June 12, 2009: Thunderbolt, Ga

Setting off this morning, we had a good view of the Sidney Lanier suspension Bridge as we turned north under the Lanier Island Bridge.

Today we are closely following the charts to find our way on the ICW through the undeveloped low country of Georgia. We are passing miles of green salt grass reaching far back to dark woods in the distance. Wolf Island Wildlife Preserve was on our right, but we could not see anything different. We also passed the Black Beard Island National Wildlife Refuge.

When the ICW turned into Sapelo Sound the water widened and we could see a couple of dolphins playing nearby. Later we encountered a large family of dolphins, maybe 12- 15 all frolicing and swimming in synchronization. It was such fun to see them. When you see a dolphin show in an aquarium, they always say they reinforce behaviors found in the wild. So this show was just the dolphins playing in the wild.

We took advantage of Walburg Creek by Saint Catherine’s Island to stop for lunch. We dropped anchor in strong current and took a little swim off the back of the boat. Our yellow safety ropes came in handy to make sure we could make it back to the boat, but it was very refreshing. Saint Catherine’s Island at this point was densely wooded behind a narrow band of marsh grass. It was a surprising mixture of mature tree growth of palm, bushy pine trees, large oaks and blooming magnolias all randomly sharing the primitive shoreline.

This area has been known for its shrimp production and we enjoyed seeing the big shrimp boats with their wings up and nets out. We passed by the mouth of Moon River, made famous by singer Andy Williams and the song by the same name. Do you remember it: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flm4xcOyiCo)

Moon river, wider than a mile
I’m crossing you in style, some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you’re goin’, I’m goin’ your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There’s such a lot of world to see
We’re after the same rainbow’s end, waitin’ ‘round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me.

In the winding back waters and wetlands, we cruised by some small islands where people had built get away houses, with only access from the water and miles of natural area as their front yard.

And now we have hit a stretch where almost every channel marker is crowned with a huge nest sturdily constructed of twigs and branches. Each is guarded by an Osprey couple tending their baby birds.

Now we have made it to Thunderbolt, Ga, where we are anchored for the night.