Thu, Oct 15 2015 - Sapelo Island Atlantic Coast Camping, Beachcombing & Island Festival Weekend (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Charlie Cottingham Participants: Charlie Cottingham, Herm D, Lorri, Sharon, Mike S, Joyce, Tara T, Robert Tucci, Eric, Alan Seitman, Autumn H, Bob Drakes, Huiling, John, Kristina, Marina, Tatiana, David Duffey, Angela, Alan, Eulah, Laura, Julie kendall, Sharon Baldwin

  Our adventurous group of 24 spent an unforgettable weekend together on this amazing "crown jewel" of GA's barrier islands. The weather was picture perfect for exploring its gorgeous beaches, observing its wild bald eagles, shore birds, dolphins, gators & deer - also for bicycling, kayaking to neighboring Blackbeard Island, and marveling at the brilliant wonders of the night sky. The Milky Way was glorious overhead as was a rare close assemblage of Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Mercury over the ocean just above the rising sun.
  At our oceanside Cabretta group campsite we had a nonstop party going all weekend with blazing campfires, games, sing-alongs, bountiful culinary delights and no shortage of kick-a$$ liquid refreshments!
  At the invitation of the Island's friendly natives we shared delicious island specialties and live music with them at their annual "Cultural Day" festivities in Hog Hammock. Many of us also enjoyed a guided bus tour with our friend JR Grovner that included the famous Sapelo lighthouse and the palatial Reynolds Mansion estate.
  Mark your calendars for another of these fun-filled annual AOC Sapelo trips, already reserved for Oct 13-16, 2016!
  I look forward to adding below the links to our various online photo albums so we can share the best of our hundreds of colorful shots.  Also I'll welcome any humorous or insightful anecdotes about the trip that I'll gladly add to this writeup!
 -Submitted by Charlie, Tue Oct 20

Addendum by Charlie on Oct 27:  Thanks esp. to our friend Herm Donatelli for his numerous contributions to our enjoyment of the trip and for his always cheerful "can-do" disposition.  Below is Herm's recent e-note to the group with the link to an album of some of his own favorite photos that he took during the trip, including several amazing closeups of birds in flight that he shot with his zoom/telephoto lens.  The high-power "spotting scope" that Herm brought and shared was indispensable both for observing wildlife and for nighttime viewing of the Andromeda Galaxy, Jupiter's moons and other celestial wonders.

"Hi all,  I second all the kudos to Charlie for organizing such a fun trip.  Seeing some prior trip friends, making new friends, and spending time with all of you around the food court and firepit is what makes these trips special.  And the venue is spectacular.  I include below a link to a few of my photos made around the island and campsite.  Please enjoy them and I hope to see all of you out there soon on a hike or paddle!  -Herm"