We decided to take the sea and land tour to Cumberland Island GA today that the National Parks Service offers.  We heard that there were wild horses, ruins and a mansion that we would visit.  On the ferry ride out we got to view a Nuclear Sub with escorts heading to sea.  One we got on the island, for $20 we got a 5 hour van tour that was fantastic.  I had no idea that something so close could be so rural and borderline wilderness.  It’s as if time has stood still since the 1930’s and that included the so called “dirt roads” that are carved out through the woods, huge ruts and all.  We bounced from one end of the island to the other.  We got to tour one of the Carnegie Mansions, “Plum Orchard” from the top to the basement.  It’s amazing what money would buy back then and when you figure the main house and the 26 out buildings were built for $11,000.  One of their other homes called Dungeness burned down but the ruins are still standing which we got to explore.  We had to watch where we walked as the wild horses left their droppings and were always on the lookout for wildlife.  A few armadillos, deer, horses and lots of various birds crossed our paths during the day.  During our trip to the 1st African Baptist Church we got to hear all of the stories of John and Carolyn Kennedy’s wedding, how they were able to hide it from the press and how they got left behind at the church with the photographer.  They had to hike back on the dirt rutted roads until one of the park rangers who had been on garbage detail passed them and gave them a lift in his pickup truck to the reception.  4 adults in the cab of a smelly truck must have been interesting.  All in all a fascinating day and our park ranger was one of the best we have ever had.

The link below should take you to the pictures I posted on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3657757537619.120333.1685041929&type=1&l=f067a0597d