Cumberland Island National Seashore

Our vacation is slowly coming to an end. Somewhat of a warm night last night, but still quite serene in Silver Glen Springs. Will at least in that outside cove away from all the spring break boats. This morning we got up and left the Springs, traveled about 5 miles through Lake George, and then continued south on the St. Johns River. Winds were starting to pick up, but we were off the lake before it got too choppy. As we passed Hitchens Creek, Tom on C-Otter and his group were departing Volusia Marina. Over night with westerly winds, the Water hyacinth had blown into their channel so they had to plow through that to get back out on the main River. They fell in about a mile behind us, and we all continued to travel at about 5 kts. Bill and I stopped and weed anchored for lunch, while Tom and his group went on past. As we approached Ed Stone Park, we passed C-Otter and Tully-B on the restaurant docks near the park, and Bill on Mystery Girl continued on towards the Hontoon Dead River. This is where we parted ways. Bill will stay on the River another week, continuing to head upstream towards Deep Creek and Lake Harney. We pulled up to one of the docks in Ed Stone to offload some items to our pickup before continuing on to Hontoon State Park to spend the night. While at the dock we chatted some with another C-Brat who had just pulled his boat out. He had been traveling with C-Otter and group. On to Hontoon, where we visited with Tom & Joyce on C-Otter, and Lew and Doris on Catclaw, before they left to go join Bill in the Dead River. Here in Hontoon with us is Bob and Marie on That-a-way, Lee and Jan on Tully-B and Tad and Toby on Comfy Dory II. That-a-way and Tully-B were with C-Otter, but will be pulling out tomorrow. Comfy Dory II were traveling on their own after the C-Brat gathering that took place here last week, and they will also be pulling out tomorrow. Rosanne and I will cruise around here tomorrow on what is known as the Hontoon Loop, and stop at Blue Springs SP where many of the Manatees winter. We have yet to see any Manatees, so we are really hoping to see some tomorrow. Tomorrow night then we’ll likely anchor out near Ed Stone, and then pull out Saturday morning for our journey back home. Colby

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C-Otter and his group going by us as we weed anchored for lunch

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367MysteryGirl.jpg Mystery Girl and C-Traveler weed ... skies over the C-Dorys at Hontoon State Park
 
This evening I am writing this, sitting on our boat, on the trailer, in a parking lot behind an Ocala Cracker Barrel. I guess that means our vacation on the water is over. Slept in today, and were the last C-Dory to leave the Hontoon State Park docks. It was a peaceful night. However, during the late afternoon we did watch two numbskulls go zipping by in the No Wake zone, then watched another idiot this morning. This has been an ongoing problem here for as long as I've been coming to the Hontoon gatherings. Anyway, Tully B got out before we got up, and then That A Way and Comfy Dory Too left shortly afterwards. All three of them were pulling out this morning and starting on their ways home. After a leisurely breakfast, Rosanne and I left the docks to do the Hontoon Loop. That's what we call the circle trip up the St. John's River, through an old logging canal, then back down on the Hontoon Dead River. We stopped for an hour or so at Blue Springs, where the Manatee winter over. This is the first time down here, where we didn't see a number of Manatee. Rosanne said she saw one this morning come up next to the dock, but only saw his snout. We did see two in Blue Springs, both with trackers on them. (The trackers look like really large fishing bobbers, and are tied to the Manatee's tail.) We had beached C-Traveler at the appropriate spot, and while we were only one of two when we arrived, there were several others when we left, and a few waiting to come in. We turned into the Snake Creek Cutoff to weed anchor and have lunch. A little cooler today, barely making it to 72, with a bit of a breeze. After lunch we continued through the old logging canal, also sometimes called Birdhouse Canal, although we didn't see any of the birdhouses this time, and then back down the Hontoon Dead River, back to Hontoon State Park. Saw several alligators, the usual number of turtles, and many Egrets with a few Herons and Ibis. Back at Hontoon, I had to buy a TieDyed Park ball cap, and we got some icecream. Decided to go ahead an pull out this late afternoon rather than waiting until first thing in the morning. That'll give us a head start for our 1300 mile drive home, and cut down slightly on the daily mileage for our schedule. As usual, this time on the St. John's River was very relaxing and mostly peaceful. The ICW and Cumberland Island was a new experience for us, and worth the trip. Colby
P.S. Late note. Forgot to add, end of trip stats. 420NM cruised. 107.4 gallons of gasoline burned. 4.7 kts average speed. (In fact, the only time I went up on plane was for a couple miles between Hontoon and Ed Stone park on the way out.)

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Not the greatest photo, but you can make out the Manatees under the two trackers.

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Scenery along the Snake Creek Cutoff, a little oxbow on the St. John's river just west of Blue Springs.

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Looking west in the Birdhouse Canal. This canal is just barely 50 feet wide.

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Your's truely, piloting us on the Hontoon Dead River.
 
Enjoyed following your adventures and photos. Happy to know you've learned how to truly "cruise". Traveling with Mystery Girl is a fine way to learn that skill. Looking forward to seeing you both at Camp Clowl
Pat
 
Tyboo or DaNag,
I started this thread in general chat, but perhaps it should be moved to Grand Adventures, if you are inclined. Thanks. Colby
 
oh what a beauty:) We have great memories of this trip.

We had deserted beaches on Cumberland Island. This was a must-visit. We stayed in St Mary's GA the night before and after a trip to Cumberland, preferably in the old downtown area for ambiance, although there are motels along Interstate 95. There was also a State Park--Crooked River SP--that is relatively close. They had cabins but probably would not accept 2-day reservations that time of year--usually requires 7 days in season.

You could stay at Jekyll but would have to get up pretty early to get to St Mary's to catch the Cumberland ferry and it's nice to be close when you get back to take a quick shower and rest.

Be sure to bring a cooler with water, lunch, etc to Cumberland as you will be there from around 9-10 am to 430pm or so. Ferry runs twice daily going out and once coming in.

Get off at Dungeness Dock. Great walk up to old home site and then on to the beach--this ruin is from early 1900s owned by Lucy Carnegie as winter home--Carnegies owned most of island--related to the steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. Prior to than it got its name from home built by Nathaniel Greene, a Revolutionary War general, who was granted the land after independence gained from England.

Sea Camp is other option--you can rent bikes there but don't bother as the road along island gets very sandy and you end up pushing quite a bit. Dungeness is by far best place when walking. Stick to that end of island and you will get plenty of walking in and see most good stuff. The beach will be practically empty. We went once and I could barely seen any others on beach. Only 1 bathroom and thats back approximately 1/2 mile at Dungeness ruins area, so can be problematic to swim.

Make sure you bring sunscreen with high pdf, wear a good wide-brimmed hat, dress lightly. It will be very hot that time of year no matter where you go along coast. Also, get a strong insect repellent, maybe with DEET or sometimes Avon Skin So Soft lotion works {don't ask me why, but it does} without the DEET chemicals. At Dungeness first part of walk from dock to ruins is mostly shady, but walk out to beach can be pretty hot.

Savannah is going to be hot and muggy too.

I would also suggest trying to arrange Cumberland and/or Jekyll on weekdays to lessen crowds.
 
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