FRIDAY APRIL 9TH

The wind howled all night. We were tied up at the dock at an angle perpendicular to the wind, so took slapping waves on the hull all night. At least that noise somewhat blocked the noise of those crazy krill whooping it up under the boat.

Our hope was to anchor up by Cumberland Island and dinghy ashore for a visit. The Cumberland Island is the largest of Georgia’s barrier islands and most of it was last owned by the Carnegie family. The mansions on the island have all since burned, but Mrs. Carnegie willed the property to the state. She also willed that her horses be allowed to roam free on the island. To this day their descendants roam free, completely fending for themselves.

We had a spot reserved at Lang’s Marina in St. Marys. It looked just long enough for us to fit into between two other boats, with no margin for error. The wind was blowing hard one direction, the tide and current was going another way. I’m scrambling around on the front deck with lines and watching the old dock master “Nat” slowly walk down the dock nonchalantly smoking his cigarette. I’m sure my hair was standing on end at this point in fear as to what we would hit. He calmly said to me, “sugar, don’t be worrying about no lines. Just lower this fender and that fender. We take care of those lines in a bit.” He was right.  He knew exactly what the water would do and it drew us right in to the spot we needed to be on the dock. Ross did have something to do with it, but even he was amazed at our landing.

There is a ferry which runs back and forth to Cumberland Island. Unfortunately it was completely booked for the day so a visit to the island is not in the cards for us. It is a popular spot to go with it’s camping, hiking and extensive wildlife.

Plan B……lunch. Lang’s restaurant was the recommendation and it did not disappoint!

The specialty is shrimp. It comes directly off Lang’s shrimp boat so is never frozen. What a difference. Ross isn’t a big fan of shrimp, but this was so good he even picked every scrap of meat out of the tail. Oh, and we are now back into serious hush puppy country.  Those were delicious too.

After lunch we took a stroll around town. Found a Submarine museum. So of course we went in. Lots of memorabilia.

Much of the equipment on display is from the submarine USS James K. Polk. Here is the control panel.

They also had a functioning periscope that you could view the St. Marys River with. I think Ross was using it to scope out the nearest ice cream shop because he seemed to know exactly where to go for ice cream when we left the museum! That guy!









There was also a research library where several people were looking up information.











Ross was channel surfing around supper time and discovered the old Clint Eastwood movie Hang Em High was about to come on.  Sorry Mom, I know you tried to raise me right, but we ate dinner in front of the t.v.!!!!!

Late in the evening the wind died down and it was absolutely calm. What a treat after anchoring out so much, and wind and waves the rest of the time. When I went to bed I felt like I was sleeping on land again. Even the krill took the night off.