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Thu, Dec 29 2011 - Cumberland Island New Year’s Camping (View Original Event Details)

Trip Leader(s): Kristi, Grant Brown
Participants:Kristi, Grant Brown, John Christopher, Kristy, Niki, Gary Babiarz, CB Genrich, Terry, Andy A, Adam W., Joyce, Andrew Brown, Valerie Thompson, shadawn, Johnny Duke, Maria, Felix


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Write Up:

Cumberland Island was as awesome and beautiful as ever. We could not have asked for better weather nor better company. We had many last minute roster changes and settled out with 18 folks on the trip. We set up camp in Group Site North on Thursday evening then grabbed our blankets for happy hour on the beach as the sun set at our backs. Astonishingly, Maria produced a come from behind win to spank me in a game of washers. Thursday was a nice time in camp with lots of great food. Shadawn offered an incredible veggie delite using some "Pure Wraps", a really tasty food wrap made from coconut meat; a product made by the health food company she manages. After dinner, the instigator Terry, persuaded several of us to borrow a few of Lang Seafood's bicycles and head down to Dungeness for a late night frolic. We settled up later for our bike use as the whole thing is kinda an honor system anyway. Friday brought much hiking as we headed down the beach after breakfast toward Stafford Beach. Some others headed up to Plum Orchard by bike and took in a Park Service guided tour. When we returned to camp, we decided to emulate an evening with the Carnegie's at Dungeness by heading down to the ruins with a stock of wine and cheese, which we enjoyed by the marsh with numerous swarms of no-seeums. It occurred to me later that the ghost of Lucy Carnegie, not appreciating our trespass, had sent the pesky gnats out of protest : ) On Saturday, for many, the priority was sunning in the sand. The weather was amazing. My body was shocked today as I left my work to a blast of frigid air. But, on Cumberland for the last day of 2011, there were no clouds and 70 degrees as we laid and talked and hunted shells for many hours. John took the newly developed motorized tour of the entire island. He said it was really fun and informative delving into the nature, history, and politics of Cumberland. Maria and Niki took a grueling bike ride all the way from our base at Sea Camp to The Settlement. And church on the north end (the site of the famous wedding of JFK Jr.). The whole trip was about 25 miles of sandy roads. They rolled back into camp headlamps burning in the early evening. Good job ladies! For dinner, there were some great meals around the fire ranging from steak and potatoes to salmon veggie wraps to pasta and pesto. We played a lot of guitar and sang a lot of songs and celebrated Terry's B-Day! - as she turned 29 years with a cookie and tea candle compliments of the girls. On Sunday morning, many of us greeted the new year on the beach for sunrise in a heavy cloud cover. but, it was beautiful none the less. We scampered and got our things carted to the dock to ride out on the 10 o'clock ferry back to St. Marys. After saying good-bye, me and my travel crew stopped at the bait and tackle and asked for a good sea food restaurant. He suggested Luck Dog's a little off the main road, but it was really good. We had peel and eat shrimp and fish tacos before the trek back to the ATL. It was a great group of folks and an awesome time. Hope to see you all soon, Grant [and Kristi]