Thursday, November 10th, 2011 Delaroche Creek anchorage

  Another early start to get the benefit of the high tide and through the trouble spots, we hoped.  Little Mud River, the notorious trouble spot of Georgia, gave us no problem at high tide, with the water overflowing its banks.  We saw nothing less than 12’, but with an 8 ½’ tide, that would make it less than 4’ at low tide.  White birds were conspicuously perched in the trees—mostly ibis but also some egrets.  A bald eagle regally sat on a high branch.  And white pelicans were sunning on the banks.  A large,50’, trawler passed us on the Mackay River and we later heard them being boarded by the Coast Guard, something that happens on a regular basis for them to check safety gear, or whatever they want.

  Through Buttermilk Sound and on down the Mackay River where we had planned to drop the hook, only it was early and I suggested we continue.  Geoff was worried about the tide in Jekyll Creek.  I said we’d be ahead of them and give them the depths.  Through St Simons Sound and into Jekyll.  It wasn’t low tide yet, but the entrance was ominous with exposed oyster beds and rocks.  We stayed on VHF channel 17 and I relayed the depths as we went through with no less than 7+ feet, but mostly around 12 feet.  Jekyll Island looked inviting with the mansions and beautiful beaches and boats were at the marina, tied down for the impending strong north winds. 

  Through Jekyll Sound then almost out into the ocean to get through St Andrews Sound, but all was sunny and calm until we turned into Cumberland River and the wind started kicking up with black clouds in the west.  We were debating what river to drop the hook and had some advice from another boat to go into here.  None of them were going to give much wind protection being streams surrounded by marsh, although they would be protected from building waves.  A large trawler also came into the anchorage and I wondered how well they’d fare in the 30K predicted winds with a small craft advisory on the ICW.