Feb. 6, 2023 Vernon River to Wolf Island/South River

Mon.   Feb. 6, 2023  Vernon River to Wolf Island/South River - 51 miles

Another beautiful day out on the water.  Chill in the air with temps in the mid 40's in the AM but made it up to 70 with plenty of sunshine and a light breeze to keep the notorious GA marsh no-seeums at bay.  Our normal departure routine when anchoring is John on the bow retrieving the anchor while Martha is at the helm captaining the boat.  She then takes the first shift out the anchorage while John gets the anchor washed and secured.  She proved her stuff today as shortly after starting todays voyage we had to navigate through "Hell Gate", a notorious short but tight and shallow connector cut between the Vernon and Ogeechee rivers.

Martha takes us through "Hell Gate"

Favorable tidal height for our trip today as we moved along the meandering narrow ICW passages behind several of Georgia's out islands - Ossabaw Island, St. Catherines Island and Sapelo Island.  In between the islands are areas of open sound giving a nice relaxing ride in wider deeper waters.  This area is noted for being primarily marshlands so vistas are low, flat and wide open.  

Typical open and exposed Georgia marshlands at anchor

We got to our anchorage an hour before low tide with just a 1' tide and dropping.  No way we're going further as the next stretch just ahead is the appropriately named Little Mud River.  Navigation notes warn of water depths at 3-4' at low water in places so we'll wait until morning and high tide to make our way through.  Lazy afternoon just enjoying the sunshine and then another sunset at anchor. 

Blowing the conch horn at sunset to signal the end to another day

Got a treat after dinner. Despite an almost full moon shining to the north, we had super dark sky to the south. SpaceX launched a rocket at 8:32PM from Cape Canaveral and we were able to clearly  watch it's ascent.  

SpaceX launch reflecting in the water

Journey for Feb. 6, 2023