Cumberland Island

Well… it’s been a while. I can’t believe that my day on Cumberland Island was over three weeks ago. At the same time, I can. As I’m writing this I’m in Texas. I’ve covered a lot of ground since then. And have seen so many people. I only hope I can recall my time with each of them properly on my blog.

I’ll start with time by myself though. My day alone on the southernmost coastal island in Georgia; Cumberland Island National Seashore.

After dropping Emma off at the airport in Savannah much earlier than I would like to admit, I drove to the mainland NPS office in St. Mary’s, took a quick nap in Monster, then boarded the first ferry to the island. It was a beautiful, sunny day. Perfect for exploring and soaking up the beauty of the island. I took a five mile hike/walk around the southern tip of the island, but took my sweet time doing it.

My ride to the island... I even saw dolphins!

I could write from memory or I could let the words I wrote in my journal while I stopped for a picnic speak for themselves:

This is my kind of beach. There are people around– but they’re so far away. All I can hear is the roll of the waves. I’m once again mesmerized by a beautiful place. This island is wonderful. Such a beautiful intertwining of human history and the recession of it/return to nature in its wildness. Obviously NPS is still a human presence, and there are visitors, but the buildings are deserted or have become ruins and the once domestic horses are now wild. It’s cool– to see how nature reclaims a space after humans left.

Me & the Dungeness Mansion Ruins

That night, Monster and I camped in a Georgia state park nearby. This time, I was even able to buy firewood and have a fire. The day alone was well needed before I headed down to see family in Florida. Between Atlanta, Savannah and Cumberland Island, Georgia took good care of me.