January 1-5, 2026
12/31/2025
Wanted to recap our New Year's Eve. The day included a quick trip (5 mile round trip walking) to West Marine due to our fuel tank for the dingy randomly decided to split a seam and started leaking gas in the dingy. All fixed.
Our first New Year's Eve party was Happy Hour at Brunswick Landing Marina. It was from 5:00-7:00 pm. Count down was right before 7:00pm. This was so you could go to the party at the park.
Our second party was at the park with live music, food trucks, boiled peanuts (yes, we bought some especially for Sarah, our daughter-in-law), and the infamous dropping of Bob, the Shrimp! It was from 6:00-8:00 pm. This was so you could go to Jekyll Island for more partying and fireworks. (Which we did not go to since it was WAY to far to walk there)
Many of you who are around our age realize that we were given a gift! We had partied, welcomed the new year in twice and were home by 8:30 pm! LOL!!!!
January 1, 2026
8:00 am at high tide we left our slip at Brunswick Landing Marina to begin another adventure. Fueled up at the fuel dock and headed to Cumberland Island, GA. We have traveled this part of the ICW before last March so were very familiar with the route. We got through Jekyll Creek and the bridge close to high tide and then put the main sail up and motored sailed to Cumberland Island. Passed by the same submarine with guns pointed as us as we passed by as last time. Glad to be at anchor and tired from our first leg of the trip. Tomorrow wild horses, loggerhead turtles, alligators and birds!
January 2
Slept so well at anchor. Our boat barely swung. Woke up to dolphins swimming past our boat. (Didn't get video, sorry Bridget!) Made waffles for breakfast and slowly got ready to start our day. Packed a lunch and water bottles for a day of hiking on Cumberland Island. The Island is 9,906 acres of wilderness so we can only do a small section today.
We started at the Ranger Station and headed south looking for horses. Kim spotted evidence of horses as we went down the trail.
Within 15 minutes we see our first wild horse!
And we could see our boat from shore.
The Dungeness Ruins are the winter home of Thomas Carnegie (brother of Andrew Carnegie). It was believed that the fire that burnt the wooden parts of the house was started by an arsonist.
The Tabby House to the right was built in 1803.
Yes, Mary, history can be interesting!!!
More wild horses in the marsh and armadillos. Kim actually got close enough to touch one. He did some research and found out that armadillos can carry the bacteria that causes leprosy. YIKES! Yes, he did wash his hands! However, they can be 'cute and cuddly".
Walked the beach and found a misplaced buoy. Stopped for lunch and saw a wild white horse on the dunes. Heard horses whining as we had lunch.
Took the dingy to the island and tied up next to the ferry dock.
The Living Oak Trees are amazing! We passed by Duck Creek and just like a little boy, Kim sees a sign and heads towards danger! Thankfully, all alligators were on the lookout for him and hid!
What an amazing day! Started with dolphins and ended with wild horses on the beach all from our boat. In between we hiked 6.5 miles, talked to other boaters and campers. Such the life!
January 3 -
Slept great for a second night knowing the anchor held. (We did drag anchor before and the alarm woke us up) As long as the boat stays in the circle we are good!
With a storm coming in this afternoon, we moved over to St. Mary's Intercoastal Marina.
Went to lunch in town at Southern River Walk. Went into some shops but say that the rain was coming soon so we headed back to the boat just in time.
Rain continues. Found the umbrellas and headed out for dinner and music. Came across a park with a "history walk". Plaques that told the history of St. Mary's. We found that reading those signs may help you in Trivia. LOL!
January 4, Sunday-
Second Day in St. Mary's. The two other boats left first thing in the morning so it is just us.
Listen to Blues at lunch. I was trying to film from across the room and there was that purse that blocked my view.
Walked around the town and found some cool huge old homes/buildings. The sign on the blue house says that Aaron Burr stayed there after his dual with Alexander Hamilton. And who does not love giant unicorns!
January 5
What a day we have had!!!! Left around 9:00 am heading to Jacksonville, FL. As we left the marina, a Sheriff's boat raced out of the marina with lights blazing. The we see the Coast Guard zipping around. And now they are approaching us and stop us. I was too nervous to take a picture with that machine gun on the front of their boat. They asked where we were going. I told them Jacksonville down the ICW. He said ok because a submarine with escort will be going down the shipping channel in 30 minutes. Now this was a bucket list for Kim so we were so excited. We continued to an area where we could be out of the way and still see the sub. After 45 minutes, over the radio we heard there was a delay on the sub leaving so we had to continue on. So sad!
We only have 4 bridges, all 65', today to go under. as we approach the first bridge (above) it is one hour before high tide. Tides are 7' so we knew that we would be close to our max height. I can't see any bridge boards so we proceed. Our antenna "tinked" as we went under. Not good but nothing broke off. The board was on the other side and read 64'. We need 64' 9" to clear. Way too close for comfort!!!!
The bridge board on the left is what we want to see. 68' is perfect for us to go under!
Above, on the rock wall, you can see how high the tide is.
Near inlets, the current can be so strong. We only go about 5 knots of mph. The current was 3.5 knots against us. That means a sloth can travel faster than we can.
