In February of 2023, fellow adventures Gary and Linda De Kock and John and LaNae Abnet canoed and camped the vast 438,000-acre peat-filled wetland straddling the Georgia–Florida, which is the great Okefenokee Swamp. Considered to be one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia, the Okefenokee is the largest “blackwater” swamp in North America.
Experience their adventure through the live presentation of photographs, videos, and music that feature the amazing wildlife and flora found in this unique ecosystem.
So, wonder how many alligators they encountered? They’ll show and tell you all about it !
John and LaNae Abnet have kayaked in the Arctic, train hopped through the interior Canadian wilderness, paddled the big waters of Lake Huron, and canoed across the alligator-infested Okefenokee Swamp. They are also the only couple to kayak the 1600-mile source-to-sea journey from the headwaters of the Wabash River to the Gulf of Mexico. They live a minimalist lifestyle on a thirty-two-acre wildlife habitat property outside Geneva, Indiana, with their dog, Olive, and their cat, Ed.
With thirteen canoes and kayaks dating back to 1986, Gary and Linda De Kock have always known that there is no such thing as “too many boats”! In 2014, they paddled a tandem kayak from source to sea on the Mississippi River (2291 miles in 70 days). In 2018, they canoed the Missouri River from Three Forks, Montana to St. Louis (2.341 miles in 86 days).
In 2023 they paddled the black waters of the mighty Okefenokee Swamp. Each of these trips were used to raise funds for communities worldwide that lack safe water and adequate sanitation. In 2023, they were honored to receive the annual Verlen Kruger Award for these and other contributions to paddlesport.