Jekyll Island

Originally we planned to stay on the hook, although relocated today. Big winds are predicted for tomorrow, and we wanted to be in a more protected spot. There was an anchorage just north, between small islands. However...

We're still having some issues. While we generated a tremendous amount of power yesterday on anchor (yay for solar!), we apparently used a fair bit too. And we keep over-heating our water pump, which makes it shut itself off. Once it cools down it works again, but it's a sign there's a leak Damned if we can find it. And we ran through 1/2 our fresh water in 2 days.

Just before leaving JAX Russ installed a reverse osmosis system on the boat under the kitchen sink. We were really happy with it. However, we determined it's a water hog. Turns out it sucks up 4 gallons to make 1. That's not going to work for us. It may also be contributing to the power usage, since it slowly fills the storage tank which in turn runs the pump. That may or may not have caused it to over heat, but it certainly didn't help.

There's the lil rapscallion!

Anyway, given the glorious weather today we decided to take a small hike on Cumberland, then make the 3 hour run to Jekyll.    

So, there we were, happily making our way across the island to the Atlantic side (it's said the beaches there are pretty nice) when we came across an alligator. It wasn't a big one, only 3 feet, but it sat right in the middle of the path. And did not yield as we approached. No one would die from the little guy, but ankles could be at risk. We took that as a sign we should just get underway now. So we did.

Feral horses everywhere!

We crossed a major inlet just before getting to Jekyll Island, St. Andrews Sound. For some reason the map labels that as "The Hole." The Satilla River (the water coming in from the west) silts a fair bit. So smack in the center of the sound is a major shoal. As a result, you have to either travel east, all the way to the Atlantic then 270 degree turn your way back, or you can turn west and bop between shoals (there is a path) to cross. It's a decent sized body of water, so if there is any wind from the east or north, crossing it can be adventurous, and in those days the western route is preferred. 

Today was glorious, however, sunny and calm. So we did the Atlantic route, just touching our rudders into the ocean before turning around. (You can see that on the map.)

Dead ahead is the Atlantic.

We arrived about 2 hours after high tide, so there was a little bit of current and a little bit of wind. But docking was no problem.