Cumberland Island

We loved being at Jekyll Island, but were happy to get off a dock for a while.  The tourist traffic had started to increase.  We started feeling like a 'live' exhibit.  It is nice that people are interested in us as strange creatures that live on a boat and travel the east coast and associated waters.  We heard comments like 'you look so normal', and 'how do you live without having a house?'.  We did a few boat tours and folks were amazed at the fact that we had a stove, a sink, running water, a toilet, a shower and a bed. 

We moved down the ICW to Cumberland Island.  Cumberland is an island that can only be accessed by boat.  It was quiet and beautiful  The beach was wide and isolated.  They have one of the few maritime forests on the east coast of the USA.  Very relaxing...until the cold front went through.

We have gone thru Hurricane Isobel, TS Ernesto, Hurricane Jean and Hurricane Irene.  But this was the first time we were on anchor during a wind event that was just 10knts shy of hurricane strength.  We had two anchors out, the enclosure buttoned and plenty of food.  We took turns watching and checking the anchor mark.  We installed jacklines and used our vests and tethers whenever we went forward to check the rode line for chafing.  After two days the winds relaxed to just small craft warning speed (20 to 35knts). 

A sleepy Matt during night watch

It was great to watch the ponies return to the beach after the winds died down.  The ambled down the nibbling at the low tide line.  The birds did diving and fish gathering and the dolphins were playing around the boat.