Saint Simons Island, Georgia with friends Sarah and Terry, and Sunbury, Georgia

On Friday, the winds had finally calmed down, although still not perfect seas. We left at 8:30 and made it by 2:00 to Morningstar Golden Isles Marina  on small Lanier Island  next to Saint Simons Island where we have friends from Iowa who winter there. While passing Cumberland Island we caught a glimpse of the feral horses that roam the island. There was one rough patch at the Jekyll Island Inlet between Cumberland Island and Jekyll Island. We had 2 to 3 foot waves but the boat and crew held up fine. Our longtime (since college and in each other's weddings) friends, Sarah and Terry, picked us up and housed us at their beach condo. Terry put the pin in our map for St. Simons Island and we went to lunch at Gnats Landing. They gave us a tour of the island, including the Hamilton Plantation slave cabins, Christ Episcopal Church from 1736, St. Simons Light House and Pier. On the pier we saw someone catch a blue crab! Later we went to their beach front condo to have  charcuterie with fresh local shrimp and watch the Artermis II crew arrive safely in San Diego. On Saturday morning we had coffee and viewed the stunning  sunrise over the beach from their newly purchased condo , just down the hall from the old one. We enjoyed a beach walk before heading out for more exploration. We stopped at the Tabby House gift shop, a converted slave cabin used as a gift shop. They are called tabby houses because of the material they are made from, which includes  sand,  lime and crushed oyster shells. We visited the sight of the Battle of Bloody Marsh where the British (actually the Scottish Highlanders)  defeated the Spanish in 1742 in a surprise attack. Terry happens to play the bagpipes so he treated us to a mini concert at the edge of the battlefield! We also went to the World War II Homefront Museum which covers how the war affected southern Georgia and the shipbuilding that started there. I had not realized how many supply ships were destroyed by German submarines along the east coast. More died from these attacks than the Pearl Harbor Attack.  The museum is housed in the old  coast guard station (1936). There are many exhibits, including  radar, fighter planes, and blimps.   Later, we had lunch at King City Kitchen and perused the art fair going on near the pier. We   had to head back to the marina so we had dinner there at Coastal Kitchen.  It was so nice to finally visit them at St. Simons Island, as they have been going there for 35 years. They are superb hosts and tour guides as well as being the kind of friends you can "pick up where you left off with"  and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit!

On Sunday, our granddaughter, Claire, was baptized back home, so we were grateful to at least worship with them online. After this, we had a 7 hour cruise to Sunbury, Georgia. On the way there we saw feral horses and cows on Creighton Island. Sunbury is a looper favorite because the dock is run by a family-owned restaurant called The Sunbury Crab Company and is a good place to stop before Savannah. There was one other looper boat there so they invited us to eat with them. We had a great meal with  Ted and Beth (boat Wastin Away). They are nearly  done with their loop since they started in Virginia last year.  The fresh seafood was amazing, served by Ashley.  Elaine, the owner, showed us around, including her home and pool right next door. We have one more stop in Georgia, Savannah, and will cover that in the next blog!