Georgia Coast

[Ron in Atlanta]

Spent last weekend down in the marsh areas near Richmond Hill and Darien Georgia.  Quite a collection of White Pelicans, Eagles and a distance swimming raccoon.

White Pelicans, must have migrated here from Lake Ingram 

 

The shrimp fleet at the Darien Waterfront

 

At first, I thought this was a discarded dog's plush toy

 

No, mister Racoon out for a swim

 

These guys are thinking, "Did I just see lunch swim by?"

 

Mom Eagle on her nest.  A poor shot because I didn't want to get any closer than 100 meters and disturb her.  Look carefully below the end of her beak, see the fuzzy head of a chick.

A young Eagle takes off.

Perfect weather, more gnats than I've ever seen down there, especially in February!

[Moderator]

Absolutely stunning work, Ron !!

Thanks for sharing.

Marc

[HewesYourDaddy]

Saw an adult Bald Eagle in McQueen's Inlet yesterday.  Where in RH did you put the boat in the water?

[fishmanjj]

Awesome pics Ron ! 

[Ron in Atlanta]

15 hours ago, HewesYourDaddy said:

  Where in RH did you put the boat in the water?

3 places.

If I'm feeling flush, Ft McAllister Marina.  They have a lift and for $1 per foot plus $2, they will place your boat in the water at their dock and keep your trailer brakes out of the water.  31º 53' 08.69" N     81º 12' 43.54"   W

Further East,  on Kilkenny Creek, is Kilkenny Marina.  Also a lift.  31º 47' 19.70"  N       81º 12' 11.20"  W

On poor $$$ days (most of them) I use the nice Fort McAllister Public Boat Ramp, just before the entrance to Ft McAllister on the left.  Nice dock, 2 lanes, it can get muddy at very low tide.   31º 53' 21.33"  N     81º 12' 13.74"  W   Just spray some Salt Away on the brakes JUST AFTER YOU LAUNCH so they don't sit in the sun all day with salt on them.

I did purchase the "lifting Hardware Option" when I bought the boat.  A bow cleat that attaches to the bow eye under the deck for strength and the stern eyes are offset on aluminum blocks to keep the lifting straps from contacting the stern rub rails.  Just makes for a simpler process for launching at a marina with a lift.

There is a "Twice the Ice" dispenser just where you make the left turn off GA Highway 144 on to Ft McAllister Rd.  There is also a Publics Supermarket on Ga Highway 144 just before the turn to Ft McAllister.  20 lbs of ice, cheap.

[HewesYourDaddy]

23 hours ago, Ron in Atlanta said:

3 places.

If I'm feeling flush, Ft McAllister Marina.  They have a lift and for $1 per foot plus $2, they will place your boat in the water at their dock and keep your trailer brakes out of the water.  31º 53' 08.69" N     81º 12' 43.54"   W

Further East,  on Kilkenny Creek, is Kilkenny Marina.  Also a lift.  31º 47' 19.70"  N       81º 12' 11.20"  W

On poor $$$ days (most of them) I use the nice Fort McAllister Public Boat Ramp, just before the entrance to Ft McAllister on the left.  Nice dock, 2 lanes, it can get muddy at very low tide.   31º 53' 21.33"  N     81º 12' 13.74"  W   Just spray some Salt Away on the brakes JUST AFTER YOU LAUNCH so they don't sit in the sun all day with salt on them.

I did purchase the "lifting Hardware Option" when I bought the boat.  A bow cleat that attaches to the bow eye under the deck for strength and the stern eyes are offset on aluminum blocks to keep the lifting straps from contacting the stern rub rails.  Just makes for a simpler process for launching at a marina with a lift.

There is a "Twice the Ice" dispenser just where you make the left turn off GA Highway 144 on to Ft McAllister Rd.  There is also a Publics Supermarket on Ga Highway 144 just before the turn to Ft McAllister.  20 lbs of ice, cheap.

Trust me, Ron. I know all about those place. I live minutes away from Kilkenny Marina. A word of advice...... don’t used the ramp at Ft. Mac if you don’t have to. You have to back in entirely too far to get the boat off the trailer. If you’ve never used the ramp at Demeries Creek, I suggest trying it. Take Hwy 144 past Kilkenny Rd. Demeries Creek ramp is a mile and a half or so down on the right. There is a roadside sign at entrance to the facility. Much nicer ramp with steep entry. Your vehicle will never touch the water. You can run across the river to the Sunbury Crab Company for lunch and there are some great photo opportunities along the Medway River. I suggest Dickinson Creek. It has one of the prettiest, high bluffs in the area. 

[RacerxV6]

Wow Super nice shots and love to see the most beautiful bird in the sky.  what a shot

[Ron in Atlanta]

 

On 2/27/2018 at 6:54 AM, HewesYourDaddy said:

 ...don’t used the ramp at Ft. Mac if you don’t have to. You have to back in entirely too far to get the boat off the trailer. If you’ve never used the ramp at Demeries Creek, I suggest trying it. 

Great advice!  I didn't know about the ramp at Demeries Creek.  I did think that the ramp at Ft McAllister might be a little less steep than ideal when I would step out of the truck cab into a few inches of water!!  I'll check out Dickerson Creek as well.  Thank you so much for the Local Knowledge.

If you know Kilkenny Marina,  you may appreciate this old shot of the Crew showing Laurie how to run the lift.  We felt very sad when we heard that Dad had passed away a few years ago.  Nice folks.

[Wanaflatsfish]

stellar as always....great stuff.

 

dc

 

[HewesYourDaddy]

Ron, you couldn't ask for a nicer bunch of people.  I've been going to that marina since I was in the single digit age group.  I'm now 47 and have known the Bacot's since that time. Very sad when Mr. Bob passed away. He was like a granddad to everyone who grew up down here.  I grew up at one of the communities just before you enter the marina property. Back then, when there was only about 2500 people in this end of the county, a guy used to use Kilkenny Road as an airstrip and park his small twin engine plane near the entrance to marina. That would have been a neat picture for you to get!!