Jekyll Island time

One day on Jekyll Island was mostly spent on bicycles as we toured the island picking up some geogaches. One cache led us back to the north beach and we had a new exuberance after we had already ridden about nine miles.

It was especially fun riding through the driftwoods on Driftwood Beach. The beach here had eroded at some point causing all the trees along the shore to die.

Across the water is St. Simons Island. We intended to return there on Sunday and ride the bike trails but after a night of rain the temperatures were a bit cooler. Some day I will learn which way to turn the phone for a video.

I had a blowout on my shoes and on this trip I was so good to not bring so many pairs of shoes. And my tennies were soaking wet from wading across the stream running across the beach.

Lots of folks travel in the golf carts. Had we stayed one more day I feel sure we would have rented one for a couple of hours.

William Horton, undersheriff of Herfordshire, England, came to Georgia in 1736 and built this tabby house for his plantation residence. It was his second house as the Spanish burned the original wooden house in 1742 after their defeat at the Battle of Bloody Marsh on St. Stimons Island. He was the first European to occupy this land and had the first sustainable farm. His closest neighbors were at Frederica on St. Simons Island. At Ft. Frederica he became a major in the British Army and succeeded Oglethorpe as commander of the regiment of British troops stationed there in 1743. He lived and worked on the island until his death in 1748.

After the Revolutionary War Poulain du Bignon, owner of Jekyll Island, repaired the house and made it his home.

We ran into a group of Road Scholars on bicycles touring the house. I learned that what used to be Elderhostel has changed the name as if is now for all ages. I was being a pretty good tour guide myself.

The western side of the island faces Brunswick. This line of clouds was interesting as we toured the du Bignon burying grounds. The du Bignon family owned the island until 1886 when they sold it to the group of millionaires for the Jekyll Island Club. Five generations of du Bignons lived on the island and raised sea island cotton.

On down the beautiful bike path we traveled along the western shore under the large live oaks, Spanish moss, tall pines, and palmettos.

We felt we earned pastries on the veranda at the Jekyll Island Club.

When we get old we think we will probably have to travel by carriage but we aren't there yet.

We returned up the western side of the island along the Atlantic coast.

One geocache took us near this small pond. Were we surprised to spot this guy swimming to his favorite resting spot!

Back on the north side of the island we found ourselves on Driftwood Beach. Had we not made lots of detours this would have been an 8.50 mile bike ride and in just 5 1/2 hours!

I did stop a few times to look at shells. I decided to collect pictures and leave the shells for someone else.

The little streams that drain the marshes play quite an important role both for the wildlife and the land itself.

What? We have come all this way and we must ride through water now? There was no way around as the marshes were draining back to the sea in the rhythm of the ocean that is the way of life on the island. I don't know why I did not think to take my shoes off first!

Folks around here have been getting excited for days about the Georgia/Florida game. I did not realize other states were as crazy as the Razorback fans.

We drove back to the Clam Creek picnic area to watch the sun set.

Some boats were still fishing and others were moving on.

Whoa! What is the giant vessal that came so very near to us winding its way into the Brunswick harbor? We later learned it is the Nippon highway that brings automobiles from Japan. It can carry as many as 5,050 cars.

The sun finally did set on our two day planned trip to Jekyll Island that lasted six days. We also had planned to stop at St. Mary's and Crooked River Campground for a couple of days and go out to Cumberland Island but that will have to be another trip. We are going to Disney World!