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Cumberland Island National Seashore Day 5~Home Again!! [ Home ] [ USA-International Travel ] [ Southeast Travel ] [ Favorite Sunsets ] [ Content ] CI Home Page Day 1-Road Trip Day 2-Long Day AM Day 2-Long Day PM Day 3-To the Settlement Day 4-Stafford Beach CI Photo Gallery Sunday, February 23, 2003
Sand, sea oats, blue skies and sunshine...our last morning at the shore Although still dark outside, we heard Ray's voice through our tent walls. He was going tent to tent to be sure the troops were awake. A quick glance at my watch indicated that it was just before 6:00 am. Ugh! Not only were we up before the sun but we faced a hike followed by a long drive home. Luckily we had only 3.5-miles to go to Sea Dock; it could have been worse if we had camped at Hickory Hills (5.5-miles) or even longer from Yankee Paradise (7.4-miles). We grabbed a quick breakfast and began the process of dismantling camp for the last time. Our trip was almost over. I always feel a bit of anxiety when I have a trip deadline to meet and today, with a 9:45 am ferry check-in time, was no exception. John and I were out of camp by 7:30ish. Unlike our other mornings on the island, this morning held the promise of blue skies and sunshine. We began hiking on Pratts Trail and soon cut over to
Parallel Trail, retracing our steps from the first day back to Sea Dock
and the Ranger Station.
Our hike was over before we were ready. The Ranger Station, bustling with people and gear, appeared in our sights. Carts filled with coolers and assorted camping equipment lined the path to Sea Dock. The sight was a shock to us after several days of solitude in the backcountry. John and I walked over to Sea Camp to see if the campsite was something that we might be interested n for another trip. The sites are well separated by palmetto bushes and offer a sense of privacy. Bath houses with showers are available throughout the camp area. We walked to the back of the camp and onto the boardwalk. Will joined us as we walked to the beach for one last gaze at the Atlantic Ocean sparkling under crystal clear skies. A blast from the ferry's fog horn alerted us to return to the dock to begin the loading process. Amazing how much stuff and how many people can fit on the ferry. Our packs John hiking the Parallel Trail were the only ones on the front deck on the trip over, but on the return trip, our packs were quickly lost under 50+ suitcases and duffle bags piled one on top of another. The bow was not the only place for stashed gear. At one point during the trip we attempted to circle around to the stern of the ferry and got stuck. Coolers and duffels were thick in the walkway and we couldn't get around without shoving or being otherwise very rude. I hate to think what could have happened if the ferry had problems mid-trip. I have visions of gear floating everywhere.
Carts with gear in line for the ferry at Sea Dock
The ferry ride to the mainland was windy and choppy but we didn't expect anything less. Once in St. Marys, gear loaded in the cars, Steve was adamant about having a shower at the nearby state park. John, Will and I were not so anxious to shower as we had already cleaned up and changed in the Park Service headquarters bathroom facilities. So, while Steve, Barbara and Ray showered, we stopped at El Porto for a tasty Mexican lunch! The clean threesome arrived just as we were finishing our meals. We sat while they ordered then decided to begin our drive home. Based on driving speeds, we figured Steve would beat John home even if they left 45 minutes later. The trip home was uneventful until we pulled in Will's driveway in Knoxville and I discovered that I had left my travel purse hanging on the back of a chair at Fazoli's in Hendersonville, NC. Yikes! I couldn't get in my car or house, it was 10:00 pm and I had to go to work the next day. John and I drove to my parent's looking for the new key that I had given my dad a few days ago. Daddy forgot the key was new and had just this morning cleaned out his drawer and destroyed the it. Luckily they still had my garage door opener. I called a locksmith and we headed to my house. One in the garage, John fiddled with the door hardware and opened the door. I canceled the locksmith and we returned to Will's house to retrieve my car. A call to Fazoli's on Monday morning revealed that they found my purse and put it in the safe (lucky me!!). Much thanks to the staff at Fazoli's in Hendersonville for Fed-xing my purse safely home. AND SO ANOTHER ADVENTURE OUT AND BACK COMES TO A CLOSE!
Day2 AM ~ Part One of a Really Long Day Day 2 PM ~ Part Two of that Same Really Long Day Day 3~To the Settlement and Back, My Poor Aching Feet! Cumberland Island Photo Gallery
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The sun shone
through the big oak trees casting a maze of lines and shadows across the
ground. A large brown horse watched us from under a tree, sunlight
radiating out from behind him. Maybe it was seeing the sun for the
first time in four days but this morning was especially beautiful!