Taking Out The Trash Is An Alligator-Filled Adventure For This Southern Couple
Plenty of people talk about dropping out of society and living off the grid. Few actually have the guts to do it. I don’t know if what this Georgia couple is doing technically qualifies as “off the grid,” but it certainly isn’t the life most of us live. A simple thing like taking out the trash is a weekly adventure.
A woman who calls herself Kayak Katie, a.k.a. @southernadventurehunter on TikTok, lives in complete isolation with her husband on the Satilla River in Georgia. I’m sorry, did I say on the Satilla River? I meant in it. Their A-frame home sits on piers in the water when the river rises. It’s sort of looks like a backwoods Venice.
Kayak Katie has posted numerous videos about her life in the flood-prone wilds of Georgia. For example, in one recent post, she gives a literal step-by-step demonstration of how she takes out the trash each week. It seems like a simple enough thing, but not the way she has to do it.
Take Out The Gators And The Trash
The first thing Katie does is put on what she calls “gator waders,” presumably to protect herself from being injured by any number of alligators that could be hanging around. Yikes! On top of that, she tucks her snack-sized Chihuahua into the bib of her overalls for the treacherous trek.
Katie then wades through the water with her trash-filled kayak in tow. Once she reaches dry land, Katie loads the trash bags onto an ATV and drives the rest of the way to the dumpster. Then she gets to go back. Katie’s video has already racked up over 8-million views on TikTok. Take a look:
As captivating as that video is, you might be wondering to yourself why anybody would want to live this way. That’s exactly what one TikTok user asked. In another video (below), Katie responded by saying that despite the struggles, she and her husband find their watery home to be “amazing and beautiful.” She adds that the daily challenges (alligators, snakes, insects, etc.) are nothing compared to the mental and physical health benefits of their isolated lifestyle.
It sounds like Kayak Katie and her husband have found their “serenity now” on the Satilla River. While that might sound appealing, could you live like this? I mean, how many alligators do you see when you take out the trash now? I’m 100% certain my wife would never go for the swamp life. For that matter, I’m not so sure I would either.
North Carolina Tick Season Will Be Brutal - How to Protect Yourself
Do This Before You Go Outdoors
If you’re going outdoors, make sure to take precautions. The Pennsylvania Department of Health suggests treating clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. “Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remain protective through several washings,” they state. Also, use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. Finally, wear light-colored clothing.
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Avoid Areas That Ticks Love
Of course, the best thing to do is to avoid any contact with ticks. So, try to avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass or fallen leaves. If you are in those areas, walk in the center of the trails. Just stay away from that tall grass at all costs.
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After You've Had Fun Outdoors
When you get inside, check your clothing for tickets. Remove any tickets that you find. Also, “Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after you come indoors,” according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. They also suggest to examine gear and pets, shower soon after being outdoors and check your body for ticks after being outdoors. Finally, shower as soon as you come indoors.
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Where to Find Ticks on Your Body
When you come indoors, do that full body check for ticks. They tend to hide under the arms; in and around the ears; inside belly button; back of the knees; in and around the hair; between the legs; and around the waist. That’s according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
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Do This If You Get a Tick Bite
Take it seriously if you get a tick bite. “If you develop a rash or fever within a month of removing a tick, see your doctor as soon as possible,” the Michigan DNR says. “Be sure to tell your doctor about your recent tick bite and when the bite occurred.”
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Remain Calm
If you get a tick bite, above all, remain calm. It can be scary, but if you catch it in time, there are things that can help. That’s why it’s so important to do early detection and look all over your body and clothes after being outdoors. So, you don’t have to say no to going out doors, but say no to ticks.
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