Take it Slowly

An excerpt from my March 2017 Okefenokee Nature Journal:

Our desire was to reach Big Water, a lake several miles up the Suwannee Middle Fork (red trail). To cover the ground, I was paddling rather quickly… probably too quickly to enjoy the Okefenokee. Just past 11:00 AM we entered upon Minnie’s Lake and grasped by sheer delight we slowed down. This area is such a beautiful sight, all you imagine of a pristine swamp scene: black waters reflecting Cypress knees, Spanish Moss and blue sky. As it opens up on the lake, the canoe trail widens and is lined by large, green lily pads of Spatterdock and White Water Lily. ​Stumps and fallen logs rise above the water and vegetation, each occupied by a sunning turtle or basking alligator. Just past the rest area platform lay some large gators, basking in groups of three and four. A brave Little Blue Heron fished right alongside three monsters. Minnie’s lake is a place to slow down and enjoy, not hurriedly paddle through.

iNaturalist observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/35944221