November 25, 2010 10:37 AM
Posted By Robin & Jim
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We had a nice 16 hour run offshore along the coast of Georgia, and we anchored next to Cumberland Island National Seashore and our friends Dan and Carol aboard LUCKY STARS. Running outside saved so much time we have three days to enjoy and play on the island! Cumberland is a barrier island with 20 miles of pristine beach, dunes, a maritime forest, and salt marshes. The scenery and wildlife are my favorite parts of the island, particularly the very dramatic wind-swept look of the live oak forest. ![]() There is a herd of wild horses on the island, numbering around 200. They're easiest to find in open pasture areas, but we've seen them on the beach, marsh, and wandering through the woods. Armadillos are also plentiful on the island, quiet and somewhat shy. Wild turkeys congregate and forage for food - the sunlight really shows off the beautiful coloring of their feathers. I surprised this one who ran to join his buddies. ![]() We really enjoyed catching up with Dan and Carol, hiking and biking all around the island. It was great to have a picnic on the beach like we used to do in the Exumas, though we were dressed in a few more layers this time! Hiking near the dunes, we startled this little ghost crab and he ran behind Carol's shoe for protection! I had a ball with so many interesting things to photograph. One morning I got up early, dinghied ashore, hiked in the dark, and waited on the beach for the sunrise. It was beautiful to be on the beach and to capture a little of the magical early morning light. After warming back up with a good breakfast, we resumed our hiking and biking adventures. |