Okeefenokee Swamp-quiet paddling exploration
Over spring break in college, some friends and I planned a canoe trip down a stretch of the Okeefenokee Swamp. This swamp is known for its tannin rich waters, peat deposits, and wildlife, all of which I was very much looking forward to experiencing. We arrived at the put in spot just a few days after some pretty major flooding—the swamp waters were well above their normal levels, but they were receding and we were sure we could follow our landmarks along the route. We spent the days listening to the wildlife, paddling through cypress forests, watching the black water split as the orange and tan canoes pushed through. Chatting intermittently, checking maps, stopping on a bank to have lunch from our ice chests, finding dry spots to camp (which wasn’t easy), pitching tents, cooking dinner, cooking breakfast. Occasionally an alligator would grunt very close by, we were vigilant.
I relish those five days as a time of complete freedom, a time of exploration, discovery, challenge, and adventure. It’s possibly the first time I felt like an adult: making my own decisions while experiencing the unknown, no safety net if something went wrong, just a few friends to help solve problems as they arose.
Suzanne Pugh • She/They • Atlanta, Georgia and Wendell, Massachusetts
Suzanne Pugh spends most of her time in her studio as a metalsmith in Wendell, Massachusetts. Suzanne has worked in industry, education, and in her studio throughout her career; she currently teaches metalsmithing at RISD and SMFA.
