There is Hope of SPRING!

Just returned from 10 days in Georgia paddling and I know spring is on its way. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and this for me is one of those pictures. For more just read on.








Do to calm conditions, did a little sight seeing. Tybee Lighthouse was interesting. It is in the process of being restored.








It's easy to see there conditions were fairly flat at Tybee on my first day. Next day there were 2 to 3 footers in the Triangle and I had a good time. Forgot to take the camera that day, so just imagine fun in small surf conditions.







Launch day at Crooked River State Park, on our way to Cumberland Island. The island is a National Park. It is one of many barrier Islands protecting the East Coast.







Picture of Harris (he is from Lithuania) on our way down the Crooked River. Tide was on ebb and moving about 2.5 knots







This was our first stop (Plum Orchard) on Cumberland Island. There is a Mansion here formerly the Island was owned by the Carnegie's.







This mansion was built for there son and is quite beautiful both inside and on the grounds.







Early morning shot going through Christmas Creek on the flood tide. Its about 6:30 am left Brickhill Bluff at about 5:00 am. Paddling in salt water in the dark leaves a bio-luminescent trail in the water which has to be seen to be believed.







Landing just beyond the mouth of Christmas Creek after playing in 2 to 4 footers in the shoal off the creek. Wind was from the east and building. Later in the day waves/swells were running 3 to 5 feet making the day much better for playing.







On the third day the waves were 3 to 5 foot with winds from the East 10 to 15 knots and the seas was building to 4 to 6 feet. I had to learn how to get through dumping waves and learn the concept of timing to get out without getting trashed in the process.









This was our home for the 2nd and 3rd night out. The oaks are bent over forming an arch to camp under. Spanish moss was hanging from all the trees and it was warm!!!!! Mid to high 70's in the day and Mid 50's to low 60's at night. Just great weather no rain or especially no snow.








This is just one of the many visitors in our campsite. It's not every day you get to see and armadillo wandering thru.











This was the only night we had a campfire as there are only two campgrounds were its allowed, but it was a great ending before leaving on the last leg of our trip.






The next day we packed up and punched thru solid 5 to 6 foot dumping waves. The surf zone was nearly a football field long with 3 different break zones to get thru. The seas on the outside of the zone were running between 6 to 8 foot swells winds began from the East and then shifted to the South 22 to 25 knots creating waves from the East and South making paddling very interesting. We ended up beaching because we could not make progress into the winds and of course we were heading South to the St. Mary's river. Slogged along the shore until we reached the river, portaged around the jetty and up the River to St. Mary's. There was some hard paddling on this trip but I learned a lot about myself and gained a greater understanding of the sea, tides and currents.