Hell's Gate in Georgia

We are going through Hell’s Gate right now.  Literally.  As the crow flies, we are about 16 miles from the Savannah marina we’ll be staying at this evening.  To get there, we must pass through a 1-mile stretch of shallow, shallow water (3-6’).  We left our anchorage this morning such that we would be at this location during the 7 ½’ high tide to accommodate Velsignet’s 3.9’ draft.  As Brenda looks out the salon window into the wide marshy expanse of water, the hell she’s thinking about are the gnats that have tormented her since arriving in Georgia!

There were three other Looper boats docked at the marina in Brunswick, Georgia.  We quickly introduced ourselves, washed down Velsignet and while clothes were washing, used the marina’s community bikes to ride around the historic district of the town.  Victorian homes, centuries-old parks and statues and markers are evidence of the town’s history during the early settlement of the English, as well as the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.  With our chores and afternoon biking tour completed, we joined fellow Loopers Charlie and Robin (“The Lower Place”), Doug and Dana (“Misty Pearl”) and Minnesotans Bruce and Beverly (“Seaquest”) for conversation and later, to stroll along Brunswick’s downtown “First Friday” activities and dinner at Arte’s Pizza.

We left Brunswick early Saturday morning to take advantage of the high tide on shallower channels and after almost 73 miles, anchored in a quiet spot off the ICW for the night.  Before turning in for the evening, we finished watching the movie “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”—a Savannah story filmed in Savannah.  The 1997 movie was directed by Clint Eastwood and holds an all-star cast. Alas, our ability to stay awake through the sleepy plot was a challenge!

This is Brenda in front of the old and huge Lover's Tree in the historic area of Brunswick, GA.  The Arbor Society has certified that this tree is over 200 years old, to 1787 during the signing of our nation's constitution.

The harbor coming into Brunswick was busy with commercial vessels.  A papermill is nearby. 

This is a fishing boat that was just taking off as we were entering the harbor area.

Here's our Looper group admiring cars at Brunswick's "First Friday" car show event.

Our anchorage last evening was quiet and serene.  Once again, we enjoyed the beauty of the sunset.