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.  

Southern Camping Trip 2026 (aboard "Elsie" the land yacht). cont. 46

28  February 2026

Jekyll Island State Park 

Jekyll Island, Georgia 

The bird sanctuary is in the back of the campground.

Sue found several cardinals feeding away.

A view of two thirds of the Jekyll Island Marina docks. that are on the edge of the ICW.

American Cruise Lines cruise ships pass just off of the docks (space is tighter when the outer dock is filled with transient boats).

American Liberty (241 feet long, 56 feet wide, 6 foot draft).  The fact that these ships pass through the ICW means that most yachts can accomplish the journey.

Marc-  We went over to visit the Jekyll Island Marina while we were enjoying our Dairy Queen treats.  The old orange cat named Moe passed on and has been replaced with two others who were nowhere to be seen.  We met a boater on a 36 foot Monk Trawler with perfectly maintained teak and an adorable dog (mostly poodle).  They come down here for the cold months from Rochester, NY.  We exchanged some notes on our canal and Great Lakes travels.  

We also travelled over to neighboring Saint Simons Island to visit a quilt shop named Sea Stitches.

St. Simon's Island Lighthouse.

This sounds like a command.

Hand pieced Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt.

A sewing Lady quilt.

Back at the campground we found the community clothesline.

 They have washers and dryers here as well.

Sue - The quilt shop on St. Simons Island is very very nice.  If we come to Jekyll again, and I hope we will, I will return to this shop.  It's small, but packed with beautiful fabric, patterns, ideas, a few quilts, and a long arm machine.  There were 3 ladies working there and 2 ladies who didn't seem to work there who were hanging out sewing.  I bought more fabric and patterns.  When am I ever going to make all the things I want to make?  It takes time, and I have a huge backlog.  I have given up trying to sew in the trailer.  Too much effort.  I have to dig my stuff out every time, have precious little room to work, the last 2 cats I made were not as good as the first one and that was discouraging.  I think my cutting left something to be desired.  I'll just wait until I get home.  I found a potholder loom kit at Tractor Supply today and made 2 potholders, the kind a 6 y.o. can make.  Very satisfying.

Cool potholders Sue.

Surprise encounter at dusk when I went off to Church and found rather small deer enjoying some green grass.

Amazing.