July 25 - Kayaking and Cockspur

Ready to hit the waves

We were to meet John and Cheryl at 9:30 at the kayak rental place, so we got up around 8 and I made eggs for Bill and fried grits for me with turkey bacon and fruit. Thought that would give us the energy to do our paddling. They called as Cheryl told him 9 and they were early for that so we tried to move faster but didn’t get there early. They had left and gone into Tybee. By the time they got back I had signed all the paperwork so once they signed, the clerk walked us over to the kayaks after giving us each a lifejacket and a paddle. He put the seats in the kayaks and gave us briefing us on who should sit where, how to turn it, get it off the stand, where all we could go on the kayaks and about the water rangers who would be out on jet skis in case we had a problem. I had put my cameras in 2 ziplock bags and was taking a small nylon tote and could strap it down to the kayak. So we headed out to Cockspur Lighthouse which is at the end of the island we live on, but has a small strip of water even at low tide so you can only get to it by water. It was way easier than canoeing. I sat in back. It took a bit to get out of the marina as there was a large group of children and adults leaving about the same time and a shrimp boat. Once we exited Lazaretto Creek it didn’t take long to get over to the island that the lighthouse is on. We were basically at the very lowest tide so we parked the kayaks on the sandiest area we saw as most of the island is oyster rakes. Bill and I wore our water shoes but you still had to be careful of all the oyster shells. You can go in the lighthouse so Cheryl and I did. There’s a spiral brick stairs to the first level which is a wooden floor. There was a heavy plastic bag with a “guest register” in it and so Cheryl and I signed in. Then there was a wooden ladder like on a bunk bed that went to the next level where the floor was steel with a square hole cut out to climb thru to get in. Then there’s a small door hole about 28 – 30” tall to get out on the catwalk around the light house. It’s a very small lighthouse in the scope of things but was there before the Civil War started and lived through it. We did our picture taking and Bill waited at the bottom for me to bring the camera down then I went back up so he could take pictures of me up there. Of the thousands of people who come to Tybee and Ft. Pulaski every year, not many get to go in this lighthouse. The only way to get to it is by boat or with waders at low tide. At high tide the water covers the oyster rake and some of the base of the lighthouse. The stones on the rakes are mossy and slippery, as it’s under water a lot of the time. It was awesome. The whole kayaking experience was terrific.  We still had plenty of time on our rental so we paddled down towards Ft Pulasksi some then across the channel and then back into the Lazaretto Creek. We still had 2 hours left but Bill said he didn’t think his hand could have lasted any longer and it was hurting then. He did say it was not as difficult as he expected and that he really had a good time. He was not looking forward to it at all. I’m ready to buy one and strap it to the roof of our truck.

Oyster rakes

By the time we turned in our gear and got to the vehicles, it was about lunch time so the first place we tried was not open, then we went on MacElwee’s, which is OK. Today I had a shrimp salad on a croissant which was very good. She didn’t give me a choice and it came with fat crinkle fries, which I do not like so Bill shared his slaw with me. Then the 4 of us stopped at a row of shops I had wanted to visit every time we went to Tybee. I bought a lime green slap watch.

The Bostons headed back to the hotel as we headed to the RV. Bill took Xena out and I got started on my side dishes for dinner. I made broccoli slaw, waldorf salad, caprese insalada and cucumber in dill krauter sauce. I made a blackberry cobbler for dessert and called and asked John and Cheryl to bring some vanilla ice cream and hot dog buns. We straightened up a bit and got showers and then read until they got here. Just before they arrived 2 ships passed each other in the river. One was a tanker and one was a container ship. That was a first for us.

John and Bill grilled steaks, tuna filets and hot links. Cheryl and I opened a bottle of wine. Then we had dinner. I think everyone enjoyed the food and I know everyone enjoyed the time together. It’s been 3 years since our trip together to Key West. We really need to do this more often.

After more talk we had our blackberry cobbler with ice cream. They left about 9. When the got to the gate to leave the Fort there was a lady wanting to come in to give her husband jumper cables. We had noticed some fishermen and a truck still on the property after closing but figured we’d mind our own business. Well, it ended up his truck wouldn’t start and so Bill drove him and his son to the front and let him go home with his wife and told him to come back tomorrow and get his truck.

We watched some TV then to bed.