Cumberland Island National Seashore

[Second Hand Pat]

Tom and I went to the Cumberland Island National Seashore which is just over the Florida border in Georgia. It is a barrier island with a rich human history yet still in a natural state and wonderful example of what beaches use to look like.

We left Saturday morning and took the ferry over. This is the first thing we saw boarding the ferry.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/Steal-Away.jpg

She is named the Steal Away and is owned by a couple who live aboard her and do charter her for various events.

[Second Hand Pat]

When we arrived on the island at the first landing we went on a guided tour to hear the history of the island and we walked to the first of several historic buildings on the island.

This is the front of Dungeness, a ruined mansion which was build in the 1880s and was burned in recent times.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/FrontofDungeness1.jpg
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/FrontofDungeness2.jpg

As we walked along side of Dungeness we saw these.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/CumberlandIslandWildHorses.jpg

The island has a stable population of wild horses. Of course the horses are use to people but best to keep your distance.

[Second Hand Pat]

This is the backside of Dungeness.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/BackofDungeness3.jpg

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/BackofDungeness2.jpg

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/BackofDungeness1.jpg

[ZX10R]

I bet Gary (Turq64) will like that first pic. Looks like fun I love going places with lots of history.

[Second Hand Pat]

Back of Dungeness from near the water

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/BackofDungeness4.jpg

Looking from Dungeness to the water.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/BackofDungenessBoathouse.jpg

Have no idea what the building was. Any ideas?

[Second Hand Pat]

Short video clip of the backside of Dungeness. The camera was zoomed out a bit.


http://s925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/?action=view&current=P9030002.mp4

and here is one looking to the water. The oaks are huge. You will see later.


http://s925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/?action=view&current=DungenessOceanView.mp4

[Second Hand Pat]

I bet Gary (Turq64) will like that first pic. Looks like fun I love going places with lots of history.

Sean, I was thinking of Gary when I took the picture. I love the older sailing ships. True beauty and grace in the water.

[Second Hand Pat]

Some of the outbuildings of Dungeness. Any idea the purpose for these.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/DungenessOutbuilding1.jpg
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/DungenessOutbuilding2.jpg

[Darrell Ward]

I had never heard of this place, so I looked it up. It was one of the homes Andrew Carnegie built, who I guess was like the Bill Gates of his time. Check this out. This had to be an unbelievable place back in the day...http://www.flickr.com/photos/45844086@N05/5554656410/lightbox/

[Second Hand Pat]

Next we headed to the beachside of the island which was a 1/2 mile walk. Note how empty the beach is.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/DungenessBeach1.jpg

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/DungenessBeach2.jpg

Sand dunes and these protect the island from the surge of a hurricane.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/BeachSandDunes.jpg

[Darrell Ward]

Some of the outbuildings of Dungeness. Any idea the purpose for these.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/DungenessOutbuilding1.jpg
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/DungenessOutbuilding2.jpg

For staff or guests I would think.

[Second Hand Pat]

I had never heard of this place, so I looked it up. It was one of the homes Andrew Carnegie built, who I guess was like the Bill Gates of his time. Check this out. This had to be an unbelievable place back in the day...http://www.flickr.com/photos/45844086@N05/5554656410/lightbox/

Yes Darrell it was. There are history timelines of the island online. http://ecoinformatics.uvm.edu/SET/cumberland_history.html if interested.

[Second Hand Pat]

Maybe Darrell, but most of the outbuildings served a use for the plantation which are almost self sustaining in the day.

[Darrell Ward]

Back of Dungeness from near the water

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/BackofDungeness4.jpg

Looking from Dungeness to the water.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/BackofDungenessBoathouse.jpg

Have no idea what the building was. Any ideas?

Looks like a well in the bottom picture. Perhaps the building is a pump house.

[Second Hand Pat]

From here we headed north about a mile down the beach to the trail which headed back to the landing to catch the ferry back.

Walking the beach and it was hot that afternoon.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/Walkingthebeach.jpg

Boardwalk back to the forest.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/BacktotheShade.jpg

When we arrived back to the forest I took this picture of this oak. The white behind the oak is a sand dune. They were huge.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/OakTreewithSandDuneInBackground.jpg

[Second Hand Pat]

More later

[Second Hand Pat]

Looks like a well in the bottom picture. Perhaps the building is a pump house.

