The Dogs Do Cumberland, In Photos

Dogs are not a normal part of Cumberland Island.  They're not allowed at the campground nor on the ferry.  An exception is made for boat dogs, like ours.   We had just set foot on dirt when a park ranger approached and told us, in no uncertain terms, that our dogs must be kept on leashes at all times.  OK.

Two days ago, Pam and I left the dogs on the boat except for potty breaks.  Yesterday was a dog day, and they loved it.

We saw a red winged blackbird along the trail to the beach.  These are among my favorite birds.  Not only do they have a beautiful song, but their wing patches of bright red have a militaristic look about them.

Dogs on Cumberland must be on leashes at all times, eh.  We interpret that to be that dogs must be under control at all times, which ours are.  And besides, how can a dog swim on a leash?

Especially a crazy pointer like Olivia.

Dogs need to run.  The chase was on.

Lots of birds.  I think these are Forsters Terns.

An American Oystercatcher.

Female Turkey.

It was time to head back to the boat for the afternoon, so I could plan our trip to Jacksonville.  I wonder if the guys in those trucks had plans.

After dinner, back to the beach!

This poor guy got rolled up on the beach by the surf like a bocci ball.  I wonder if he got dizzy?

Drift Away at anchor.   What a good looking boat.

Last night's sunset.  Not bad.

Today we hope to get underway by 9 AM.  It's over 40 miles to Jacksonville's free town dock, and we'd like to get there in the afternoon.   I've read that the current can be strong, but I think we might be hitting it at low tide which is 3:34 PM and so maybe we'll get a push up the river if we get there at 4 or later.

Cumberland Island in Photos, including a Roseate Spoonbill!

Pam and I took the dogs to Cumberland for their potty break and then back to the boat.  After lunch, we spent a dogless afternoon on the island, and I brought my camera to share with you.  This place is amazing.

This is your typical Cumberland Island walking trail...

where you might see wild horses.  Well, they're not really wild, because feral would be a better term for them.  Without predators, the "wildlife" here is almost tame.

A curious foal, with her mom.

Cumberland's dunes are impressive.

The cumulous clouds made for some excellent photography opportunities.

I didn't see these mussels at Jeckyll.  I wonder what they are?

This turkey vulture was eating something.  I let him be and so can't share with you what it was.  Not that you want to know.

Wild horses on the beach.

The trail to the Dungeness Ruins was blocked by water!

Even though Pam couldn't see her feet, she bucked up and waded.  Ew!  Ew!  Ew!

The wuse park ranger drove through.

This guy was as interested in us, as we were in him.  Without predators, the wildlife here aren't too wild.

Here's a dramatic photo for you.

A Roseate Spoonbill!  The first one I've ever seen!

Yeah whatever.  Get out of the way.

What an odd bird.  There's only about a thousand nesting pairs, so they're scarce.

Spoonbills swing  their beaks from side to side, straining small food items out of the water.  For more info, click here.

This guy just about attacked me to take his photo.

We walked over to the Dungeness ruins and along the way hit the restrooms, which used to be the laundry.

The laundry for the Carnegies.  Note the big stove on the left, which heated water for the tank next to it.

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Big ringers!

The pergola, built from tabby and still perfect.

The ruins of Dungeness.  This was once owned by Thomas Carnegie, who died at the age of 42.  His wife lived here until the 1920s, then abandoning the estate, which burned in 1959 due to insurance lightning.

If you've never been to Cumberland Island and wish to visit, you can either take the ferry from St. Mary's, or take your own boat.  We were headed south, so we did a 180 at buoy 34  to miss the big sandbars and ran up along the shore.  Go past the first dock, which is a park ranger dock, and anchor near the second, which is the park's dinghy dock.  The park office is here, where you pay $4 a head for a seven day pass.  What a bargain.

Cumberland Island is  indeed a must see.

Our Last Day at Brunswick

We're casting off our docklines shortly, headed down Jekyll Creek at pretty much the wrong time for Cumberland Island.   We finished up a few mundane boat chores, such as cleaning the ring buoy.

For my landlubber friends, marine equipment isn't the same as land bound stuff.  They must be made of materials suited to withstand the rigors of salt air and water, and everything marine related is made this way, with the exception of fenders (or "bumpers") and ring buoys, which are made from the cheapest vinyl available on the planet.   The ring buoy below was new ten minutes ago and quickly turned into this.

Long ago, I learned that Interlux 2333N solvent is not so good at thinning paint, bue pretty good at removing mildew.

The rain finally stopped yesterday, so the main saloon's carpet, which was sitting outside for the past four days, was hung to dry, complete with two landlubber clothes pins and one marine clothes pin per side to make sure it stayed put.

I thought my redneck friends might not show with the Whaler and its new outboard yesterday, but they arrived deep into happy hour.  Happy hour started at 2 PM, by the way.

Look!  It runs!

No more excuses.  The Whaler runs, the bad weather is gone and it's going to be a glorious day.  We'll be out of here in an hour or so.   It will be very sad to leave Georgia's beautiful Golden Isles, but exciting to get to Cumberland!