Georgia

Between Savannah to the north and Brunswick to the south are miles of marshes, serpentine rivers, vast sounds, and uninhabited barrier islands. The tidal range in Georgia is 8 to 9 feet, and many areas are only safely navigable during mid to high tide. We took advantage of favorable tides with two very long days, putting us just north of Jekyll Island. The tides were not favorable for the next day, so we went offshore at St. Simons Sound and came back in at the St. Marys River. We turned north on the ICW after re-entering to anchor off Cumberland Island at the Cumberland Island National Seashore. We were in early and so our treat was to spend the afternoon on Cumberland Island. Access to the island is by ferry or by a dinghy dock. Once landed, we paid our $4 per person fee on the honor system, and then we were free to explore the island without hindrance. The temperature was near 80, so it was a perfect day. There were hardly any other people on the island, but lots of wildlife and breathtaking beauty. Horses run free on this island. Millionaire Thomas Carnegie built a huge turreted mansion shortly after 1882. This burned in 1959 after lying idle for several years. Private ownership throughout the island's history spared it from development, and now it is a national seashore.

Cumberland Island

Cumberland Island

Jab, Iain, Ted, Alice

Cumberland Island

Cumberland Island

Burned Out Mansion

Cumberland Island