Visitors at Blue Springs Anchorage

We had several visitors at our private anchorage.  The tour boat came by and told us about a really large alligator across the way from us.  Dunn Deal a Scout from Charleston, SC stopped by for a little chat.  Their boat has pretty lines.  We met them again at Blue Springs where they were kayaking around the springs.

Welaka to Blue Spring Anchorage

We left Welaka about 8:00 a.m. to head toward Blue Springs Park as our final destination.  We made a side trip to Silver Glen Springs before our final destination for the day.   It was a great day to be out on the water, sunny but cool.  We spent the afternoon on the fly bridge because the views were spectacular.  We were happy to see this slice of old Florida.

Beautiful victorian house along the way

Very old home--its for sale--I think I could live here

This picture is deceiving--the boat sits in front of the Gazebo

There is a lot of extra equipment on this marker--maybe weather information.

Sometimes we feel like we are zoo animals---so many pictures

The wake from the boat at a pretty angle

Wilford Brimley?--Maybe?

Bird cage on the boat

Fishing?

Really old Florida style home

Small alligator nearby

Resting after a  day of adventure

Sapelo Island

January 16, 2013

 We anchored off of Sapelo Island at mile 649.5 on the Duplin River.  We liked this anchorage with a small creek off to the side which we would use to judge our movement  or more importantly our lack of movement.  Once we set the anchor, we don't want to move so having a creek or other landmark on which to set a sight, helps significantly. 

We have arranged a tour on the island with one of the local tour guides.  Access to Sapelo is strictly limited.  One must have a local tour guide, live or work on the island, or arrive on a state park tour to access Sapelo. 

We used the dinghy this morning for the first time.  We had no problems getting the dinghy down and into the water and no problems  getting to the dock at Sapelo Island.  Our tour guide Argene Grovner met us at the dock.  Argene is a native of Sapelo.  Mr. Grovnor is a direct descendant of the slaves who were brought here to work.  Check out the website  Sapelo Island Tours to schedule a tour.

Mr. Adventure immediately discovered that he and Mr. Grovner had common friends as Steve had worked on the island in his younger days with the Department of Natural Resources. Our first stop was the Behavior Cemetery.  We drove along both paved and unpaved roads sheltered by huge trees draped in Spanish moss.  Mr. Grovner explained Geechee and Gullah culture to us as we toured the ruins of the plantation.  We stopped by Chocolate house.  Steve had stayed here on one of his trips to the island years ago. 

Aregene took us to Hog Hammock, the only residential community on the island.  We visited the grocery store, bar, general store called The Trough.  We got a snack here as well as a cookbook published by Argene's   wife, Yvonne.  I discovered recipes for alligator stew and fried alligator.  There is even a section on how to catch an alligator--I don't think I need these instructions,  but it's good to know if I get a hankering for alligator stew.  The cookbook is full of recipes and local history and tradition. 

Aregene suggested we visit again on culture day in October--where there are many foods to taste and cultural wonders to experience. 

Matthew 11:28-30    Joshua1:5, 9

Chocolate House Interior

Carrier pigeon holes at the top of the barn

Tabby

The only store on the island

Lovely little church on the island--just imagine eating on the grounds at homecoming

R J Reynolds Barn converted to UGA Marine Studies facility

Beaufort to Thunderbolt

January 14, 2013

Early in the morning in Beaufort

The marina from our anchorage

The Beaufort Hospital Courtesy Dock

A Bird Party

We left our anchorage on the Beaufort River and headed south.  Immediately we came upon Port Royal followed by Parris Island.  After crossing  Port Royal sound into which the Chechessee and Broad Rivers feed we could see Hilton Head Island.  We then traveled the Calibrogue Sound to Haig Point on Daufuskie Island.  I have read that  Daufuskie means "da first key" of South Carolina.  I don't know if this is true or not, but it does help me pronounce the name more accurately.   We took Ramshorn Creek to the New River, then took Walls Cut to the Wright River.  Then Fields Cut took us to the Savannah River into Georgia while passing Jones Island, Bird Island and McQueens Island.  It sure felt good to be in our home state!!!  575 miles on the ICW and we made it to Georgia.   Next we took the Elba Island Cut  to the Wilmington River and into Thunderbolt.  Just past Thunderbolt we turned into the Herb River to stay for the night.  

Haig Point on Daufuskie Island

Construction coming back to Georgia!!!

This little guy jumped onto the swim platform.  We could see his bones.

Sunset on Herb River

1 Samuel 16:7             Romans 8:38-39