Jan. 11

OK, I must admit to having been so tired I could not focus on writing during the past three days. 

We had driven further than we should have and decided we could get to the water back at Harriet’s Bluff about 18 miles north of St. Mary’s, GA.  Tide would be high there at noon and we could count on a following tidal current down to the mouth of the St. Mary’s river where we would turn upstream to get to the ramp at St. Mary’s.  Our plan was to get to the turn as the tide changed and be able to follow the tide upstream.  We had had a tip from a fisherman at Harriet’s Bluff that there was a stream that cut across a large piece of marsh that the river went around.  We found its mouth right across from where we put in and joined the rapid current carrying us through this shortcut saving us about two miles.  Then the tide helped us past the large King’s Bay submarine base just north of St. Mary’s.  I thought about our son, Sam, and son-in-law Terry riding their sub into this base. I doubt he ever did but the atmosphere of the place caused me to think of them. Frequent signs on the shore warned us not to land or trespass.  I saw a van of guards stopped on a road behind the security fencing on the bluff above the marshes.  They probably thought we might be terrorists.  I waved and rowed as well as I could to impress them.  I doubt they will send any contributions, however.  Needless to say the latter part of this plan failed.  Once again the times given for the tide change were at least an hour or two off.  So the last three miles into St. Mary’s were slow and laborious to say the least.

Pat Clink, from the Habitat affiliate in St. Mary’s was there to greet us as we pulled the boat up on its “noodle” and boat cushions on the town boat ramp.  She very kindly drove me back to Harriet’s Bluff and led me back again.  She recommended the Waterside Grill across the street from the ramp and we were able to eat right there after loading the boat. Tired, I did not want to drive far and we found our way to the cheapest motel in St. Mary’s.