Palm or Pine, which would you rather have?

Kayak Christmas

December 20, 2015

Coordinates 32 01507N, 81.03307W

Herb River, Thunderbolt, GA

Mile 584.3

Arrived 3:15

At exactly the same time as our ICW friends

December 21, 2015

Coordinates 31 66634N, 81.16628W

Walberg Creek

b St. Catherine’s Island, GA

Mile 620

December 22, 2015

Coordinates 31 17929N, 81 41407W

North Lanier Island, SC

Mile 674

December 23, 2015

Coordinates 30 67073N, 81 46622

Fernandina Beach, FL

Mile 717

If you remember we were in Bull Creek the last time I wrote, actually that probably isn’t something that would be on the tip of your tongue.  We entered Georgia on the 20th.  We have been in the state for hours and it still looks like we are motoring through a meadow.  We did not stop in Savannah. If we had, perhaps that would have helped with the absolute boredom of the Georgia ICW. 

 A large part of the ICW in Georgia is shallow, so caution is the best mindset for boaters. One area that we traveled was Little Mud River.  Here is what the Waterway Guide has to say about the river. “Although the Little Mud River is one of the shallowest areas on the entire ICW, this area was not on the list of locations to be dredged with the stimulus money.  The reported reason is that environmental restrictions have prevented approval of a designated spoil disposal site.”  the article goes on to say, “a U.S Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) survey dated September 2013, reported 5-foot mean low water depth along the centerline of the North and Little Mud River channels, with 3-foot depths in both the east quarter and west quarters”.  The article goes on in great detail about markers, flashing green lights etc. as a guide to get through the channel.  To give you a point of reference our boat draws 4’ 3”.  

I understand all of this, but I wonder why any Georgian would want to spend money on anything that had to do with the ICW.  The route doesn’t come close to any stores and only a few marinas.  I don’t see opportunity for the State to collect any revenue from boaters.

Back to Little Mud River.  We followed a sailboat that was motored by an excellent captain and Rob did an amazing job as well, so we both made it through the area.  Phew!

All said and done, I would not swap the boredom of the Georgia ICW for “going outside” which means  traveling in open seas.  Not that I needed anything driving this home, but after LMR we crossed a sound which is open to the outside and I was terrified the entire short period of time we were there...it was a piece of cake.

What do you think...

Imagine you have put your trash in your hatchback and left it open while you take it to the dump.  When you look in your review mirror you are followed by a large flock of terns or seagulls.  Are they after your trash or roadkill?

We were followed for miles and miles by a large flock of birds and I was concerned they were after the bag of trash that we had on the flybridge and  Rob thought they were diving for food that was churned up by our boat.  The birds have gone, the trash is still there.

The Birds

The Bird

Here is another image.  I was at the helm when I heard this loud rap tap tap, the story would not end well if in the middle of the ICW we had someone knocking at the door.  Well I jumped and knocked Rob in the face with my elbow. 

We figured out that a woman working for the Coast Guard didn’t know how to use the mic and was hitting it with her teeth or she was turning it on before removing it from the hook causing a really loud noise, the VHF is next to my right ear the one with hearing loss.

While I have been away from writing my blog we have enjoyed the company of 4 people that we met a couple of stops ago.  Very interesting bright young people with a quest for adventure and I think they are having it.

New Friends

We had them over for dinner on the boat and one of them brought all of us gifts.  The gifts came from DD and if you have a guess for what DD is please email me.  I think we were all interested in our gifts plus she brought something for the hosts.

Goodies

We are here on a dock in Fernandina Beach, FL for the next three days, a splurge to be in a slip after anchoring most of the time.

I hope you enjoyed today, the day before Christmas Eve.

Tricia