Sapelo Island Atlantic Coast Camping & Stargazing Weekend

Are you a beach lover who enjoys the wonders of nature and a healthy dose of adventure—plus perhaps occasionally a little luxury when you're camping?  This may be the perfect trip for you!  Sapelo is a beautiful barrier island on the Georgia coast about 40 miles south of Savannah.  Its pristine natural beaches and wilderness areas are enhanced by its protected status as a "National Estuarine Research Reserve."

We'll have exclusive use of the GA DNR's oceanside Cabretta Campsite with tons of level shaded tent space.  There are also 3 screened hardwood-floored Adirondack buildings—sleep in one if you like in lieu of bringing your tent.  The huge group campsite has hot showers, flush toilets, safe drinking water, large picnic tables, and a spacious fire ring—and we'll be transported directly from the ferry dock to and from the site.  The trip is highly suitable both for those who prefer taking a minimum of camping gear and also for those who are happier with their queen-size air mattresses, multi-burner Coleman stoves, and big coolers filled with ice, fresh food and cold drinks. 

ABUNDANT THINGS TO SEE AND DO:  Like Cumberland Island to its south, Sapelo is blessed with lovely secluded beaches, sea-oat-capped sand dunes, mossy liveoak forests, abundant seabirds & wildlife, and historic ruins.  We'll visit the island's friendly natives in a quaint village called "Hog Hammock"—also the palatial "Reynolds Mansion," the Marine Research Institute, and the beautifully restored 190-year-old Sapelo lighthouse on the island's south end.  We expect to have use of a rental van to facilitate these excursions.  Late August weather should be great for enjoying the sun and surf on the incredible beach, hiking, birdwatching, and sightseeing.  If there's enough interest we can consider an excursion across the narrow tidal creek that separates our beach from neighboring Blackbeard Island.  Your trip leader Charlie plans to bring a couple of inflatable rafts to ferry us over and back for this optional adventure.

STARGAZING FUN!  An avid amateur astronomer, Charlie plans to take his telescope along to share with the group.  Weather permitting, we should have excellent views of the 2-million-light-years-distant Andromeda Galaxy, Jupiter and its four "Galilean" moons, Venus, and other heavenly wonders.  At night there's no better place on the entire Atlantic coast for gazing upward at shooting stars, the constellations, and the brilliant Milky Way.  The beach's dark skies will be enhanced on this trip by the fact that there will be only a thin crescent moon in the western sky at dusk.

GROUP MEALS PLAN:  Charlie will provide a big Saturday evening "Low-Country Boil" group seafood & veggies dinner at the campsite, included in our trip price.  Our Friday evening dinner and Sat & Sun breakfasts will be informally shared "pot-luck style," with each camper who chooses to participate simply contributing an ingredient or small dish, salad, dessert item, etc. of your choice.  We'll consolidate our picnic tables, coolers and cooking & dining gear beside one of the screened shelters to facilitate this.  Since most of us will be out exploring, beachcombing, etc. during lunchtime on Sat and Sun, we suggest that each person carry in your light daypack a few snack items, pieces of fruit, water, etc.

TRIP SCHEDULE & LOGISTICS:  We'll meet optionally for carpooling at 8:00 AM Friday in the shaded rear parking lot of the Holiday Inn Atlanta South at I-75 Exit #235—see directions to that lot below, or drive down independently to the coast if you prefer.  It's about a 4.5-hour drive from Atlanta to the mainland ferry dock & Sapelo Visitor Center in Meridian, GA via I-75, I-16, I-95, and GA-99—see detailed directions below.  At 3:00 PM Friday afternoon we'll load our gear onto the ferry after a stop at the Visitor Center.  The ferry will depart for Sapelo at 3:30 PM sharp, arriving at about 3:50.  At the island dock we'll be met by a GA DNR bus driver who will take us and all our gear directly to our beach-side Cabretta Campsite—about 5 miles NE of the island dock.  We'll have two full days and nights to enjoy this beautiful campsite and the other wonderful things the island has to offer.  We'll return to the mainland on the 4:00 PM Sun. ferry and expect to be back in Atlanta by about 10:30 PM Sunday night. 

"PRE-TRIP PLANNING MEETING" prior to AUGUST AOC SOCIAL at "COCKTAIL COVE", TUE AUG. 11, 6:30-7:30 PM :  If your schedule permits, please plan to join us for this informal "pre-Social" happy-hour planning meeting at one of the interior booths at "Cocktail Cove" (one block north of the I-285 Roswell Road exit in Sandy Springs).  We'll introduce one another, pre-arrange some of our carpooling groups, discuss directions, gear, meals & activities, and address all of your questions and suggestions about the trip. 

FOR MORE ON SAPELO:  Go to the excellent Wikipedia article at the following link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapelo_Island