Sand Pond Campground, Pinelog State Forest, Ebro, Florida

 On Friday, the 13th, we were only about an hour away from a new campground at Sand Pond for the Ididahike with the Choctawhatchee Florida Trail Association. We checked into our newly renovated campsite with a concrete pad alongside the pond in the tall pines. We got our registration packet including T-shirts with bears and hearts for Valentine's Day. We bought a ball cap and neck scarf to support the Florida Trail Association. We took to the trail out of the campground to Cedar Lake boardwalk. We enjoyed happy hour egg rolls from the food truck before cooking our Instant pot chili for dinner. 

Campsite at Sand Pond

Bat box

Cypress Lake Trail

We had our apple cranberry walnut bran muffins for breakfast but decided to visit the Breakfast Lady food truck for a breakfast sandwich before heading out by car to our trailhead. There were four hikes of varied distances followed by a visit to EO Wilson Biophilia Center and a presentation by the naturalist on conservation that was beautifully done. We ended up hiking about 11 miles so were glad to chill out at the campsite and enjoy our Instant pot chicken taco bowls for dinner. We packed up anticipating rain in the morning. The rain let up for us to get to Bubbajack's Restaurant I Freeport for breakfast before the heavens opened up with a thunderstorm and downpour and tornado warning. By the time we got home the sun was shining. We were so impressed with the Trail Association, we plan to try more events with them.

Florida Trail Head

Downloaded map so we could trace our tracks

We picked the hike where you did not have to ford streams

Our turn around point

EO Wilson BIophilia Center

Stephen Foster State Park, Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Fargo, Georgia

 We stopped for breakfast at First Watch Restaurant which was on our route out of Beaufort, South Carolina as we headed to the Okefenokee Swamp. We stopped to shop for groceries and get gas as the State Park is out in a remote area from the small town of Fargo. We checked into the recently renovated park in a huge pull through site that I forgot to get a picture of.  We were disappointed that they had the marina under renovation so the nature board walk by the swamp was closed. We hiked the other two nature trails before sundown. We did our air fryer chicken wings and corn on the cob and enjoyed the quiet park except for the sounds of birds. We got up early for the Sunrise ranger walk as it was Swamp Day on Tuesday. We packed up and headed towards home.

Seeing double white tailed deer in the State Park

A great sunset through the pine forest

Our sunrise nature hike with the ranger

Rental kayaks along the canal

Looking back at the marina with docks removed

Hiway 21 Drive In, Harvest Host, Beaufort, South Carolina

 After lunch in Georgetown, we headed south to Beaufort, South Carolina where we had a Harvest Host stop on Superbowl Sunday at Hiway 21 Drive In. We were greeted by the owner and shown to our spot where we backed in where we could watch the movie laying on our bed and looking out the back window of Cutie. We had a great burger and fries and popcorn from the concession stand before settling in for the night. It was quiet with only one other van there for the movie Shelter at Screen 3 of the 3 big screens. We got a good sleep before our quick escape early the next morning headed for Okefenokee Swamp.

Hiway 21 Drive In

Huntington Beach State Park, Murrell's Inlet, South Carolina

 We made good time on Wednesday to the Chamber of Commerce in Pawley's Island where we picked up our registration packets for the Hammock Coast Birding Festival. We then continued north to Huntington Beach State Park where we were able to check in early at our campsite in the North campground. We set up camp and then took the nature trail near our campsite which passed by the nature center and continues along the inlet shore with plenty of ducks and shorebirds. We then took off to find lunch which was recommended off the Marsh Boardwalk with a string of restaurants. On our way we spotted our favorite hangout when we kept our sailboat at Georgetown Landing Marina in Georgetown while we were living in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Riverside Cafe did not disappoint with its free peanuts to shell at the table and craft beers and delicious burgers. We got the blooming onion to celebrate finding the place. After lunch we were ready to take a shower and head to the festival happy hour at Oceanfront Litchfield. They had a great munchie buffet and cash bar and we sat looking out at the Atlantic Ocean.

Welcome Center with the festival roseate spoonbill signs

The State Park visitor's center

Our wooded camps8ite

The octopus tree knocked down from hurricanes and rerooted

River City Cafe

On Thursday morning we had to get a very early start to drive to tour Black River Cypress Preserve in Andrews, SC. It was misty and cold but our guides took us along the manicured and landscaped trails as we spotted birds along the way. The preserve was established by the Boston Cubs owner to preserve the wilderness and be an educational center for private tours. From there we headed back to Georgetown  to our favorite Mexican Restaurant for a quick lunch before heading to Hobcaw Barony Preserve for our next tour.

Hobcaw Barony Welcome center displays

A van took us on tour to the marshlands

It was like an arctic blast on the dock

The historic homes

Long left pine rocket

Long leaf pine candleabra

Avian Conservation Bird of Prey at Atalaya Castle

Birds swooped over audience

On Friday it was another early start back through Georgetown and past Belle Isle Marine where we also kept our sailboat to the ferry across to the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center. We loaded up on a bus an drove to the ponds and hiked along the dikes seeing lots of waterfowl and shore birds. We had a longer time for lunch to stop at our favorite Tony's Pizza before walking along the dock on Front Street. We hurried back to take a shower while it was the warmest before the next event. Next up was a naturalist talk at Huntington Beach Nature Center on the Coastal Plain's Best Anglers and walk along the observation deck. It was then time for dinner with keynote speaker Dr. Patrick McMillan at Pawley's Plantation.

Boarding the pontoon boat ferry across to Tom Yawkey Center

Welcome center

Mockingbird upset at his reflection

Beautiful wetlands walk

Downtown Georgetown

At the keynote speaker's dinner

Beautiful Front Street

On Saturday, the early tour at Brookgreen Gardens was fully booked so we had time for a leisurely breakfast at the old local Litchfield Restaurant. We then drove the short distance to Brookgreen Gardens for the Creek Tour by Barge. It was cold and windy but sunny and we had a great guide pointing out the waterfowl and old rice plantations. We then walked along the boardwalk to our guided walking tour of the Lowcountry Zoo Aviary at Brookgreen Gardens. We toured the two aviaries which were closed to the public before walking through the zoo and seeing the rehabbed animals up close especially the ducks. We then drove over to the Sculpture Gardens and wandered the grounds before driving back to the Georgetown Landfill for the Trash and National Treasures bus tour by the environmentalist where we saw wild turkeys missing out on the bald eagles and seagulls since the dump was closed there was not enough for them to bother scavenging. We dashed back to the campground for another hot shower before dinner at Inlet Affairs at Murrel's Inlet.

Bundled up for barge tour at Brookgreen Gardens

At the zoo

Inside the garden center

Inside sculpture courtyard

Inside sculpture bird exhibit

Out the window a wild turkey on the landfill

Wishful that we could ban single use plastics

Turkeys trotting

The beautiful muriel at landfill visitor center

On Sunday it was below freezing as we bundled up for the Huntington Beach Jetty Tour. Luckily Ranger Mike gave us a ride on the golf cart down to the jetty. We also walked along the beach and a service road to see the variety of shore birds and waterfowl. Our guide was excellent in showing us pictures and then putting the birds on the spotting scope. That was our final tour so we loaded up the camper and headed to Georgetown for lunch on the Front Street Dock at Blue Bayou Cafe which now occupies our favorite bar, the Big Tuna. We then headed south to Beaufort, South Carolina with time to spare before we could check in at Hiway 21 Drive Inn for the night.

Down the beach to the jetty

Lunch at the old Big Tuna Bar now Blue Bayou Cafe