It does, guess I should have asked more questions. :) Heck of a long way to haul water.

[strawberryblonde]

Some of the outbuildings of Dungeness. Any idea the purpose for these.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/DungenessOutbuilding1.jpg
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/DungenessOutbuilding2.jpg

I'm pretty sure the building on the right is a guest house (more like mansion to me, but hey, they built BIG back then!)

On the left, the circular structure is most likely one of 2 original, 2 story sections of yet another guest house. Picture them on each corner of the front of the home and then fill in the middle section of the house with doors and windows and you'll get a good idea of what the place looked like. On the far left of the bottom pic you can see the remaining chimney from that house too. It must have been quite impressive back in the day!

Oh, and how did I know that round thingy was actually one of a pair of 2 story "turrets" on a house? Easy peasy, my brother bought a house with those turrets on it and started restoring it 20 years ago. My Mom actually claimed the first completely renovated turret as her own personal space and LOVED the awesome views from the second story. She joked about feeling like she was Rapunzel when she sat up there in her reading room. LOL

[Disgirl]

Interesting pics Pat! A very historic house in our city, Tryon Palace, built in late 1700's, has a round building like that only brick. It was used as a pigeon house, to raise them in for people to eat! Maybe the other larger building was a detached kitchen?
Barb

[Darrell Ward]

I found a picture of this house in 1958 before it burned in 1959. The other one looks much earlier, but it's undated. Looks like a different house, perhaps it was remodeled at some point?

[Disgirl]

Wow, that was some house, I mean mansion!
Barb

[strawberryblonde]

I found a picture of this house in 1958 before it burned in 1959. The other one looks much earlier, but it's undated. Looks like a different house, perhaps it was remodeled at some point?

Aha! The main house had one of those turret-like thingies on it too! They were really popular in the early 1900's...guess they reminded people of the castles found all over Europe.

[Darrell Ward]

Yeah, it's a shame it burned. I love old mansions like that. Such extravagance speaks of a time the world will never see again. It's simply far too expensive even for the mega rich to build like that in the modern world. Modern mansions use far cheaper materials. I guess I'm weird. I like reading old tombstones too. Can't wait to see more of your pics Pat! Very cool.

[Second Hand Pat]

Hey guys, the pictures of the ruined outbuilding could have been a recreation building. Check out this link about 2/3 down the page.

http://www.camdencounty.org/html/cumberland_island.html

[Darrell Ward]

Yep. It very well could be. It would interesting to snoop around that place, or at least talk to someone that still remembers the place before it was all ruined. You could then easily piece a lot of this stuff together. I'm sure they wouldn't let people snoop around though without special permits and permission, and I'm sure most all of the people that remember facts about the place are no longer around.

[Second Hand Pat]

I see similaries between these two pictures. The link above this post ids this as the recreation building.

68671

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/DungenessOutbuilding1.jpg

[Second Hand Pat]

Yep. It very well could be. It would interesting to snoop around that place, or at least talk to someone that still remembers the place before it was all ruined. You could then easily piece a lot of this stuff together. I'm sure they wouldn't let people snoop around though without special permits and permission, and I'm sure most all of the people that remember facts about the place are no longer around.

Darrell, there is a fair amount of history captioned in the park service displays and the rangers seem to know a lot. Everyone seems open to snooping :)

[Darrell Ward]

Yes. Even though they are likely years between these pictures, I agree it looks like the same place.

[Second Hand Pat]

Yes. Even though they are likely years between these pictures, I agree it looks like the same place.

The attachment was taken in 2000.

[Darrell Ward]

Well, they cleaned up around it a bit in 11 years, but in the meantime, the dang roof fell in! LOL!

[Second Hand Pat]

Yea I know. When we were walking to the beach we passed a fair amount of intact buildings as well as foundations. BTW I love the old mansions too. We did not get to see any others. :(

I do have a another set of pictures to post in the morning which are the second day we were there.

