12/11/15   Friday   SHANNON'S  Birthday, Hurrah!!!

Sorry to miss an in-person wish and celebration

What a beautiful day in St. Mary's. The Lang's Marine East might be a bit shabby but the day and the people certainly are not!  We had coffee on the aft deck under our Bimini, quiet with only my favorite messy black birds doing their seashore call. I think they are Grackles but I only know they are messy and I love their ratchety, screechy voices. They and the ferry - 3 of them - to Cumberland were the only early sounds.

As the day progressed I did laundry. David did engine work and order new parts for upgrade. I did laundry which was one washer and one dryer in a novelty store about a block away. Laundry took forever. David took another shower...a luxury - 2 in less than 24 hours. Chatted with Pete on "Esprit" and Tom, Lynda Jean (and Ted the dog) on "Lynda Jean". Kitty slept.

Amelia beating the heat

Post laundry we started our planned walk about town, with dripping ice cream cones. A car stopped us in a crosswalk and a man leaned out to say "Are you taking the old man on a walk?" David and I assumed it was Ralph, our boat broker friend from last night. Nope. This was Paul who after asking a few questions wondered if we wanted a driving tour of Crooked River. "Sure." So off we went for nearly 2 hours (rather than the 15 min he initially offered). It was fun. It was interesting. It was a little weird.We saw houses, large and small, viewed his garage from the car (it was arranged with some many and varied souvenirs), went to the State park nature center and saw a baby alligator and several snakes (great chat with the 3 teenage young men who worked there). Paul talked non-stop and told wonderfully funny stories and jokes. Never shared air time, though, so entertain as he/it was the tour became tiring. No exchange, only monologue. Finally, we impressed upon him that we needed to get back to our boat and he complied...after one more detour. David and I, reviewing the event...the kidnapping...both admitted that there were moments when we thought "He is taking us out into the swamp to murder us and take our credit cards." But he didn't. An odd and interesting man, musician/ music educator/singer with a wonderful bass voice. He played a professional recording of his singing and one of a student of his. Beautiful. He lacked the social grace of sharing - conversation - different from "the entertainer" monologue. Hmmmm.

Charmer. Think this is a Milk Snake

We left for Cumberland Island, a bit of a backtrack but it has been so recommended as a "not to be missed beauty", arriving around 1530. Lounged around and waited for John and Darlene to return from their Island adventures, share a drink at our boat and hear what we shouldn't miss tomorrow. Secure anchorage, dinner and I'm off to bed after my four hour nap in the saloon.