Friday, January 1, 2021

Christmas Roadtrip, Day 4...On to Jekyll Island

Sunday, December 20, 2020

     When you walk out to the beach for sunrise, there’s no telling what you’ll get.  Some days it’s too cloudy and it's a gradual shift from black to gray.  Some days it’s a bit of pastel colorings on the horizon.  Then there are days you get the full on light show.  This was one of those days.  No more commentary necessary.




















     Around 9A, I pulled out of the Comfort Suites and started working my way off the island and back to I-95 North.  Just over the state line, seriously it’s Exit 1, I turned off towards St. Marys.  First stop, the waterfront.  I’ve been here before, and spent a little extra time here last December.  It just felt good to be walking around a bit.






     But, that’s not why I came back.  Somehow the fact that there’s a park with the ruins of an old sugar cane mill had alluded me.  There’s even parking in front, and along the side with a very short trail.  

     

      Around the corner in the trail are the ruins of an old sugar mill, built here in 1825 by John McIntosh.  The mill was constructed with what they called Tabby.  Shells were burnt to ash.  Add the right amount or water, as well as more shells for strength and you've got a cheap, hearty building material.




     This is where I felt the first light splattering of rain.  It was just enough to acknowledge, but not enough to get me picking up my pace.  By the time I had worked my way back out of town and onto Hwy 17, it had all but stopped.  

       As noon rolled around, I started thinking about food.  I followed my rule of avoiding chain places, but all I was seeing were Subways and China Gardens.  Eventually, I just pulled into a Winn/Dixie and hit their deli counter.  

      My eventual goal was Jekyll Island.  But first, it was over the Sidney Lanier Bridge and into Brunswick.  In his youth, Lanier fought for the Confederacy on board a blockade runner.  He was captured and imprisoned.  His later career was that or a writer, teacher and poet, eventually being considered the poet of the Confederacy.  


      On the other side of the bridge sits the city of Brunswick.  In the heart of downtown is where you’ll find the Silver Bluff Brewery..  They just opened in July.  Over my second pint, I met one of the owners.  He was excited about a new IPA they were working on.  He told me he’s wanted to open a brewery for years.  I asked the question, so how’s business?  He told me they’re holding their own and he’s started selling kegs to area restaurants.  Business can only pick up once Covid is a memory.


      One of the nice bonuses of a side trip to Brunswick, I got to cross the bridge twice.


     Named after Sir Joseph Jekyll, a big supporter and backer of the new Georgia Colony, it’s now a state park.  To gain access, it requires a day use entrance pass($8).  The pass is good as long as you stay on the island.  If I chose to go back into Brunswick another day, I’d have to pay again.  Easy enough.



   My home for the next few nights was the Holiday Inn Resort.  I loved the fact that I had back door to a private patio.  The view was even pretty nice.  Best of all, it’s less than a minute to the beach!  Not a bad view from the patio either.


     With some light in the southern horizon, I watched the clock and eventually drove out to the north-western part of the island.  The fishing pier seemed the perfect spot to wait for either a sunset, or just nightfall.  I hadn’t driven a half mile when the rain began in earnest.  It didn’t last very long, but I turned around anyway.

     On the way out to the island this afternoon, I stopped in the visitor center for a map.  They told me about their weekly fireworks, Sundays at 7:30P.  So, around 7P, I grabbed a jacket and the camera, opened the back door and saw...



     Imagine my surprise when twenty minute later I started hearing muted pops.  The rain had all but tapered off, and the fireworks were on.  These are from behind the motel. 






     As I walked closer, I would eventually come around the front end of the last building for a clear view.  They’re a lot harder to shoot when you add the factor of oncoming traffic headlights.  Lesson learned.  Sometimes a partially obscured position is better.


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