More of Georgia

After our visit to Cumberland Island, we returned slightly south to visit St. Mary's, which is a pretty little town with ambitions to be a major player. St. Mary's has one of the widest main streets we've ever seen and some great restaurants. We had a wonderful seafood dinner, overlooking the river at Lang's Marina Restaurant. Had lunch and spent a great afternoon with Ned and Carol, our Boca Chica friends who live there.Carol made a terrific lunch and afterwards they ran us to a grocery store to re-provision.

 

 While in St. Mary's, we also had surprising, but great news. Our newest grandson, Kieran Robert Brown decided to make his appearance 7 weeks early. We received the news late at night just before taking off for Brunswick and St Simmonds Island. We had intended to reach Dawtaw Island, where we will park the boat, in time to attend a June 8th baby shower for Kieran. His early arrival meant we'd be able to see him too.

We did decide to keep our stop in Brunswick and St. Simmonds's on the schedule and visited both.  Brunswick is quite a large town and the boat yard there is wonderful. Free laundry, clubhouses (plural) with TV and book exchange and walking distance of the old town. There are beautiful parks in the old center of Brunswick. It was, afterall, once a major shipping port and there are still many freighters arriving and departing, but the old center, like so many towns is full of empty stores along wide boulevards. Our departure, like our entry involved passing the huge freighters  using the river.  

Our last stop before getting off the boat  was St. Simmonds Island, Georgia. The Captain decided that a  quick run on the outside, via blue water, was far safer than risking a grounding by the tricky 9 foot tides of the inter-coastal near Jekyll Island. St. Simmonds, a resort area, had lots of activities. The marina, on the mainland, just across the bridge, was very accommodating. We tied up to their long face dock, borrowed their bicycles to tour the island, and ate at their delicious restaurant.  The island itself had an historical lighthouse to tour and a coast guard history museum. In addition, the island town center is full of interesting shops and restaurants and a long coastal park and beach for the public.