A day to remember

Steve and Izzy took the dinghy back to the boat after a walk on the Cumberland Island beach.  Izzy needed a break and Steve needed to take care of some emails.  Carolyn, Leslie and I had a great time wandering the island, exploring the ruins.   We were a little surprised that on our walk from the beach to Dungeness we had to move off the one lane road to let at least 3 trucks pass.  

One driver stopped to talk.  She immediately asked if we remembered her.  I could not say yes.  She told us her name was Denise Know and she had worked for the National Park Service for many years.  She now works for the Candler family taking care of their property on the island.  I suppose she get lonely on this island and enjoys talking to the few people she may encounter during her days.  

It is funny how easy it is to talk to people we don’t know exploring Cumberland  or working there and yet we often don’t take the time to talk to people in our local grocery store.  Why is that?  

We were ready to head back to the big boat when we reached the Ice House Museum.  Steve had texted us that he could pick us up at the dock here with no problem.  However, there was tape across the entrance to the dock and workers were obviously busily repairing the docks with electric saws and hammers.  Perhaps we should have asked them if we could use the docks but the rule follower in me couldn’t do that. 

Steve brought the dinghy up as close to the shore as possible.  Carolyn apparently skimmed over the water with no problem.  We think she might walk on water.  Leslie and I do not walk on water.  We both sank into the muck and mud.  I thought I was going to lose my shoes. Then I got tickled.  Steve tried to pull me out by hand but ended up crushing my fingers where my ring had turned to the side.  We finally made it out covered in slimy sticky mud.  I landed in the dinghy in a very ungraceful manner.  Leslie managed to get in without as much trouble. 

I noticed that the chain saws and hammers had become silent.  We looked up to see all the workers enjoying a laugh or two at our misadventure.  Glad we could provide them entertainment.  

We pulled up the anchor after washing off all the mud and moved north to Brickhill Creek for a beautiful isolated anchorage.  The sunset provided a marvelous show.

Sometimes it’s the smallest things that we remember most fondly.   A chance meeting with a former National Park Service employee, literally getting stuck in the mud with a friend, and a beautiful sunset provide wonderful memores that are not soon forgotten.

Joy