Hilton Head, South Carolina to St. Simons Island, Georgia

Monday, November 2, 2009 Island Hopper departed the dock for an early travel day at 7:15 AM heading to St. Simons Island, Georgia. Captain Kevin chose to do an outside run in the Atlantic Ocean to avoid shoaling in the Georgia ICW with 8 foot tides and its associated currents. Obama's stimulus money will be dredging the waterway soon, but for now it would have been a tedious travel day. Skies partly cloudy, temperatures in the low 60's, winds N 15 - 20 and the seas 2 -3. Island Hopper rocked and rolled on the GPS set course, cruising at 19 to MPH. Captain Kevin's able seamanship made the crew feel safe and confident with him at the helm. Today is a 100 mile day. A note of poor interest. All crew members had their life inflatable signaling vests ready if needed, but Tate's was left in the closet below. The crew members made trips into the cabin, but continued to forget to bring Tate's life jacket to the bridge.

Island Hopper arrived at Golden Isles Marina at 12:30 PM. Morning Star Marinas a Golden Isles is located on the Frederica River at St. Simons Island, Georgia just around the southern shoal of Lanier Island at ICW Mile 675.

Golden Isles Marina

Goin’ Ashore

Kevin In The Gazebo At The Lighthouse

One of Georgia’s Golden Isle and largest of its sea island, St. Simons Island is a draw for history buffs, golf and tennis players, nature lovers and, of course, boaters. Now a popular tourist destination St. Simons was named one of the best places to retire by “Money Magazine” 2006. . The southern tip of the island is a hub of activity centered around the Village and Pier. Here you’ll find a concentration of tourist-oriented shops and restaurant. Just east of the pier is Neptune Park, a beachfront picnic area, playground, and the site of numerous festivals. On the far side of the park is the St. Simons Visitors Center, housed in the St. Simons Island Casino, and the landmark lighthouse, the original keeper’s dwelling and the A.W. Jones Heritage Center. It is worth the strenuous climb up the narrow, winding staircase of the 1872 lighthouse for a great view of the island and St. Simons Sound. The keeper’s cottage has a museum with the history of the lighthouse (the original built in 1807, was destroyed by Confederate troops in 1862 to prevent the union forces from using it) The Heritage Center has exhibits about island history.

The Lighthouse

A Quaint Inn In Town

A Shrimp Boat

History....

St. Simon Island is rich in history dating as far back as 3000 B.C. when the Timucan and Guale Indian tribes first inhabited the island. Since that time, St. Simons Island has flown under the flags of the Spanish, French, British, American and Confederate States of America. While prized by armies for the strategic position along the coast, by plantation owners for the high quality long-staple cotton (known as sea island cotton) that the land could produce, and by ship builders for the strength of the native live-oaks, St. Simons Island has captivated the imaginations of generations of inhabitants with a charm and natural beauty that is distinctly St. Simons Island.

The crew ate at the marina restaurant called "Coastal Kitchen." The chef had redfish ( a local fresh fish) as the special. It was a wonderful meal.