We have technically started the loop; although we haven’t been cruising. We spent the past few nights in Apalachicola FL which is on the Intercoastal Waterway (“ICW”) but the boat was being serviced for the big cruise. So we rode bikes, sunbathed and shopped (not that we really needed more things to put on the boat). There is a C-Dory dealer here and, since he is highly thought of by the “C-Brats”, we had some work done… it was only slightly out of our way as we were originally headed for Savannah GA to start. As it turns out we were able to enjoy the first really warm day since Tuscan AZ and spend it on a gorgeously pristine and almost deserted beach… at St George’s Island State Park.
They call this area the “Forgotten Coast” and I think its aptly named as there weren’t many tourists in town or at the beach. We spoke to some locals during our stay and learned that the biggest industry is still seafood, and tourism is only second, which is why the area is still unspoiled. As one person put it “We like what we don’t have”… in otherwords, we’re glad we don’t have a Walmart and chain restaurants and high rise hotels on our beach. There is actually a local ordinance against those kinds of high rises and so there are no real resorts. Many lovely beach homes though, on some of the prettiest beaches I’ve ever seen… and I’ve been to some gorgeous tropical places. Another reason I think its “forgotten” is that it is really hard to get here… no big freeways, no close airports (except a small local one). But, trust me, if you want to “get away from it all”, this is a place to consider.
You can definitely tell that oysters and shrimp are the big business here from every menu in town… but also because there are many side streets and parking lots actually paved in oyster shells! Also, oyster shells are used in some places as a landscape groundcover. Also used is dry sea grass. I’m not sure either of those is great looking ground cover but it adds to the charm.
We stayed at a lovely old OLD hotel, built 1907, in the middle of town. Had I known about the beach, I might have rented a nice house for a “real” vacation. Still it was fun; I met someone from my hometown in Michigan and actually found someone we knew in common… It’s a small world after all.
On that note, I’ve only ever been to Florida once, and that was to go to Disneyworld in the 1970’s… but, unfortunately, we just don’t have time. Tomorrow we are headed for Hontoon State Park on the St John’s River in Florida for a C-Brats gathering. This wasn’t in our original itinerary but when we saw it was planned we adjusted. 14 boats are meeting for 3 or 4 days… cruising and camping, potlucks and campfires, lions and tigers… I mean…manatees and alligators…Oh My!
The weather is supposed to be nice this weekend but certainly not as nice as we’d originally hoped… this is the winter of the “Polar Vortex” and we’re glad we’re not REALLY starting the Loop cruise until May. Our goal for this leg was to simply get the boat to the East Coast and do some sightseeing in Savannah and Charleston.
The Gibson Hotel (formerly the Franklin Hotel) circa 1907
Enjoying miles of pristine beach at St George Island State Park
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