It’s Tuesday afternoon and we are tied up at the city dock in St Mary’s GA. The remainder of our run yesterday was uneventful if you leave out the run up the St Mary’s River late last night against an ebbing tide that sometimes ran at 4.5kts. Given the fact that Pandora’s cruising speed tops out at a normally speedy 7+ knots, that meant that it took us two hours to cover the 6 or so miles from the beginning of the channel into the river. It felt like FOREVER.
As we arrived on the full ebb tide, we had no choice but to power against the current all the way in. It was fine except that it was pitch dark and midnight by the time we dropped the anchor just inside the entrance. I am happy that there was a spot to anchor close in as to spend another hour plus making our way up the rest of the way up the curvy St Mary’s River in the dark would have been a bit too much after a long day.
Yesterday, I was treated to a fabulous sunrise. It was very soothing to watch the sky go from grey to purple and to red as the sun rose over the ocean.
The boatyard that I am leaving Pandora in until early January is up a creek near town and we have to arrive at high tide tomorrow morning or there won’t be enough water to get near the dock. The tide here is nearly 8’ so that means that with 8’ of water at high tide, there’s mud at low. You have to watch the tide carefully.
Brenda and I had visited St Mary’s when we did the ICW two years ago and enjoyed Thanksgiving with other cruisers at the St Mary’s hotel. The owner of the hotel opens up his dining room to cruisers for a free dinner for Thanksgiving. Local residents supply turkeys and hams and anyone attending is expected to bring a side dish to share. While we missed being with family for the holiday, it was a fun time, never the less.
You can really tell that you are in the south here as it’s classic “low country” with marshes everywhere. As Jim and I went out for breakfast this morning, we didn’t have to worry about crossing the street as there wasn’t a car in sight until lunchtime. Sleepy place.
The marina where we tied up is pretty simple and given the condition of many boats that are tied up here, I expect that they aren’t too focused on getting top dollar for slips. This shot is of one boat that’s securely tied up to the dock, I suspect for a long time. I’ll bet that you could purchase it pretty cheap.
Perhaps your money would be better spent joining the ST Mary’s Yacht Club. Perhaps not. This is the clubhouse. 
The streets are lined with stately live oaks, covered in Spanish moss.
This is the second oldest church in GA. And, as a special bonus, It’s located on Osborne street. Bummer about the “e” in Osborn”e”. It seems that most everyone spells it “wrong”. Oh well. Notice how it’s raised up one story above the ground. Like I said, it’s low country, really low. I am sure that some folks have come to church by canoe at various times.
Tonight we’ll go out for dinner and Wednesday we’ll move Pandora over to the yard to be hauled. Getting home will take some time as my flight doesn’t get to JFK in NY until 8:30 which is too late to get a train back to Essex so I’ll head there on Thursday morning. Happily, that will give me an opportunity to spend the night visiting my good friend Craig in his new home in Rye. I have been looking forward to seeing Craig’s palace for a while so that works out well.
I am excited about being home again as it seems like FOREVER since I have seen Brenda. Hope she hasn’t changed the locks. Now wait, what women would turn away a “handyman”? Of course! She needs someone to do the chores and I am a pretty handy guy, if a bit annoying, much of the time. Yes, I think she’ll let me in, dirty laundry and all. That will be nice.