[Darrell Ward]

I lived in Coastal South Carolina for about 20 years. We used to take the boat up the Black River to just look around. They are still several old rice plantation homes intact there, well kept, as well as some ruins. You can only see them from the river. Also, a lot of the old levee system is still intact on the river from the rice planting era. Pretty cool. Most of the docks are long gone, but a lot the fancy brick steps going up the river bank toward the houses are still there. No doubt these bricks were made by hand and laid by slave labor. (In the rice planting era, the river was the road.) At the time, "Carolina Gold" rice was said to be the most popular rice in the world. I suppose the Union Army didn't burn these houses because either they didn't know about them, or they didn't want to trench thru swamps filled with snakes and gators to get to them.

[brewmaster15]

Pat,
That place looks like a great destination...wildlife, old buildings,ocean habitat ...perfect photography subjects.I've read about it alot and always wanted to go...now I want to go even more. When I looked into it, it seemed it was hard to find good accomodations ...any suggestions? You can pm them if you prefer. I'd probably make the trip in April.

Thanks!
-al

[roundfishross]

My family and my uncle still shrimp fish these waters, during the night time uncle usually ties up in front of the brick yard on cumberland. uncle's old high school friend is Henry kate he is the caretaker of the rockafellar mansions on cumberland, coolest job ever you should see the yacht they provide him to get back and forth from st simmons to cumberland!

[brewmaster15]

Leo, hows the weather there in February or April?

-al

[roundfishross]

Al,
I would think pretty chilly in Feb. but april should be great!

incedentally dont just go and think you can load up your buddies and a weeks worth of beer then travel up the intracoastal waterway to go camping there without a "permit" they will ask your drunken a** to pack up your crap and leave.....lol

[roundfishross]

christmas creek on the offshore side is world famous for being an awesome fishing hole but it is pretty dangerous to get there and if the wind changes while you're there you are in big trouble getting back!

[Second Hand Pat]

Pat,
That place looks like a great destination...wildlife, old buildings,ocean habitat ...perfect photography subjects.I've read about it alot and always wanted to go...now I want to go even more. When I looked into it, it seemed it was hard to find good accomodations ...any suggestions? You can pm them if you prefer. I'd probably make the trip in April.

Thanks!
-al


Al, we stayed at the "CUMBERLAND ISLAND INN & SUITES" http://hotelreservations.com/propdetail.aspx?numberofbedrooms=1&locale=US&currencycode=USD&hotelID=135976&arrivaldate=10/22/2011&departuredate=10/24/2011&rooms=1&room1=2,0. Tom updated to a suite which was $95 a night. This motel is an older model where room assess is on the outside of the buildings. Two rooms were combined to consist of a suite and included a kitchen, a pullup sofa and two queen beds. The rooms are nice (not fancy), beds comfy, plenty of hot water and quiet. It is about five minutes from the ferry dock. If you want fancy there are beds and breakfast in the area, there is even one of the island at $500 a night :( two nights minimum.

You will need to pack everything. There are water fountains and restrooms on the island at the two landing points, Dungeness and Sea Camp. Make your reservations on the ferry well ahead of time.

[Second Hand Pat]

My family and my uncle still shrimp fish these waters, during the night time uncle usually ties up in front of the brick yard on cumberland. uncle's old high school friend is Henry kate he is the caretaker of the rockafellar mansions on cumberland, coolest job ever you should see the yacht they provide him to get back and forth from st simmons to cumberland!

Leo, I bet the fishing is awesome. Love fishing. :)

[Second Hand Pat]

So the second day we got off at the second ferry landing which is called Sea Camp. This landing is a little more north then Dungeness. We decided to hike north through the woods, cut over to the beach, hike south down the beach to the trail leading back to Sea Camp and catch the ferry back to St Mary's.

We went to the main road and found a trail marked the parallel trail and took that. This trail goes north is through the coastal forest.

