Hilton Head to St Simons Island

After a great day, we wake to breezy conditions, 15 to 20 knots.  It is cooler, and we get ready to leave.  We hoist the anchor and Beth motors down the creek that had been our anchorage for the past few days.  I hear the engine not running well and by the time I get to the cockpit, the engine has quit and will not restart.  I drop the anchor again, and proceed to troubleshoot the issue.  Since we had a similar issue with a clogged filter when we went to St Augustine last fall, I change both the water separating filter and plugs, and no luck.  I start looking at the fuel lines and discover that there is a small crack in one line.  I replace the line and try to re-prime the engine, and the primer bulb does not want to work.  (Nope, not going to do a Lethal Weapon - Mel Gibson and siphon the gas.)  I do have a spare primer and install it and get the fuel flowing.  So, two hours later, we are on the way.  Our original destination was the St Catherine's anchorage, but with the two hour delay, we were looking for another spot, but we have some good tides and make the anchorage.  It is a nice evening and we settle in for the night.  I wake early before down, and there is a shrimper at the end of the river and it is lit up like a Christmas tree.  It works until almost dawn and is gone before we leave for St Simons. 

The trip is a long one, 55 miles, but we hit the tides right and we make the marina shortly after 5.  Of all the marinas we have been in, this is our favorite.  Besides the paper and muffins delivered to your boat in the morning, they have a courtesy car and free use of bicycles, which Beth discovered when inquiring on how to get to the lighthouse. 

The next morning, we get the bicycles and ride to the island.  The tree lined bike path runs right to the pier and lighthouse.  We check out the lighthouse and discover that they want $12 a piece to go up to the top.  Most of the lighthouses we have been in have been $5 or less, so we opt out.  We go back to the pier and the main street with shops and find some great ice cream in a candy store.  After ice cream, we wander around the shops and then take ride back to the boat. The wind has come up and is from the southeast, and we are getting a little bump through the sound.  It is not bad, but some of the boats are hobby horsing in the marina, and the floating docks are a little wobbly when the waves move through. 

We have a couple across from us who are from California, and are on their way to Europe.  The have recently come through the canal and Caribbean.  We chat and find out that her dad was the manager at Hollister Ranch, which my friends and I surfed in the early 70's, as well as now working for Cisco.

Speaking of work, I check emails and need to help out again.  We stay another night, and I am working today.  Beth gets the car and comes back with some provisions.  We decide that we will go to dinner, since I was working all day.  There is a restaurant in the marina complex and it is an easy walk to dinner.  We are off to St Marys tomorrow.