Notes Afloat

The Okefenokee is pretty much back to normal. All the trails except the Brown Trail to Cravens Hammock are open.  Trips are still available to Monkey Lake and Minnie’s Lake, but Mixon’s Hammock is once again available only to organized groups.  The Fellow Travelers are not organized.

Donald May retired from Universal Forest Products at the end of March. There was a big party for him on April 25. Fellow Travelers Greg and Lillian Baker, Frank and Bobbery Sutton, Art and Janice Shelfer, and Diane and Charlie Stines were all there. Donald and Gloria further celebrated by taking an extended western drive to visit Marissa and Sean in New Mexico, other relatives scattered among the western states, and to enjoy the sights.

James Turk has retired as assistant district attorney.  Everyone congratulates him for his service and wishes him well.

Jason Robinson and wife, Jill, gave son Fox a little sister,  Rainer Arizona, on  March 22.  She is a redhead.

 Cassie Robinson married Randall Pfleger and will gave Fox and Rainer new uncle.

The Lippys are enjoying life in Franklin, North Carolina, and have closed on property for their dream home.

Ron Marchant IV (Mac) arrived December 10, 2009.  Ron is the proud father and Ronnie is the happy grandfather.

Savannah Grace Ansari was born April 29.  She is the daughter of Jim and Tamara Benton Ansari.  Mom and  daughter are doing well.

Greg Ferrell has retired from the Air Force now and will be able to have a more flexible schedule.  The Fellow Travelers look forward to the Ferrell family making more trips.

Henry Duggan is working on a novel about adventures on the Suwannee during Spanish colonization days.

Major Scott Gunn is still serving the country in the Air Force Judge Advocates Corps in Iraq but expects to be stationed in Florida by summer’s end.

Haley Spiers has returned to Georgia because she could not continue her Georgia job in Louisiana.  Mike has returned to Lowe’s.  They may be able to again canoe with the Fellow Travelers.

Meanwhile, Hamp Chauncey is still in New York and is planning his  marriage to Catherine Alexander.

John and Karen Chauncey have moved into their new home in Clinch County between Fargo and Homerville.  It is on John’s ancestral farm.

Charlie Stines acquired another canoe trailer and a Grumman aluminum canoe and a Perception Chattooga canoe.  He would like to sell the canoes.  Franklin Sutton says Charlie has more canoes than friends.  Below are before and after pictures of the trailer.  The startling color was made possible largely through a generous gift from Greg Baker.