We are headed to Jekyll Island, which takes us past the King’s Bay Submarine Station. This sub station is over 25 square miles and is used as a training facility and is also home to the Trident class of nuclear subs along with the nuclear missiles they carry. If there is a sub coming in to the base, they close down this section of the river to boat traffic. It would have been so neat to see one, but it wasn’t to be. I’ve read that the subs make a huge wake so maybe it’s okay we didn’t’ see one. You can see a small boat in the picture. It was patrolling back and forth across the entrance to the harbor.
We rode the bikes to the historic area of Jekyll Island. From 1886 until 1942, this island was a private kingdom for many of the nation’s elite. It was purchased by a group of millionaires who formed the very exclusive Jekyll Island Club. They restricted membership to keep it a closed social unit of only the elite.
There were also buildings that housed chauffeurs, housekeepers, groundskeepers and chefs. Of course they were all farther away from the clubhouse, but they had their own commissary, dining hall and eventually a school for the staff who brought along family.
Biking around the area, both Ross and I though it is one of the most beautiful places we have ever been! Ross summed it up by saying the beauty of it is “astounding!” The Live Oaks, Spanish moss and all the flowers, along with songbirds singing everywhere makes you understand why the “club” wanted to keep all of this to themselves. The sun was out as we biked and the warmth made the pines smell so fragrant.
There is a restaurant here at the marina so we decided to go up to it for supper. We weren’t all that hungry so decided on a bowl of Brunswick Stew. Any food we hear is a local food or traditional to the area, is something we always want to experience. We thought maybe it was a Brunswick, Georgia tradition. I checked it out on the internet when we returned to the boat. We were wrong. Seems every state along the coast with a town called Brunswick claims to be the originating place of the stew. But according to historians, it was started in Brunswick County Virginia. The original recipe was stewed squirrel, butter, onions, stale bread and seasonings. This made a very hearty and thick concoction. Nowadays it is made with chicken or pork and vegetables are added. Large batches are made for church functions, fundraisers, reunions and political rallies. Some states even have “Stew Fest” on the capitol grounds. What we ate last night was more like soup than a "thick concoction". We will sample more Brunswick Stew as we move along up the coast and report back.
Your pictures are beautiful!!
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