We were in Florida in July and took a day trip to Cumberland Island National Park and Seashore. It's about six miles east of St. Mary's, Ga., and is one of the largest undeveloped barrier islands in the world. It's also home to a large maritime forest teeming with wildlife, including wild horses and many endangered species.
Cumberland Island is only about 18 miles long and from 1⁄2 to 3 miles wide. The only access to the island is by boat. A ferry carries visitors to the island twice a day. We were joined by a trio of dolphins who swam along the bow of the boat for most of the half-hour trip. If you're interested in seeing more of the island, apply for a camping permit. Since it is a fragile ecosystem, everyone who visits, including campers, is required to take their trash with them when they leave.
The oaks native to the island were used in shipbuilding in the late 19th and early 20th century. The shipbuilders would send artists to the island to sketch the trees, and take measurements of lengths and widths. When a particular curve for the hull of a ship being constructed was needed, they would go to that particular tree (from the drawings and maps they had) to cut it down.
The forest now is home to deer, spiders, snakes, birds, hogs, alligators, gopher tortoises and armadillos. Most of the time armadillos are seen as roadkill so it was quite entertaining to watch one root among the leaves and palm fronds to find bugs for dinner.
The park rangers offer a guided tour for part of your visit and then you are able to explore the trails through the forests or even venture across the sand dunes to the ocean for a walk on the beach or to play in the surf. The water was so refreshing the day we were there that we played in the swells beyond the breakers for over an hour before walking along the shoreline checking out the holes dug by the fiddler crabs. Camping overnight would offer more time to explore the different trails but you'd need mosquito netting. They weren't bad the day we were there due to the strong breeze, but I'm sure when the air is calm, the mosquitoes would be out in full force. I look forward to another visit to the national seashore and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys unspoiled nature of a different variety than we have in Carson Valley.
Reminder
Jerry Spivey's dog, Millie, was shot and killed near the intersection of Buckskin and Sorrel early in the afternoon on Aug. 5. If anyone has information that will help the sheriff's office solve this crime, please contact them at 782-9935. The Spiveys have offered a $1,000 reward to find out who is responsible.
n Reach Gail Davis at RuhenstrothRamblings@yahoo.com or call 265-1947.