Looks like this
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/WalkingtheTrail.jpg

Here's a short little clip

http://s925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/?action=view&current=WalkingtheTrail-1.mp4


There's a skink in this picture. Can you find it? A little to the left of the palmetto.
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/Skink.jpg

[Second Hand Pat]

Found this huge oak. Tom is 6 foot.
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/BigOak.jpg

Top of the huge oak
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/TopofBigOak.jpg

[Second Hand Pat]

We walked about a mile and found one of the trails to the beach. When we reached the dunes there was a pavilion, perfect for lunch and some great views of the dunes.
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/Lunch.jpg

Here is another short clip

http://s925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/?action=view&current=LunchStop.mp4

Sand dune vegetation.
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/SandDuneVegation.jpg
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/SandDunePalmTree.jpg

The dune area seemed to be anywhere between 500 to 700 feet between the forest and the ocean and many 10/15 feet tall.

[Second Hand Pat]

Once we got to the beach there was totally no one of the beach. Truly a once in a lifetime event for me.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/EmptyBeach-NoPeople2.jpg
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/EmptyBeach-NoPeople3.jpg

Another short clip of the beach.

http://s925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/?action=view&current=EmptyBeach.mp4

[Second Hand Pat]

From here we headed south along the beach. The recent hurricane had kicked up lots of shells and the beach was full of clams, conchs and whelks, many of them still live and many dead or dying. The beach crabs dragged many of the smallest ones to their holes for their dining pleasure. The ones which were too big they had made their holes next to the shell.

We threw many of the living snail back into the water knowing they would most likely wash up again. I did collect some nice whelks. There were also many horse shoe crabs washed up and they were huge.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/Seabirds.jpg

Short clip of the beach and ocean.

http://s925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/?action=view&current=Beach.mp4

[Second Hand Pat]

Made it back to the trail back to Sea Camp and walked to the forest. Found an outside speaking area. See the oak in the background

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/OutsideSpeakingArea.jpg

Huge oak, largest we saw on the island.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/HugeOak.jpg

Quick clip of the forest. Forgot to remain quiet. :)


http://s925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/?action=view&current=ForestView.mp4

[Second Hand Pat]

Time to go home :(

Shoreline on the lee side of the island.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/IslandShoreline.jpg

Time for loading

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/FerryLanding-1.jpg

Another quick clip.


http://s925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/?action=view&current=Shoreline.mp4

Clip of the ferry pulling up to the last stop.


http://s925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/?action=view&current=FerryLanding.mp4

We had a blast and if you get a change to go do :)

[Second Hand Pat]

One last one for Al, Mr lizard man.


http://s925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cumberland%20Island%20National%20Seashore/?action=view&current=Wildlife.mp4

[jaykne]

Wow Pat just saw this, I wish I knew you were coming down could have got an even better room for half the price, I live 6 miles from where the Ferry leaves been to Cumberland Island a hundred times I have lived here since 1992.

[Second Hand Pat]

Larry, I had no clue you were that close. You in St Mary? Maybe next time now that I know you are close.

[jaykne]

I am in Kingsland right next to St Marys, like I said only 6 miles from the water front, if you got off at the first or second exit off I-95 only a mile from my house!!! Now you know why I have Jacksonville as where I live St Marys and Kingsland both tiny towns and only half hour from downtown JAX.

[Keith Perkins]

Looks like it was quite the awesome time. I know I certainly would have enjoyed it.

[Second Hand Pat]

I am in Kingsland right next to St Marys, like I said only 6 miles from the water front, if you got off at the first or second exit off I-95 only a mile from my house!!! Now you know why I have Jacksonville as where I live St Marys and Kingsland both tiny towns and only half hour from downtown JAX.

Larry, next time I am in the neighbor hood I will holler at you. Be great meet up :)


Looks like it was quite the awesome time. I know I certainly would have enjoyed it.

Keith, if you like nature and historic buildings it is definitely worth a visit. We can a great time but it was hot.

[scottthomas]

christmas creek on the offshore side is world famous for being an awesome fishing hole but it is pretty dangerous to get there and if the wind changes while you're there you are in big trouble getting back!

I visit friends in St Marys several times a year and fish Christmas creek often. Not suggested to go in there in a small boat unless experienced with the area or similar tidal areas. It can be scary and can get really rough with tide moving and or wind.