Birthday pizza feast

Connor's gift load

Austin introduced to Yuengling

B'day partee!!!

Hotdogs, fruit kabobs, cup cakes and beer. A good time was had by all. Austin chilled while Connor walked. He would occasionally walk through the party but he was basically a no-show. There is the seasons first tropical depression off the S Carolina coast so we had a pretty good breeze keeping the mosquitoes at bay. We had some difficulty getting the candle lit on Connor's cupcake for the same reason.

Connor's 2nd birthday weekend

Jenny and I came to Charleston this weekend for Connor's huge 2nd birthday bash. We went by their new house and then went to palmetto island county park for a long walk. The walk was so long that Connors pace slowed so dramatically that Jenny was forced to carry the con man for the last few minutes. This pic was taken during the walk.

Cumberland day 4

There is a dirt road that bisects the island, it's cleverly called "the main road ". There is a trail that parallels the main road, it's called "the parallel trail. I hiked out mostly on the trail and I've been hiking back mostly on the road. I saw 3 cars in 3 hours today. 2 of them stopped and asked if I wanted a lift. It rained on me the last hour of today's hike. It wasn't cold and I was wearing the swimsuit I paddled over in so I just walked through it. I'm camped at Stafford beach camp. This is one of the 2 front country campsites. There is a water faucet, flush toilets and a cold water shower. It's far enough away from the dock that you have to backpack. No ice chests. Tomorrow is my last day. I have to hike to my boat, paddle it against an outgoing tide, load it on the car and be in Charlotte in time to pick up Jenny, who has been in San Francisco with her dad. She is going to have to fly to S.A. and then connect to Charlotte. Tomorrow will be complicated with much potential for mishap. This is a pic of my last camp at Stafford beach

Even more

More morning day 4

Morning day 4

Rustic campsite

Dunes

Empty beach

Breaking camp

Cumberland day 3

I walked across the island to the east side so that I could walk along the beach as I worked my way back to the southern end. It was a surreal experience. The beach was completely vacant. I could see several miles in both directions and there was no one. I consider it a profound privilege to have walked on that deserted beach for 2 hours. Bravo to the original property owners who saw the value in preserving this last remnant of pristine, undeveloped seashore. I'm camped tonight in "Yankee paradise" campsite. I've got no idea where that name came from. I was alone last night and it looks like I might be alone tonight. It is thunderstormy at the moment so I'm not real sure what I should do for the next few hours. I might chance it and do some exploring. I will attempt to send some pics I took on my beach walk

Cumberland day 2

This old body doesn't like being abused. Ibuprofen helps some. A narcotic might be better. I walked for 3 hours today and I'm camped in the most northern campsite on the island. I saw 2 sets of wild horses today. I say "wild" but they barely looked up when I walked by. I'm camped in "brick hill" campsite tonight. It's on the marsh side of the island. Tomorrow I will head back south and camp in a different location than I was yesterday. My plan is to walk along the beach for most of the way. I have been on the beach twice so far and it seems pretty firm. This pic was taken at my camp today. Lighting isn't too good.

Cumberland day 1

I got on the water around 8:20. I had to get the car off the roof, rig it, load it and then get going. The tide was going out so I made pretty good time inspite of the strong head wind. I did the 7 miles in about 2 hours. I got the boat unloaded and stashed and finally got walking around noon. The trail was flat and smooth so I could walk at a pretty good clip. I was carrying a monster pack so I wasn't going too fast. I found the camp (hickory hill) at 3:30 or so. I had to walk nearly a mile to get water. That sucked. To top it off it tastes like sulfur. Yuk! The island is covered with 300 year old oak trees. I'll send a pic of a weird one. I won't be able to post today. I'm on the Atlantic side of the island there's nothing out there but ocean.

River otter eating a crab

Cumberland Island National Seashore

This place has been on my to-do list for quite awhile. It's an island on the Florida / Georgia border. It is for the most part, undeveloped. The Carnegie's owned most of it for a long time. There are still a few private inholdings but most of the island is designated wilderness. Most people take the ferry over there. I'm kayaking. I'll put my backpacking gear in my boat and spend 5 days moving around, trying to see as much as I can. Tonight I'm in an old hotel on the bay in St Mary's GA.