May 21, Brunswick, GA
We moved out of Florida today.
As we left Fernandina and continued north on the Intercoastal Waterway we passed an inlet to the ocean and encountered a Coast Guard Cutter standing by in the middle of the inlet controlling boat traffic in the area. He called us on the radio and informed us he was escorting a ship entering the waterway and would we stay clear and get out of the channel as the escorted ship passed by.
We said we would and would pull out of the channel as the ship got within 300 yards of us. He said noooo... we needed to pull out of the channel when the ship got to within a mile of us. .... I said fine.
Note the seaman standing with the 50 caliber gun in the bow.
Turned out that the ship was a nuclear submarine returning to Kings Bay, Georgia for yard work escorted by two Navy surface ships. The Coast Guard Cutter (with gunner on the bow manning a 50 caliber machine gun) was the local escort and was joined by two bright orange helicopters. Quite a sight.
We ended up not having to leave the channel as we sped up to stay ahead and cleared the Kings Bay area before the ships got close to us. Still a very interesting morning and a beautiful sight to see all the ships and the submarine. Never got close enough to the sub to take pictures but could see everything pretty clearly through the binoculars. About twenty officers and men were on the deck of the submarine as she entered Kings Bay.
We passed by Cumberland Island today but did not see any wild horses. Maybe next time.
As we approached Brunswick, we passed under a very attractive suspension bridge.
Brunswick is home to a large shrimp fleet.
We are staying at the Brunswick Landing Marina, which is quite large and we see probably 200 or more boats here. We are on pier ten and it is about a quarter mile from the office and the path to town. They say it is the best hurricane hole on the East coast. Looks somewhat exposed to me.
We explored to old downtown Brunswick area and found a few nice stores, two thrift stores, a book shop, drugstore, optometrist and several restaurants. Town was in distress with many store vacancies and for sale signs.
posted by KOKOMO II @ 9:15 PM
1 Comments
1 Comments:
I cam across your blog by accident through google. Sounds like a very interesting journey.
I am from just outside of Brunswick and must say you took a lovely picture of our Sydney Lanier Bridge.
I assume you have been through this area before, if not I suggest checking out the pier village on St.Simons Island for a very nice dining, shopping, and walking experience. It is what downtown should be like. Kind of like a scene from a movie.
Anyways, good luck on your voyage.
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