3/21/22
Departure day from Amelia Island started out sunny and clear. However, a weather system was forecast to move in by mid afternoon so we chose to take the faster outside (ocean) route to St Simons Island, about 40 miles away. The sea was glassy calm and we kept the speed to 8 knots (1 Kumiega) and made the trip in about 5 hours, handily beating the storm front.
Traveling about 3-4 miles offshore, in a straight(ish) line up the coast was very different from the inside ICW route that we took on the way south. Without, speed zones, slow passes and Manatee zones we were able to maintain a steady pace. After turning north, we set the autopilot and sat back to watch the waves, weather and wildlife. Lots of dolphins surfaced around us and dove under our bow wave, while pelicans dive bombed for their dinner. (pelicans have really fat bodies that make spectacular splashes when they crash into the water).
From northern Florida through Georgia and into South Carolina, there are several places to duck into shore and reconnect with the ICW, if the weather turns ugly. They appear on the charts as ”Sounds” as opposed to ”Inlets”. Sounds tend to be wider and less subject to standing waves (caused by conflicting currents and/or wind) at their entrance. We had a perfect passage and arrived at Morningstar Marina, in St Simons, well before the wind and rain.
We had stayed at this marina on the way down and were greeted by Dockmaster, Walter, as long lost friends. In the month since our last visit, the marina restaurant had reopened and dockside improvements had been completed. One really nice part about Morningstar Marina is a long T head dock where transients can pump out or take on water & fuel at any tie up spot. This makes for one tie up docking, instead of having to tie up at a fuel dock before going to the overnight slip and tying up again. (a small convenience but very welcome when docking in a 4 knot current)
We borrowed the marina courtesy car and scouted out Pier Village, (near the St Simon lighthouse) and also the ocean beaches. On Saturday, we borrowed the marina’s beach-cruiser bicycles and cycled back for an exceptional breakfast at a local diner (Palmers Cafe) a walk about the village and look into the shops. This resulted in the purchase of a pice of art that was too big to strap to the handlebar so we pedaled back to the marina, borrowed the car again, picked up the art and returned to the boat, where we enjoyed a spectacular lightening display from the comfort of our cabin.
St Simons runs a close second to Amelia Island on our list of places for a longer vacation. This island hosted a G8 summit and this photo shows the world leaders walking together. Notice how the europeans are in deep conversation, W is yucking it up with Japan and Putin is alone, looking like he needs a bathroom.
G8 leaders on St Simons Island, June 2004
While we only visited a small part of St Simons, we could see returning to kick back, enjoy the beaches and continue exploring.
Next stop…Savannah…