5/21/12 Monday What a great start to the day. We took advantage of the free pump-out at the marina before we left! Do we know how to have fun or what?
We pulled out just in time to make the 8:30 a.m. opening of the Bridge of Lions and head up the ICW. Along the way we passed some beautiful homes including the one pictured below.
Our travel today took us past Fernandina Marina where we saw this sailing ship.
Once past Fernandina we entered the St. Mary's River passing Fort Clinch.
It wasn't long after passing the fort that we saw and were hailed by the Coast Guard advising us to stand clear of the channel because a sub was heading out to sea from Kings Bay Naval Base. When I asked if we could proceed another half mile or so and head into Cumberland Island they consented and told us to step on it.
For years I've read others accounts of seeing these sleek providers of our security moving in and out of Kings Bay and always thought it would be thrilling to see first hand. Neither Pam nor I were disappointed. What a rush! It makes you proud to be an American!
Tourist continued into the anchorage area and settled in for the night.
5/22/12 Tuesday Cumberland Island was a place we wanted to stop last year but for some reason went right on by. The allure, or part of it are the wild horses that have free run on the island. Once through with our morning coffee we headed into the ranger station to see what there was to do.
The ranger gave us a brief orientation and a map and off we went. Into the wilderness on what the ranger said was the short route to the beach on the other side of the island.
It was a great walk. Not too long, and except for Pam freezing in her tracks every time she heard a rustling in the under brush, not a strenuous effort was needed to reach the other side.
We strolled down the beach until we found the other path back across the island. It wasn't long until we stumbled upon our first horse.
We hiked across the dunes, found the boardwalk, and all of a sudden we came to a swamp.
Back over some dunes headed to the Dungeness Mansion ruins when we stumbled across some more horses.
Finally we found the ruins of the mansion that burned down in 1959.
Pam of course was ignored by all of the horses and following a trek down a dead end trail we found the path back to where we started.
We got back to Tourist in time to watch another sub go past. This time it was returning from a deployment. Still cool! Thanks guys!
That night we sat through a wicked thunderstorm with Tourist swinging completely around the anchor until the system went out to sea and we could go to sleep.
5/23/12 Wednesday The anchor came up with a little mud on it around 8 a.m. and we were off. We went right by Kings Bay Naval Base where we saw the escort vessels but no sign of any submarine. They are all stationed off the ICW in a secure area.
Winding our way up the Georgia ICW our biggest nuisance wasn't other boaters. It was thousands of brown headed fly's. It got so bad that Pam went downstairs before she knocked me out trying to swat the pesty insects. Once she was downstairs the carnage began. I had the swatter and I knew what to do with it.
We continued on to New Teakettle Creek and anchored for the night. Fortunately there was a nice breeze keeping most of the bugs away allowing us to enjoy another great sunset.
5/24/12 Thursday More winding our way through the tidal rivers of Georgia with cuts between them named the Florida Passage and Hells Gate on our way to Isle of Hope Marina just below Savannah. Once tied up Pam went off to do laundry and I went in search of a boat named Drift Away. For quite some time a guy named Dave has been following and commenting on our blog so I thought we should finally meet. When you meet Dave you also meet his dogs Chevy & Ruby and new puppy Olivia, that his wife Pam brought home for a short visit!
Since it's Thursday Dave invited Pam & I to join the gang for potluck that evening in the pavilion overlooking the marina. All the way back to Tourist I was fretting over what to make for the event. PAM!
Of course Pam came through with Jambalaya to contribute to the selection of tasty treats. It was a good time conversing with the regulars as well as a few other transients in attendance.
After dinner the dogs come out to play and then it's movie time! Sorry to say we couldn't stay for the movie but maybe next time through.
By the way, you can check out Dave's entertaining/informative blog at www.trawlerdriftaway.blogspot.com. I've been following it for quite awhile.
5/25/12 Friday Now that Pam & I are on our fitness kick we started the day off with a brisk 1 hour walk around Isle of Hope followed by a trip to West Marine and Wal-Mart. You can't beat fun for a good time!
Friday evening we were joined by Faye and Dave Clark, who live nearby, for dinner at a local restaurant. It was great seeing them and catching up on each others lives.
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