jean-Luc. We can't wait to meet her.


 It was nice to get together. Let's do it more often.