DAY EIGHT -- FERNANDINA BEACH TO CUMBERLAND ISLAND

                    DAY EIGHT -- FERNANDINA BEACH TO CUMBERLAND ISLAND

            We got a late start today, but it didn't really matter because we didn't have far to travel. Our objective for the day was to spend some time at Cumberland Island National Seashore. We spent some time in the morning booking hotels and marinas for the rest of the week, then got underway just after 11. Forty-five minutes later we were anchored out in the bay between the two NPS docks at the south end of Cumberland Island. After lunch aboard we took the dinghy to the northernmost dock (the Sea Camp dock), which gives the closest access to the beach (a 3/4-mile walk). It was very warm and humid ashore, and Janet turned around and headed back to the dock after a bit. I made it to the beach, took some pictures and then headed back. (The first picture shows the walk through the oaks to the beach, and the second shows the beach looking south, where, if you look closely, you can see the paper mills at Fernandina Beach.)

            We took the dinghy back out to the boat, I dropped off Janet, and then headed to the southern dock (the Dungeness dock) for the 1/2-mile walk to the ruins of the Thomas Carnegie mansion (he was Andrew's younger brother). The grounds were full of grazing wild horses, which seemed very comfortable with people walking nearby. 

            We weighed anchor after I got back to the boat and got the dinghy squared away. We were underway at three and ran up the Cumberland River almost to the north end of Cumberland Island. We pulled into the Brickhill River toward the north end of Cumberland Island, which is a recommended anchorage in the cruising guides. It was a beautiful spot in the midst of salt marshes with higher ground and trees on Cumberland Island to the east. There was another boat anchored around the bend, but it was only partially visible above the salt marsh and was at least half a mile away. We were all settled in and pouring cocktails by five. We ate dinner out on the back deck (for the first time so far this trip) and then watched the sunset from the bridge. An absolutely gorgeous anchoring spot.

            An interesting aspect of anchoring was how the boat behaved with the wind and the tide. The Georgia coast has 7-8' tides, so there are strong currents in the various rivers and creeks in the salt marsh country. An experienced ICW guy told me that "current beats wind" when you anchor in Georgia, and he was right. The boat rode with the current regardless of what the wind was doing, so during the evening we were pointed west into the current while we had a 10+ knot east wind blowing behind us. Very odd.

Janet here. We have noticed that in the salt marsh country we have not seen many birds or dolphins. Even though the marshes are pretty to look at, the lack of bird life is clearly evident.