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Day 136 (Happy anniversary Neil and Heather)

4/20/2010

9 Comments

 
Daily stats
Start: 7:45 AM- On ICW 4 miles east of St Marys
Finish: x PM - Brickhill Bluff camp site on Cumberland Island
Time: x
Daily dist: 14 miles
Total dist: x miles
Companions: None
Weather: Absolutely beautiful, east wind 10 mph 75 deg. Partly cloudy
Notes: I spent the day exploring Cumberland Island National Park on foot and by kayak
Cumberland Island is a National Park and in my opinion a National Treasure. In modern times this island was the vacation play spot for the Carnegie family who built several mansions on the island many of which still stand today. Saved from the grip of land developers in the early 70’s this park has some of the most beautiful undeveloped coast line I’ve seen on the Atlantic. Inside the island dirt roads and trails tunnel through huge live oak trees dripping with Spanish moss. The roads and trails connect the old mansion grounds and new camp grounds sprinkled across the island.

Picture
Sunrise over Cumberland island on a rare calm morning and smooth water
Timing the tides carefully I got on the glassy smooth water at about 8:00 this morning and rode the tide in to the Dungeness dock. One of the things Cumberland Island is known for is it’s population of wild horses. I hoped that I’d get a chance to see one of these famous creatures and as I paddled up the length of the island form the south I scanned the shore line. Just as I neared the Dungeness dock I caught my first glimpse of a brown horse walking a trail that paralleled the water. After landing I saw a half dozen more horse grazing in the meadow behind the dock.

Picture
Some of Cumberland's wild horses
Picture
Dungeness ruins
From the dock I hiked over to the Dungeness Mansion Ruins where more horses grazed in the lawn surrounding the ruins of the huge house. Further on I arrived at the beach which I followed to the north to the “Sea Camp” campgrounds which is a very pretty spot pressed up behind the beach dunes under huge live oaks. From there I walked back across the island down the coast and back to my boat.

Picture
A veiw from Dungeness Mansion
Next it was on with the still flooding tide to Plum Orchard Mansion about seven miles further up the island by kayak. There I cooked lunch on a picnic table in the shadow of a huge Georgian Revival mansion. While I walked around the mansion I noticed a couple electrical outlets set up for sump pumps in the building’s basement. Not being one to pass up a chance to charge my batteries I dug out my computer and phone and plugged in. It is behind the mansion with a view of a weed covered pond full of alligators that I’m writing this post waiting for my batteries to charge and the tide to switch so I can ride the flow to the north and my planned campsite at Brickhill Bluff.

Picture
Cooking lunch by the Plum Orchard Mansion
Picture
9 Comments
Alicia
4/20/2010 07:23:45 am

Hi Jake:

WOW I can just visualize your walk about on the island with the horses and mansions.. thank you I must put this location on my bucket list.

All the best
Alicia

Reply
Branden link
4/20/2010 10:41:49 am

Jake,
You should have a site to dump the photos you don't put up here! (I can only assume you take more ) It would be great to see more of the sites that you are talking about!
Keep up the great work!

Reply
Neil B
4/21/2010 12:06:35 am

Thanks for the well-wishes. Can you believe it's been 8 years?! Cumberland Island looks awesome. Looks like you're on open ocean now. Have fun!

Reply
Lyn Stachovak
4/21/2010 12:21:29 am

Good morning Jake... Open ocean? That's awesome! Your pictures of Cumberland Island were fantastic, thanks for sharing that adventure with us.

Like Neil said, have fun, but travel safe.
Dad and I love you.

Mom

Reply
Jeff Fabiszewski link
4/21/2010 04:34:08 am

It was good seeing you at ECCKF. I wish I could have seen you ride the back of Sean's kayak like a paddle-board.

Reply
Tyler Curtis
4/21/2010 05:38:40 am

Great area, Jake. I paddled from Tybee down the coast to there in the spring of '06 and it was gorgeous. Keep on keepin' on, brotha.

Reply
Kevin Thompson link
4/21/2010 11:15:35 am

I used to watch kayakers from the back of a horse, and you are watching horses from a kayak.

Remember that you have lots of friends down here in St. Pete

Reply
Victor Sorensen
4/21/2010 10:38:23 pm

Nice pics & entry for Cumberland Isl! Great seeing you at the ECCKF, look forward to seeing you in the Mid Atlantic!!
Paddle SAFE & enjoy the journey!
Vic

Reply
Heather Bee
4/22/2010 01:52:52 am

you rock. ;)

Reply



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