Cumberland Island, Georgia

Entering the St Mary’s inlet on the Georgia / Florida border we had to move out of the main channel as this submarine made an exit from the local submarine base. Two fully manned Coast Guard Boats escorted this one with machine guns mounted at the ready. If the size of the submarine isn’t enough to get you to move over, the escort boats are!


Cumberland Island is the most southerly of Georgia’s many barrier islands, separating the ocean from extensive marshland. The whole island is now a National Park after the residents ceded their land many decades ago and for which a few remaining residents gained the privilege of using their cars. These are the only private vehicles allowed on the island. All roads are unpaved and consist of a mix of hard and soft sand.


Spanish Moss hangs from the Live Oak trees in the island’s interior.


Hiking paths criss-cross the island. The undergrowth is thick, mainly populated with small palm bushes.


Dungeness House, once owned and occupied by the Carnegie Family used to be the main Plantation House but, after a fire many years ago, now stands in ruins.


Raised boardwalks take visitors over the marshland and out onto the sand dunes. Free viewing binoculars help one observe the abundant wild life.


Oyster beds are easily seen when the tide is low.


This Turkey Buzzard grasps a small bird in it’s claws.


The Atlantic side of the Island has a very long, wide and gently sloping beach.


Birds look for food at low tide.


Stranded shellfish make a pretty good meal.

Charleston, South Carolina

Having good friends onboard is always a treat for us. It is also a break from all but the most necessary of chores and a great time to play the tourist! Dennis and Val Best not only shared the activities of our previous blog posting, but also helped us passage Water Music on two overnight legs of our journey south. Not only was the fishing good on our way south but having visitors we got to see more of Charleston SC and so can add to photos seen on last year’s blog posting.


Val & Deb with the largest of the Mahi Mahi caught offshore.


On arrival in Charleston we tied up on the Mega Dock at the City Marina which is ¼ of a mile long and, guess what, we were tied up at the far end.


Golf carts are the order of the day for staff assisting boats docking or taking on fuel. Even the onsite fire truck was a golf cart!!!


Holding tanks are pumped out with 24 hrs notice from this mobile unit.


And who’s this lucky dog? ( Deborah’s comment)


Charleston lies at the confluence of the Cooper and Ashley Rivers about 5 miles inland from the Ocean. A combination of heavy run off, high tide or storm surge can breach even the best of defenses. David & Dennis, on one of the seawalls, contemplating the 15ft surge experienced of Hurricane Hugo in 1989.


Couldn’t resist putting in at least one more of the beautiful homes in the older restored part of Charleston.


Some of the houses are surrounded by equally impressive gardens.


Temperatures were still in the mid 80s when we arrived in Charleston. This fountain, in one of the riverside parks, was a great place for cooling off!


Cooling off seems to be encouraged?


However participants are required to follow the rules!!!


Another fountain in the shape of a Pineapple.


Dennis, Val and David on the Riverfront Park Pier. The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge is in the background.


South Carolina has always been famous for its early plantations of cotton but before the revolutionary war the Drayton Hall Plantation grew rice.


The main house is a modest building as shown in this model, but once had two other separate outbuildings, one for cooking and one for the toilets.


The interior still has the original paintwork.


This very gray & wet day did not affect the house tour, but the river and swamp walks were mudded out.