On the way home

The first step to taking Shawnee to Marblehead Yacht Club, MA by May is driving the car back to Exeter, NH, about 1,550 miles and 24 hours of driving.

ON THE WAY ...

Tuesday we visited Cumberland Island National Seashore Park in St. Mary’s, GA.  We Stayed in the River View Hotel – old western type with minimal comforts but adequate, looking out on the St. Mary’s River and ferry dock.

As we waited for the ferry I noticed signs of spring in the cycads coming up in stages.  The differences must be due to the amount of sun or water or something.  So cool to see them unfurl sort of like a fern.

STAGE 1:

STAGE  2

STAGE 3

Final STAGE

Up early for the 8 am check in for the ferry and to be assured that Mazu as ESA could have access to the ferry ride. She made it no problem.  It’s always interesting to watch the people react with, “No, leave her alone.  she’s working.” since she has her little ESA vest on.

    A woman who had been to the island before told us about bike rentals at the second docking on the island, Sea Camp Dock.  This island National Park with private homes is the place where the Kennedy’s were married and honeymooned at Greyfield Inn. It was touted to me as a must-see place for several years, especially by my garden club friends.  After the 45-minute ride we disembarked to a pine needle woodland floor and a forest of live oaks dripping long tangles of Spanish moss creating a view of twisted angled branches with a grey wash through the view.   A white crushed shell single lane path leads 7 miles north on the 15 mile island to unfurnished Plum Mansion with tours on the hour.  Amazingly Mazu was able to trot along next to the bike as I pedaled slowly without pulling on the leash to run off into the woods.  I could have biked forever in this shaded sort of spooky movie set, not unlike a rain forest with the greenery covering everything. 

 Instead of moss, ferns cover the live oak branches.  Instead of vines, the gray Spanish moss drapes down to the forest floor.   

Low fan palms prevent walking into the forest except via pre-made paths.

  There are warnings about poisonous snakes, rattlers, and ticks.  We saw none after coating ourselves with the highest deet level we could buy.

  We could only stay until 2:45 because the later ferry was full. 

 Before we left we headed to the eastern beach shore and Mazu just ran and jumped in the surf happily after her 10 mile run.  The three of us lay on the beach for a little nap and rode back to the bike rental and ferry dock.  The slightly cloudy cooler day made it perfect.

  We got back on the road north about 5 pm with the plan to stop in Richmond at a LaQuinta by 1:30 am and collapse.

 

Wednesday:  We woke up late getting a nice 8 hour sleep. Well rested makes all the difference.  Drew found Maymont, a Richmond 100 acre public garden and non-profit Foundation, the former Dooley mansion from 1893-1925. It runs on $3 million each year.  

 First, Mr. Weatherman, Drew, provided another perfect weather day at 70 degrees.  It was the peak day for the white flowered crabapple trees.  We walked in in the morning to every blossom fully open and by the end of the day the trees were snowing their petals.   

The Japanese garden is a highlight, and the entire setting has been planned like a Capablity Brown English landscape estate.  There is an arboretum of tree specimens with some of the largest I’ve ever seen:  giant River Birch, Himalayan Pine, huge multiple trunked Star Magnolias, white oak, ironwood, red buds popping out purple everywhere.  There’s a huge recirculating water fall.   

All of this on the side of the James River Kanawha Canal that runs next to downtown Richmond and its other parks.

  We walked through a small kind of sad children’s animal farm on a steep hillside with sheep, deer, goats, horses, bear, and one sad animal; a gray fox, the sign said, locked in a little coop crying and moaning.

  A nap was needed before heading north to Exeter, a 10 hour drive with less traffic by waiting until evening to start.  We plan it out by driving through DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and NYC in the middle of the night.  It works.  By the looks of the number of construction projects it was a good decision.  The George Washington Bridge over the Hudson was down to one lane on top – all others closed when we drove through around midnight.  We pulled into the garage about 5 am - I didn't even hear it -- I was sound asleep.  I slept walk into bed.  We fly back to Miami on Saturday.