Fernandina, FL to Jekyll Island, GA

Today:    32 miles, 5.5 hours, ICW St. M 1883.1

Total:     1878.4 miles, 310.6 hours

     Bailey was walked, the dinghy was raised, and we were underway by 8:30.

Hurricane damaged boats

Rusty work boat

     The boats that were beached due to the storms are still there.  The pier, where some of the sunk boats were placed, is still loaded. Just below the mooring field, the sunken sailboat mast is still visible. There has been no movement to get the City Marina up and running.  There was an article on Facebook’s Active Captain discussing it last night.  The town is willing to walk away from the revenue created by an active marina that brings in tourists who spend in the community, just because they don’t see the marina as a profit maker. 

USCG chase drills

  

     As we approached the St. Mary’s River, there were 4 USCG small boats running chase drills with another unmarked USCG boat.  As we continued up past Cumberland Island, we were passed by another USCG small boat, which closed the river behind us.  Then there were 4-64’ USCG boats heading down river, and another small boat bring up the rear.  We suspect a submarine will be coming up the river to Kings Point Naval Sub Base.  We never saw the sub, but did see the degaussing cage the subs must pass through before entering the huge repair buildings.

Cabin Bluffs Cottages

Our sleepy crew

     Once again, we traveled about 7 miles up river before the currents changed in our favor, the 5.4 finally became 8.7 with occasional 9.2! Following the sonar charts, it was easy to pass around Horseshoe Shoal in St. Andrews Sound.  On the northern tip of Cumberland Island, we saw some homes, an old light house and a green buoy way off station at the base of the dunes. As we were heading up to Jekyll Sound, we saw another green marker way out of position, but still in the water. As we neared it, Sector Charleston announced a Notice to Mariners stating that this green was out of position.  Talk about timing!

Jekyll Island Lighthouse and
severely misplaced green buoy

Jekyll Island Southern Shore

Driftwood Tree

Buoy with visitors

HMS VAGABOND

     We filled up the fuel cans and topped off the fuel before being walked down to our spot on the dock. Once secured, we met Ed and Donna form SV DEEGEE IV, a Catalina 380.  They are from Easton, MD and this is their first trip.  They have not enjoyed it as much as others. With no enclosure, the trip down was cold, windy and raw.  They spent 2 months in Harbortown Marina, Ft. Pierce.  While looking to fix an problem, he was directed to the “Captain”, whose shop is right on the closed area of A1A by the marina.  “Captain” has a “Sampson & Son’s-esk" shop, with an unbelievable inventory of parts.  Ed was in awe of “Captain’s” knowledge of engines and mechanical parts, and is a machinist, who makes parts he can’t get. He solved Ed water pump problem and had the correct part for replacement.  A great resource to know! Hopefully, we will never need his services.

View up the Jekyll Creek

     When Pete registered, he found out that there is a restaurant onsite. He suggested we grab dinner there.  So, I extended an invitation to Donna and Ed to join us around 6.  Since I still had a couple of hours, I decided to borrow a bike and head into the village with my camera. I really enjoyed exploring. Hopefully, I have some great shots.

Moss Cottage

Indian Mound Cottage

Spanish moss in the wind

Stable Road

Skeet House

Baker Crane Carriage House

Family cycling under the mighty oaks

   

Zachery's River House Restaurant

     I got back with extra time before we met Ed and Donna.  We ate indoors, which was great as the temperatures were beginning to drop a bit as the sun got close to the horizon. Zachery’s Riverhouse had a smaller menu, but delicious selections, primarily fresh seafood and reasonable.  Pete ordered a hamburger with fries and cold slaw (surprise, surprise!).  The three of us ordered salads.  Our platters were mounded with green, tomatoes, eggs, onions, cheese and about a half pound of fresh shrimp salad.

     During dinner, we talked about passage though Georgia.  Pete discussed our float plan. Donna raised concerns about possible problems with the marinas. We came back to the boat and spent the next 3 hours trying to figure out what we need to do.  The two viable marina options were bust. Hidden Harbor went private and does not accept transients and Hampton River club is silted in, restricted to small boats or entry and departure on high tide only! We need a marina or anchorage with access to shore for Bailey. We have to time our passage though Jekyll Creek, just a few hundred yards north of this marina, The Little Mudd River and Hell Gate with half tides that are rising. Exhausted and drained, we decided to delay leaving in the morning until after 8 am, so we can confirm reservations for Brunswick Landing and work on our float plans with clearer minds. Emailed Donna to let them know that we need to leave shortly after 8 am instead of 7, and finally headed to bed at 11:30 pm.

The local hangout!

Friday 3/30 -  Donna came and knocked at 7:15 am to see if we changed our minds and would head up to Brunswick with them this morning. We were already up and had decided that with the stormy forecast, we would stay an extra day.  So, as we were heading over to help them cast off, we waved good-by a they passed.  She e-mailed around 2 hours later.  They were already docked at Brunswick Landing. She listed the skinny spots on Jekyll Creek to be aware of and invited us to join them for dinner tomorrow night.  There is a great Thai restaurant not far from the marina.  It should be fun. She also mentioned that they were able to dock before the storms came.

      We did more research on the trouble spots here in Georgia. With the high tides currently at 9 am, low at 2:30 pm, and no staging spots for the trouble areas, it is better to wait until we return from up North, around the 17^th. With the tides shifting 45 mins/day, it will allow us to stage properly and transit bad areas in the middle of the day allowing us to do more miles...So... rather than do something stupid with needing to get to Charleston by next Thursday (since our car is there), The boat will stay in Brunswick through the 17^th and rent a car on Monday to head to Charleston to retrieve our car. This way we can get home next Friday, without stress, to take care of the grandkids for the week. 
     I was able to download the photos from yesterday and get some of the blog posted.
     Shortly after dinner, there was a pinkish glow through the windows.  I got lucky to capture why once outside. . . .

The rains cleared just in time for pretty sunset

~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~ K & P