Sapelo Island Atlantic Coast Camping & Beachcombing Weekend

OVERVIEW:  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.
  Like Cumberland Island to its south there is no bridge or highway connecting Sapelo with the mainland.  Visiting groups such as ours make advance reservations on the public ferry which takes only 20 to 30 minutes each way.
  The 2-mile-long beach by our campsite is a wonderful place to be in the fall—we'll have it all to ourselves and can relax on the sand, beachcomb for exotic shells and observe thousands of shore birds. The average late October temperature range is from mid-50s at night to low-80s during the day.  Another big plus of camping on GA's barrier islands at this time of year is that there are relatively few biting insects.

CAMPING AMENITIES:  We'll have exclusive use of the GA DNR's oceanside Cabretta Campsite with more than an acre of level shaded tenting space.  A big bonus of the site is a spacious roofed dining pavilion—also there are three screen-fronted hardwood-floored Adirondack buildings—sleep in one if you like in lieu of bringing your tent!  The group campsite has safe drinking water, numerous picnic tables and a spacious fire ring.  The big comfort station has hot showers, lavatories and flush toilets—even a dishwashing sink!  We'll be transported by bus (along with all our gear) directly from the ferry dock to and from this private group site.  It's fine to take "car-camping" style gear; e.g. big coolers filled with ice, fresh food and our favorite cold drinks - also multi-burner Coleman propane stoves and large nonstick pots & pans.

ABUNDANT THINGS TO SEE AND DO:  Like Cumberland Island, Sapelo is blessed with lovely secluded beaches, sea-oat-capped sand dunes, forests of huge gnarled mossy live oaks, abundant seabirds & wildlife, and historic ruins.  Beachcombing, shell collecting and stargazing on our private beach are always spectacular!  We also usually see wild dolphins and alligators!
  For this trip we're arranging a special optional Saturday sightseeing tour of the 20-square-mile Island.  Our friend J. R. Grovner is a Sapelo native and lifelong resident of its quaint "Hog Hammock" community; his ancestors were slaves who lived and worked on the Island more than 150 years ago. For a nominal per-person contribution J. R. will drive us all over the island, with walking stops at the beautifully restored 190-year-old Sapelo lighthouse on the island's south end, its adjoining "Nanny Goat Beach, the Marine Research Institute, the grounds of the palatial "Reynolds Mansion," Hog Hammock (and its pub!) - also the remote north end of the Island with its historic French "tabby ruins" and Raccoon Bluff church.
  It's possible also that some of us may arrange to paddle over to legendary "Blackbeard Island" and back— it's just across Blackbeard Creek from the north end of our lovely campsite island, Cabretta.

GROUP MEALS PLAN & SUGGESTED FOOD & GEAR:  (Also refer to notes below under "Required Items to Bring.")  The trip leaders will provide all the ingredients for a big Saturday evening group dinner, included in our trip price.
   The other dinner and both breakfasts will be informally prepared and shared "pot-luck style" at our Cabretta campsite dining pavilion, with each camper who chooses to participate simply contributing an ingredient or small dish, salad, dessert item, etc. of your choice.
  Lunches: During much of each day we'll likely be away from the campsite exploring, beachcombing, etc. so we suggest that each person bring a light daypack and be prepared to carry with you a few items to snack on such as a piece of fruit, sandwich, trail mix, cookies, water, etc.—plus your camera, etc. 

TRIP SCHEDULE & LOGISTICS:  It's about a 4.5-hour drive from Atlanta to the mainland ferry dock and its adjoining "Sapelo Visitor Center" in Meridian, GA via I-75, I-16, I-95, and GA-99—see our detailed Directions below.  For this Sapelo trip our scheduled Public Ferry Departure will be at 3:30 PM sharp on Friday.  It will be imperative for each of us to be there at the dock no later than 3:00 PM Friday for loading and boarding.
  We expect that the most of our group on this trip will opt for our "general Carpooling plan." (See details below: meeting Friday at 9:00 AM at the I-75 "Stockbridge Road" Park & Ride lot.) It's also fine to pair up in advance and depart Atlanta at mutually agreeable times and places. For any who prefer to drive down during the day or evening on Thursday there are various inexpensive lodging options near the mainland ferry dock.
  At 2:30 PM Friday we'll gather at the Sapelo Visitor Center near the mainland ferry dock, and at 3:00 PM drive our vehicles temporarily to the dock and load our gear onto the ferry (see directions below).  Let's all avoid bringing numerous small separate items and have our personal things well consolidated inside large rugged containers, duffels, etc. (see more below).  Although we never have to walk our camping gear more than 40 or 50 yards it's a good idea to pack wisely and cull out any unnecessary items.
  Our vehicles will have free parking all weekend at the Visitor Center near the mainland dock. The ferry will depart for Sapelo at 3:30 PM sharp, arriving at about 4:00 PM Friday.  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 about 48 hours on the Island to enjoy this beautiful campsite and the many other wonderful things Sapelo has to offer.
  Our charter bus pick-up at the campsite will be at 2:00 PM on Sunday for our trip back to the island ferry dock.  We have ferry reservations to depart Sapelo at 4:00 PM Sunday, and expect to arrive back at our vehicles about 4:30 PM.  This makes it likely that we all can be back in Atlanta by about 10:30 PM Sunday, assuming a stop for dinner and gas en route home.

