Georgia

         Cruising through Georgia is mainly a study in small tidal creeks and rivers winding back and forth through marshy areas.  You shouldn’t go fast, you need to pay attention to the tide and the depth, and the current along with Georgia’s anchoring restrictions dictate your choices for anchoring for the night.  We spent nights in Turner Creek, Crescent River, Jeckyl Creek, and Cumberland Sound, always making sure we were 500 feet from any approved commercial shellfish growing area and designated public harvesting areas, 300 feet from any marina, and 150 feet from any marine ‘structure other than a marina’.  (The state of Georgia kindly provides a link to a fuzzy map that is subject to change at any time and should not be used as an offering for any legal restraints…)  Confused?  You aren’t alone.  This is probably why many other cruises ended up in the same anchorages as we did.  

Cumberland Island

Our last day in Georgia included a trip to Cumberland Island.  We’ve been there before.  The Carnegie family once owned magnificent homes and a spacious plantation on the southern end.  They have donated the land and the ruins of the many structures to the National Parks, who in turn maintain the property to some extent and give tours.  There are two docks adjoining the park, but both of them have large signs declaring they are not to be used by the public.  One of them is partially used for a commercial vessel that brings people over from St. Mary’s GA, the other is partially used for the national park service vessels.  One of the recent hurricanes - not this year - caused some damage (it’s much more evident along the shore where many trees have fallen over banks eroded by storm surges), but little more has been done than to put up signs, tape, and barricades.  Cruises take their dinghies to the beaches and climb up over the eroded embankments to get to the park, which is open.  We used the beach next to the southern dock.

        We had a pleasant walk through the park to the beach and then wound our way back through the ruins of the mansion and assorted outbuildings.  I got some nice pictures of the armadillos rooting around and the new boardwalk leading to beach where Dan and a snake startled each other, both jumping straight up in surprise.  The snake felt it prudent to immediately drop down to the ground and slither away while Dan regained control of his heartbeat.  We saw the wild horses grazing in the ruins, but it was just the two of us and the birds on the beach.  We got back to the boat in time to enjoy dinner on the flying bridge, watching the beautiful sunset.

Boardwalk to the beach

Carnegie Ruins

Dunlin sandpipers

Tomorrow, Fernandina Beach.