Cumberland Island Wildlife to Henry Flagler Highlife



Blue Heaven off Cumberland Island. GA



Shrimping

We decided to stay another day at anchor off of Cumberland Island. We wanted to hike some of the island because the trails are so beautiful and Sue and Don Engler from Jubilee, friends from our sailing association, were coming over from Fernadina. I had a great morning kayaking along the inland coast.  While having lunch we got to see how locals get shrimp by throwing the nets off their boats and hauling them in and dumping their catch in the bottom of their boat.  Once the word gets out that there are shrimp in an area it must spread fast because there had to be at least ten boats doing it all within 20 ft. of each other.  

Armadillo



 After lunch Al and I visited the island. We hiked the River Trail and got a great shot of Blue Heaven out on the water. The wild horses were abundant that day. We counted eleven of them in one area at the same time. You can see they are not that wild if I can get a shot that close! We also saw several armadillos (which blend so well into the surroundings) and a flock of wild turkeys. We also made it to the other side of the island to see the beautiful pristine beach. We certainly got our exercise which we so desperately needed! We ended the day catching up with the Englers on their boat all the while smacking those darn no-see-ums.

Cumberland Island Beach

 



St. Augustine






Flagler College



One of eleven Tiffany stained glaas windows

Pine Island was our next stop after a motor sail through a bit of rain on the way. It quieted down for the night and we were in St. Augustine by 10:30AM the next day on a mooring ball. We had lunch in town and afterwards toured Flagler College . What makes this college so interesting is that it had been the Ponce de Leon Hotel which was “the place” for the very wealthy back in the late 1800’s and early 1900s. The architecture was amazing and the inside was even more so. In the present day dining hall there are more Tiffany stained glass windows in one place than any place in the entire world. They also had true Tiffany chandeliers and any gold you saw on the woodwork or ceilings and walls was real gold leaf. Henry Flagler knew how to really make the wealthy feel even wealthier in one of his hotels. Now college students sleep where the Rockerfellers and Gettys perhaps stayed! 

With 70% chance of rain, we decided to stay put for another day and spent it doing various chores. It only rained in the morning and then once again around 5PM. We learned high percentages doesn’t mean it will rain all day!

Wild Horses on Cumberland Island