Day 4
Monday, December 19, 2022
Today was all about another return trip to Cumberland Island National Seashore. This would be my fourth trip to the island. To get there, you'll need to book a round trip ferry ticket. The Park Service also requires a day use fee.
The ferry leaves promptly at 9A for the forty-five minute trip out to Cumberland Island. Once on the island, you're on your own until the 4:45P pick-up. Miss the afternoon ferry and you're out of luck. Especially this time of year. There's no ferry service on Tuesday or Wednesday during the winter.
As always, I made my first stop the Dungeness Ruins.
Dungeness Mansion was built here in 1881 as a winter retreat for the Carnegie family. It would eventually expand to 35,000 square feet until a fire burned it down to its stone walls.
Even better, some of the island's wild horses were milling around...
The rest of the day was simply walking around the island, beginning with the boardwalk trail over the salt marsh...
And then out the beach, after waiting for four horses to pass...
Finally, the beach.
I've seen a lot of things on this beach. On my first visit, I got buzzed by guy in a private plane. I got a clear shot of the plane, the tail number the pilot. I asked one of the staff about it and they suggested I send in the photos to the Park Service. This guy had done it before and he's not supposed to. I never heard back.
On my last visit, a bright yellow buoy had washed up on the beach. It's still there, just partially buried. There's a partial ID number on the side, but it's not all legible. I'd love to know where it came from.
Eventually, it was time to cut through the campgrounds and head back towards the ranger station and the ferry...
Inside the ranger station... One of the volunteers made this Christmas tree from shells she had collected on the island.
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