March 28th, Wednesday – Cumberland Island National Seashore

This morning came way too early, like 6:30 am.  Yet, the early rise was necessary since today we were going on a tour of Cumberland Island National Seashore and needed to be at the visitor’s center no later than 8 am for check in.  Not only were we going to

the seashore but we were fulfilling a long time wish of Barbara’s – we were going on a cruise.  Ok, so the only way to the island was by a 45 minute ferry ride , but come on the trip was on a boat, across a body of water, so technically it was a cruise!  I like to make my sweetheart’s wishes come true whenever I can.  Here is a picture of our cruise ship to and from the island today.

Some pictures of our cruise over to the island.  It was smooth sailing all the way.

This is a picture of Barbara on board with some new friends, Rebecca and Mark, we met on the way over.

This is the entrance to the visitors center on the island where everyone comes ashore.

Going over with us today was a Boy Scout troop that was going to camp on the island for the next week.  We wish them well, as for me, well, I just can’t give up my memory foam mattress, a hot shower in the morning, and screens between me and the bugs!

This is the visitor’s center on the island at the point were you disembark.  Here you can rent bikes for those so inclined, you check in if you are camping, and, if you are like us, you find your tour guide and driver for the day.

Now for a bit of facts about the island itself.  Cumberland Island is 18 miles long and three miles wide. Only 300 visitors a day are permitted to visit the island.  In 1972, the Carnegie family who once owned over 90% of the island, and had 7 different mansions on the island (more about this later) worked with the Federal government to assume control of the island and establish the Cumberland Island National Seashore. Today 90% of the island is now owned by the Federal government and the remaining 5% is privately owned.

As I said the island is 18 miles long and there was no way that Barbara and I were either going to walk or bike the whole distance to and fro.  Therefore, we chose the next best option which was a planned tour of the island by a company called Legacy Tours.

 Here is a picture of Barbara on board and ready to go.  What’s the hold up?  Yup, nature called and they were waiting for me to come out of the bathroom.  Hey, I’m getting older.

Once yours truly and everyone else was on board it was time to hit the road.  This is

a picture through the windshield of the only road on the island that runs north and south which is called the Grand Highway.  Trust me when I say there is nothing grand about this highway.  It is all dirt, at times like a washboard, other times so narrow our guide, Kathy, had to pull the mirrors in.  It ended up being a very long rough ride, over 6 hours total by the time we got to the north end of the island and turned and came back home.

Along the way we frequently met any number of horses like this one in front of us on the

road.  Yes, they have the right of way and you don’t want to mess with them.  They are wild horses in every sense of the word and ill-tempered to put it mildly.  One person in the past  who didn’t heed the advice to leave them alone ended up in the hospital.  They also have been known to kick in the doors and sides of the tour vans.  Current count puts their number at 141 horses.

We’re going to stop here for the night and call this part one.  Tomorrow will be part two and I’ll give you the scoop on the Carnegie’s and how they influenced so much of the island’s history.   So stay tuned for there is so much more to share with you.

By the time all was said and done it was past 6 pm by the time we returned home.  It was a long, exhausting day but an absolutely wonderful day in every sense of the word.  The temperature was mild and there was a light breeze blowing which kept the bugs away.  We met and made some new friends along the way.  Finally, our tour guide Kathy was absolutely fantastic and very knowledgeable concerning the history of the island from way back when to today.  She made the whole day extremely interesting.

We’re home now nursing our aching knees and sore feet – yes, there was quite a bit of walking involved nonetheless.  Night is now all around us and we are ready for some shut-eye.  We hope you had as great a day as we did.  If not, then there is always tomorrow.  Make sure you do something to make you and your world a better place for all.

As always,  if you are coming to the end of your day with concerns and worries let me suggest that you turn them over to God.  After all, He is going to be up all night so why not let him handle them for you.

Time now for our evening prayers and some shut-eye.  Till tomorrow.  Thanks again for sharing our day with us.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before