Thu, Oct 16 2014 - Sapelo Island Atlantic Coast Camping, Beachcombing & Island Festival Weekend (View Original Event Details)
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Our fun-loving group of 25 AOCers shared an unforgettable fall trip to historic Sapelo, with three nights of "glamping" in the spectacular live-oak-canopied oceanside Cabretta group site and an amazing variety of memorable things to do on the island. The weather could hardly have been more perfect! - in the 60s & 70s all weekend, with four days of continuous clear skies and millions of brilliant stars overhead each night.
Besides great beachcombing, delicious food & refreshments, and lots of socializing & laughter, three "bonuses" made this Sapelo trip even more memorable:
1. CULTURAL DAY: On Saturday we got to be part of the Island's annual Cultural Day Festival, a "welcome-all" family reunion of sorts produced by the Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society, SICARS. Hundreds of friendly folks from all over the country take the ferry over and back from the mainland and descend upon the tiny community of Hog Hammock for this outdoor celebration (3rd Saturday in October each year) featuring live music, dancing, storytelling, arts & crafts, and mouth-watering island delicacies such as barbecued ribs, smoked mullet, fried shrimp & whiting, and numerous delicious sides.
2. ISLAND TOUR: On Friday morning we enjoyed a guided 3-hour bus tour of the Island's major attractions, including Hog Hammock village, the Reynolds Mansion, Nanny Goat Beach, the beautifully restored Sapelo Lighthouse, and "Long Tabby," the marsh-side site of the island's old post office. Chuck, our knowledgable and friendly driver-guide, filled in for "JR," our usual driver who is Chuck's cousin. Chuck had lots of interesting new lore to share that we Sapelo "veterans" had not already learned from JR.
3. BICYCLES! Our helpful campsite hosts, Doug and Lisa, made a fleet of nice new bikes available to us all weekend, and we put them to good use exploring the Island. It was refreshing and heartwarming to us that the couple were glad to accept our individual payment for the informally shared bikes on the "honor system" as we departed the island (and likewise for on-site ice to top off our coolers).
Our beachcombing walks on our three miles of pristine white sand beach and "wade-able" sand bars at Cabretta were rewarded with sightings of lovely pelicans, ospreys - even a couple of bald eagles. Many of us picked up a variety of pretty shells including rare "sand dollars" and gawked at the amazing shapes of gnarled driftwood and dead trees. Some of us also got to witness brilliant sunrises over the ocean and sunsets over the marsh by the campsite. Thanks to the many in our group who took the the time to shoot photos. We jointly got hundreds of excellent shots including those of people, island scenery, fascinating fauna & flora, shells and still life. (Thanks in advance to our Sapelo campers for emailing me the links to your online photo albums. I'd love to add to them this archive!) Thanks to David Duffey for emailing me a few shots already including this one of our "group-carved" Jack-o-Lantern:
We kept a bright campfire going late into the night all 3 nights, making good use of our truckload of cut firewood and "fat lighter" kindling that an island friend had delivered for us. Our sessions around the campfire were a blast, including jokes & stories, songs, poetry and roasted marshmallows.
Thanks to everyone in the group for your delicious contributions to our "potluck" group meals and for sharing so cheerfully in their preparation, serving and cleanup! Thanks especially to my AOC co-leader and old friend Bobby Marie who did a great job on all aspects of the trip including prep & serving of our delicious Friday night dinner. Kudos and thanks also to David our "Grillmaster," Kevin our "Campfiremaster," Dale our "Starmaster" and Robin our "Music Maestro"! David did more than his share of keeping our charcoal grills "fired up," as did Kevin with our campfires. Thanks to Dale for using his handy laser pointer to show everyone how to enjoy with our naked eye the 2-million-light-years-distant Andromeda Galaxy and other heavenly wonders.
Saturday night we gathered around Robin and enjoyed singing along with her and her (and her cool little travel guitar) on dozens of old favorites such as Bob Dylan, John Denver, Leonard Cohen and John Prine songs. It was an honor to have Robin accompany me on flute as I offered my own musical tribute to Sapelo - a song about my "favorite island" that I reproduce below.
Just after boarding the ferry for our return trip to the mainland we observed and photographed three dolphins swimming together down the channel by the dock, surfacing together every few seconds. We then got a kick out of attracting dozens of beautiful sea gulls by tossing bits of crackers and bread upward off the ferry's top deck and watching the graceful aerialists dive and catch the morsels in midair just a few feet from our outstretched hands.
-1st Draft by Charlie, Mon AM, Oct 20, 2014
TRIP ANECDOTES & SHARED ONLINE PHOTO ALBUMS:
Herman Donatelli: Just wanted to add my thanks to Charlie, Bobby, and all the other campers for making the trip a rousing success. The pre-planning was awesome, the communications to the group were superb, and the cooperative "can do" attitude of the entire group was phenomenal. Really enjoyed the company of the group at mealtimes and the sharing of everyone's favorite items. Food always seems to bring people together ! Enclosing a link to my Flickr photo album of the trip for all to enjoy ! Let's do it again ! Regards to all, Herm https://www.flickr.com/photos/127095163@N04/sets/72157648490349627/
Lorri Meyer (Facebook Album):
https://plus.google.com/photos/115116507155383750859/albums/6072338870208912385?gpinv=AMIXal_ld_1myTzpo9NXjC6L1Mh5Tx-sZ47MS81BgzcpnoCcqHG7GMH-4ofSc_1h3copJjGDPqLLCGYG1SNAOo3JcaGf5dthcv8Bv8T2pAvF7dT9t_E23g8&cfem=1&authkey=CLn9noKRgrHEpAE
SAPELO SONG
Lyrics & music by Charlie Cottingham, 2012-14
Sapelo, what an Island, where you can't keep from smilin',
Where clouds seldom linger and friendships last long;
Her golden strand shines before us as the shorebirds in chorus
Sing their old Sapelo song.
In her forest sublime gnarly liveoaks and pine
Wearing Spanish moss cloaks can beguile;
'Neath her star-studded sky we kneel and ask why
We should be blessed with this beautiful isle.
Sapelo, what an Island, where you can't keep from smilin',
As deer roam her meadows and dunes, proud and strong;
In sparkling streams around us playful dolphins astound us,
The lore of the sea in their song.
In Hog Hammock fine folk, with a smile and a joke,
Warmly will welcome you there,
Where tradition survives, island culture still thrives,
And there always is plenty to share!
Sapelo, what an Island, where you can't keep from smilin',
Exploring her marshlands and beaches so fair;
Her lofty lighthouse beckons, and you bet we all reckon
To be back again year after year!
Her golden strand shines before us as we join in the chorus...
And sing our old Sapelo song!
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