12/12/15   Sa-tur-day in the park.....

I wore my bathing suit today, even got my ankles wet in the Atlantic Ocean. Too chilly for more than the ankles for this thinning blood.

It all started around 9:30 when we took the dinghy into the Cumberland Island National Park dock, met our friends, John and Darlene, and started walking. We met the park tour group that had come over from St. Mary's on the ferry. We joined in for the tour of the Thomas Carnegie estate remains. The park ranger/guide, Nick Roll, was wonderful - knowledgeable, curious to learn more, passionate about his work and really handsome with light blue eyes. I should have taken a photo of him. Sigh.  

The left and right sections are made of Tabby, made by heating oyster shells then mixing the resulting
lime with other oyster shells and sand.

Tabby w/vine

Again, giant trees. Spanish moss. Palmetto "bushes" (?). A wide, shallow beach that went on for miles with only a handful of people. White sand dunes. Horses! Horses along the pathways. We stood aside for a stallion and a mare to pass and saw others grazing. Wild turkeys, which seem to be unusual here.  A long snake which we think was a garter of some sort.

horse

These limbs are nearly on the ground

Not sure why they grow so horizontal and low but very dramatic... 

...coming from New England where trees grow UP more than OUT 

A bit washed out but perspective

We packed sun screen, bug spray (which we didn't need, we were told that mosquitoes need fresh water to reproduce and this is all salt water), sandwiches, water and off we went.

Our pathway and picnic view

Picnic view in the other direction

After the tour we were on our own to explore the beach and find our way back to the "Sea Camp" station and dock. Not too hard. Met a couple who travel across the US volunteering at National Parks...next job, maybe.  

Tree bones

After all that sun, checking on Amelia was a great excuse to return to the boat for a nap and a good read. I've started the book by Cornelia (of Sapelo Island) and am loving the language of the black, rural South.  

David put his hand on the throttle for the photo. Minutes before, "look, Ma, no hands!"

And tonight high clouds obscure some of the stars and there is light pollution from nearby cities and the naval base. Tonight and tomorrow night are supposed to be 25 shooting stars/hr. The warm but stiff breeze kept me from staying outside for long enough to see a star shoot. Shoot! I also didn't find a shark tooth on the beach today. Meanwhile, sitting on the boat in the near darkness, seeing Orion, Pleiades, Cassiopeia and feeling other wonders of the universe...including my presence here/now, I am sooo aware of my many blessings. Similarly, sitting after dinner across the table from David, listening to Prairie Home Companion...remarkably blessed. We had a little dance together in the Pilot house to one of the Keb Mo songs. I've done nothing to deserve these gifts. GRACE on Grace.

Ocean treasures from Cumberland Island 

Color