Southern Camping Trip 2026 (aboard "Elsie" the land yacht). cont. 51

5 March 2026

Sesquicentennial State Park 

Columbia, South Carolina   

What shall we do on our last day in Columbia?

Marc-  This little owl presents a key question that we most often answer with meeting up with friends and going to quilt shops.  Off we went to quilt shops in Columbia and Camden on our way to Florence where we met up with our friends Craig and Donna for lunch.  They came way over from Myrtle Beach.

The first of three quilts seen at the Creative Sewing Machine Center in Columbia.

(Many are sold in kit form meaning fabrics and the pattern are included.)

This hummingbird quilt is pretty.  We have only seen this as a barn quilt (painted on wood and hung on a barn or house) previously.

I love spirals.

Our Camden quilt shop was Palmetto Stitches & Quilts.  This and the next quilt were found inside.

Fabrics are often grouped by designer/manufacturer.

I spent some time walking in the rather tall pine forest near our campground.  The forest was dominated by longleaf and lob loblolly pines.  

Hi Ho it's off to the woods I go.

I stopped a Park Ranger and asked if he could estimate the height of this tree.  His answer was 115 feet.

Tall and straight trees.

Sue - Shop owners down South welcome you to their store by saying "Welcome In!"  I had never heard that before, and think it's really nice.

We have seen a lot of major road construction projects, likely thanks to Joe Biden's infrastructure money.  Also so many new neighborhoods and apartment complexes, particularly south of Myrtle Beach (Murell's Inlet) and all over Florida.

Southern Camping Trip 2026 (aboard "Elsie" the land yacht). cont. 50

4 March 2026

Sesquicentennial State Park 

Columbia, South Carolina    

Yes, they have boats to rent for use on the lake here.

Marc-  We left Jekyll Island, GA this morning in heavy fog and drove to Columbia, SC.  This State Park is an oasis in a very developed city.  The campgrounds and trails are in the center of the park and are totally protected from the sounds of the city beyond the tall pine forest that exists here.  

The Depression Era CCC's helped create the beautiful park that exists today including the man-made lake and man-made waterfalls.

Man-made waterfalls;

Canadian geese at the pond.

Part of the man-made pond that is the centerpiece of the park.

Southern Camping Trip 2026 (aboard "Elsie" the land yacht). cont. 49

3 March 2026

Jekyll Island State Park 

Jekyll Island, Georgia   

This shop doubles as the miniature golf and bike rental office.

Marc-  Our last day on Jekyll Island was similar in terms of weather to the last few days: 60's until the afternoon sea breeze kicks in and brings in heavy fog and a ten degree temperature drop.  We enjoyed our mini golf session after a picnic lunch.  

Totem from the mini golf course.

I really love the detail on these old wooden cottages.

Hard to believe that this is a cottage.

Moss Cottage.

Once back at the campground we checked out the birds at the sanctuary.

Sue's Merlin app on her phone found all of these birds singing away in the sanctuary.

We noticed many cardinals (male and female).

Lastly some very nice Vermonters camping here invited us over for dinner.  Lots of talk about the dairy business and living in Vermont.

Southern Camping Trip 2026 (aboard "Elsie" the land yacht). cont. 48

2 March 2026

Jekyll Island State Park 

Jekyll Island, Georgia  

The Southern tip of Jekyll Island this morning looking toward Cumberland Island.

Marc-  We had beautiful sunshine on our morning beach walk.  Perfect visibility degraded rapidly in mid-afternoon to 1/4 mile in dense fog.  The afternoon sea breeze brought the fog onshore.   

Shipwreck remains on the beach.

Two key points from this Jekyll Point chart. Sand now extends 500 feet

 beyond the wreck shown on the chart.  ATONs #27 and #29 do not exist.  The green marker at the southern tip does not exist.  The Red ATONs are on station and operating. 

At 17:00 I checked AIS on my phone to see if any boats were out around the Island.  You can see the dredger Padre Island heading out to sea.  A sailboat named Free Range (white boat shape) is moving South from Brunswick and a sailboat named Blossom is moving North from Cumberland Island.  I hope they have radar and GPS to navigate in this fog and do not rely on aides to navigation.

(We are camped out where the blue dot appears at the Northern end of Jekyll Island.)

Both sailboats anchored in Jekyll Creek at 18:20.

(Note they are swinging in the navigation channel.

AIS Images from Boat Beacon.

Southern Camping Trip 2026 (aboard "Elsie" the land yacht). cont. 47

1 March 2026

Jekyll Island State Park 

Jekyll Island, Georgia  

Bike day.

Marc-  We needed to get some exercise and this island has many excellent bike paths so off we went.  We had a good workout by the end of the day.

Jekyll Island miniature golf.  Next to Town Park with playground and picnic tables in abundance (perfect for lunch stop).

Our second stop was the Jekyll Island Historic District (this post office is operational).

A 1940 Buick Eight Coupe in front of the Jekyll Island Clubhouse.  

The Wharf is in front of the Clubhouse on Jekyll Creek.

Birds were active over the wharf today.

The gulls were flying over the outside deck dining area.

Yet more gulls around the fishing boat that had come in to the Wharf.

There are a number of these unique benches on the Jekyll Wharf

 (dolphins are often seen in Jekyll Creek).

A horse and carriage after picking up some guests at the Wharf.

Massive ancient live oak tree in the historic village.

We are seeing the very beginnings of Spring.  This azalea has just started to bloom.

More azaleas.

Camellia flowers growing by the Chapel.

Camellias are beautiful in bloom.

More Chapel flowers.

Cottage next to the Clubhouse.

We always enjoy visiting the Turtle Hospital".

This tin turtle found its way into our camper.

Final note on the clubhouse.  Wooden basket weave above the deck.

Marc- Although we took no photos, it did become quite cool and damp when a fog bank rolled through the campground at dusk.