"PRE-TRIP PLANNING HAPPY HOUR," TUE OCT 8, 6:30-7:30 PM in conjunction with 2nd-Tue AOC SOCIAL at "TACO MAC":  If your schedule permits, please drop in and join us for this informal "pre-Social" happy-hour planning meeting at the Taco Mac (in "The Prado" shopping center, 1/4 mile south of the I-285 Roswell Road exit in Sandy Springs).  No problem if you have to arrive late - just look for us around a table full of maps & handouts on the covered porch.  We'll introduce one another, help pre-arrange "custom carpooling" groups, discuss directions, gear, meals & activities, and address all of your questions and suggestions about the trip. After our meeting we'll have plenty of time to enjoy more of the Social!

FOR MORE on SAPELO CLICK on THESE LINKS:
Excellent Wikipedia article:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapelo_Island
Satellite Photo of Sapelo and its adjoining barrier islands:
http://en.bestpicturesof.com/i/Satellite%20View%20of%20Sapelo%20Island/14149257
Lorri Meyer's Sapelo Photo Album from June 2013 AOC trip: https://picasaweb.google.com/115116507155383750859/SapeloIslandJune2013?authkey=Gv1sRgCIKNydDqgpmCHg&feat=email#
Allison Adams' Sapelo Photo Album from our Aug 2009 AOC trip:
http://megasuperstar.shutterfly.com/262
Lisa Maldonado Santore's Photo Album from AOC Labor Day wkehd 2007 trip:  http://lsantore.smugmug.com/Travel/Sapelo-Island/3460146_VzEB3#194475447_G5PMg

FROM ATLANTA to SAPELO ISLAND MAINLAND FERRY DOCK & VISITOR CENTER, Meridian, GA 31304, about 295 miles total:
1. Take I-75 South ~85 miles to Macon. (If your point of departure is the East or NE side of Atlanta you may wish to connect to I-75 via I-285 and I-675.  Important:  When approaching Macon AVOID the I-475 bypass by bearing left on I-75 at Mile #177.)
2. At I-75 Exit #165 in Macon, bear Left off I-75 onto I-16 East toward Savannah, andcontinue ~157 miles to the I-95 Interchange just west of Savannah.
3. Merge Right from I-16 onto I-95 South at Exit #157 (I-95 Exit #99 en route back), and take I-95 South ~41 miles.
4. Get off I-95 to your right at Exit #58, "GA-57, Townsend-Eulonia, GA."  (For those who may wish to drive down a day early there are various inexpensive lodging options near this exit.)
5. Turn Left onto GA-57/ GA-99 and stay on GA-99 (eastward and southward) for about 9.5 miles (crossing US-17 en route). Look on your left for the following large rectangular sign on the same corner as a church: "Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Center."
6. Turn Left off GA-99 just before the above sign onto the paved Sapelo Island Dock Road (a.k.a. "Landing Rd"), turn Right over the small bridge, and follow the road to its dead end at the Visitor Center & Ferry Dock (~0.8 mile total from GA-99).  Congratulations—you made it!

FOR GPS NAVIGATION (or GOOGLE.com/maps, etc.) in conjunction with above DIRECTIONS:  You can enter the Sapelo Mainland Dock's Lat/Lon Coordinates 31.4550,-81.3647 as your destination. Also, for a zoomable map & satellite view of the dock and adjoining Visitor Center vicinity, click on the rectangular blue & green "Event Location" icon near the top of this online article.

GROUP PROCEDURE at MAINLAND DOCK and ADJOINING "SAPELO VISITOR CENTER":  At about 2:30 PM Friday we suggest that you stop by the Visitor Center where you can enjoy its free museum displays of the island's natural, geologic and human history, check out their T-shirts and other nice souvenirs, and pick up free Island maps, brochures, etc.  We'll load our gear onto the ferry at about 3:00 PM. The AOC trip leader will pay for our group ferry fare at the Visitor Center and simply present that receipt as our "group ticket" after we board.  As discussed in the event itinerary our Ferry departure will be at 3:30 PM sharp.

PARKING PROCEDURE NEAR MAINLAND DOCK:  For unloading your heavier gear from our vehicles we may park temporarily at the farthest dead-end of the road (beside the dock and ferry office) but over the weekend we must park either in the marked spaces at the Visitor Center or along the shoulders of the dock road, at least 100 yards from the dock.  Parking is FREE!

• Round-trip Ferry between Mainland Dock and Island (group schedule in itinerary above),
• Round-trip charter Bus Transportation between Sapelo Island dock and Campsite,
• Two nights Oceanside Camping at Cabretta Group Campsite (Sleep in screened Adirondack Building in lieu of your tent if you prefer.)
• Hot Showers, Flush Toilets, Running Potable Water + other misc. Island amenities & Group Supplies,
• Saturday evening group Dinner at campsite's Dining Pavilion.

*NOTE: It is your responsibility to get your payment in on time. Please allow two days for processing a PayPal transaction.  Any personal checks must be hand delivered to an AOC Officer or Treasurer by the Oct 11 payment deadline.

CANCELLATION POLICY: If you cancel on or before Oct 11, full payment will be refunded less a $6 administrative fee. No refund after Oct 11 unless someone replaces you and pays in full, and then you will receive a full refund less a $6 administrative fee. No partial payment for partial attendance. If the trip leader cancels the event, full payment will be refunded. If you do not cancel your attendance or fail to show up for the event, you are still responsible for full payment.