SUNday lived up to its name. The sun was shining brilliantly up there in the cotton ball cloudy sky. We woke up to some fishy leftovers. More accurately, I slept in until about 8:15/8:30 thereabouts to an empty room. Said hi to the woofers and Tom and Midge and was told that dad was out on a bike ride "before it got too hot." I therein decided to walk down the moderately long driveway to meet him, since it was already beginning to warm up and I guessed he'd be returning soon. We met at the point where T&M have a rope in place to keep the pesticide-spraying trucks from venturing onto their property and dad handed over the bike. He walked back to the house and I took a short ride down to the end of Louise Crane Rd, past the road block, down a dirt road that was "smooth as a bowling alley", as dad put it. I only went a short ways before my stomach began to wake up, but we made plans later in the day to take a sunset bike ride down that road together.
When I returned to the house, Tom made us the rare offer to show us their salt farm. We walked down the driveway, accompanied by a gray/calico cat who walked with us like a dog, to a small clearing where some makeshift green houses were heating up in the sun.
When I returned to the house, Tom made us the rare offer to show us their salt farm. We walked down the driveway, accompanied by a gray/calico cat who walked with us like a dog, to a small clearing where some makeshift green houses were heating up in the sun.
Both were empty but Tom explained to us that they fill up the lined wooden troughs with ocean water and keep it there until the water evaporates into the air. Once left with salt crystals they bring it back to the house where they painstakingly sort through it (aided by woofers) to extract all of the bugs and dirt. Dad suggested they try using an aspirator. Tom said they were working to improve this slow process.
After the long-awaited breakfast of fishy leftovers (from dinner at the Square Grouper), we gathered our things and set out 6 miles down the road to the Sugarloaf Marina. Our earliness was balanced out by the tardiness of the one other member of our group, a lady who lives in St. Simon's Island. She was so late, in fact, that we were almost outside of the marina when we heard a loud car horn and saw a woman running towards us waving.
After the long-awaited breakfast of fishy leftovers (from dinner at the Square Grouper), we gathered our things and set out 6 miles down the road to the Sugarloaf Marina. Our earliness was balanced out by the tardiness of the one other member of our group, a lady who lives in St. Simon's Island. She was so late, in fact, that we were almost outside of the marina when we heard a loud car horn and saw a woman running towards us waving.
Andrea, our tour guide and captain, seemed to be expecting this and was able to hear the car horn over the boat engine. After picking up the missing member of our group, Janice, we wove through some mangrove trees and then jumped to full speed out in the open bay.
Andrea had the kayaks latched to the motor boat and had our lunches in her cooler. I sat up front and felt the refreshing wind on my face. After 20-25 minutes we slowed down and anchored somewhere in the mangrove maze.
Andrea had the kayaks latched to the motor boat and had our lunches in her cooler. I sat up front and felt the refreshing wind on my face. After 20-25 minutes we slowed down and anchored somewhere in the mangrove maze.
We saw many other motor boats and kayakers on our way to this secluded spot, but Andrea obviously had claimed this spot as her own. We unloaded in the shallow water and reloaded our kayaks with our lunches on a tiny beach. Dad and I shared one kayak and Janice and Andrea shared the other. It was easy going through the mangrove channels and Andrea occasionally pointed out sting ray, nurse sharks, turtles, schools of fish and coral.
After maybe an hour of kayaking we came upon a very happening beach where 15-20 boats were anchored and blasting music. It was like a floating club. Most people hung out on their boats - some sat in chairs in the shallow water. We pulled our kayaks onto the sizable beach and pulled up a shady spot for lunch. Andrea took a nap on her kayak and Janice, dad and I sat under the one small tree on the entire island on our kayak cushions and ate our wraps. Upon my mention of the Peace Corps, Andrea told us she joined the Coast Guard Reserve right after college and loved it.
We waded in the shallow water that was bath temperature (which I still did not submerge myself in) for a while and then turned around and kayaked back the way we came. When we returned to the mainland, dad and I realized how the sun can creep up on you and sap your energy. Dad took his nap and we relaxed mostly for the rest of the day. Sunset bike ride to come, dinner and packing for our trip home!
Fiona reaching for sunscreen.
Fiona pointing out a sting ray floating on by.
After maybe an hour of kayaking we came upon a very happening beach where 15-20 boats were anchored and blasting music. It was like a floating club. Most people hung out on their boats - some sat in chairs in the shallow water. We pulled our kayaks onto the sizable beach and pulled up a shady spot for lunch. Andrea took a nap on her kayak and Janice, dad and I sat under the one small tree on the entire island on our kayak cushions and ate our wraps. Upon my mention of the Peace Corps, Andrea told us she joined the Coast Guard Reserve right after college and loved it.
We waded in the shallow water that was bath temperature (which I still did not submerge myself in) for a while and then turned around and kayaked back the way we came. When we returned to the mainland, dad and I realized how the sun can creep up on you and sap your energy. Dad took his nap and we relaxed mostly for the rest of the day. Sunset bike ride to come, dinner and packing for our trip home!
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