Brunswick and the barrier islands (Little St Simons, St Simons, Sea and Jekyll) are collectively called the Golden Isles. Brunswick is a Port of Entry and has been since George Washington’s time. It is surrounded by salt water marshes with the Brunswick River riding it’s way out to sea. The colonial style buildings and the large trees covered in Spanish Moss make the old part of town quite lovely although we have been warned not to walk through certain areas. 

‘So how is your social life going’ I hear you ask. It has been over the top. There is always something happening - happy hours which last from 5pm till 8pm 3 days a week (with free beer and wine), craft group every Tuesday morning which has been followed by lunch a Gary Lees Bar-B-Que for ribs, chicken wings, brisket and pulled pork (so good) a couple of times. Thursday nights it’s off to “Bennie’s” with Carolyn and whoever is around. On Thursday nights this bar come restaurant offers 2 for one on Chardonnay and spirit mixers (e.g. rum punch), free buffet of fish, chips, salad and hush puppies (deep fried corn grit/bready ball things) and a live band with one of the best artists we have heard. He plays the music we love (rock & roll etc) and has a voice that sounds like the original artist he is singing. His wife sings with him and she is amazing, so all in all we dance the night away.

Chinese birthday dinner for Lloyd (at the end of the table next to John). All the Australians at the marina L to R Matt (Where II), Annie (Gone with the Wind), John, Lloyd (De Ja Vu III), I’m hiding, Liam (GWTW) and Karen (Where II). It was a great meal.

Carolyn has taken us under her wing and is our tour director. Not only does she drive us to and from Bennie’s each Thursday night, but took us for a drive to Jekyll Island to explore Driftwood Beach, the old homesteads, slave cabins and followed by lunch before bringing us home. Carolyn, Liam, Annie and John.

Driftwood Beach is eerily beautiful. The beach is covered in the skeletons of hundreds of trees, presumably the result of hurricanes. When we first walked onto the beach I was struck by the devastation but also the beauty of these gnarled old trees. There were people taking photos everywhere, mainly of children draped over the trees.

Jekyll Island was referred to the ‘Millionaires Village’ with such families as the Morgans, Pulitzers and Vanderbilt's owning holiday houses here.

Our latest adventure was to set off at 6.15am (in the dark) and ride a push bike (which i have not done for over 10 years) 5kms up a dirt track on the other side of the inlet where the Marina is located and onto an area where dredged soil material has been dumped. This material is taken from the river and channels around this area. Rhonda, our resident cruiser shark tooth expert pointed us in the right direction and for several hours we scoured the ground searching for fossilised shark’s teeth.

The mounds had been reduced as they take the material away to be used as fill in building sites etc. We had an overcast morning initially which kept the temperature down but did nothing for the mosquitos which were horrendous. We sprayed and resprayed and although it worked somewhat, John ended up with mozzie bites all over his back. Lets hope he hasn’t picked up any diseases. 

I was the first to find a tooth, a snaggle tooth and Rhonda said it was jewellery quality. It was the largest one either John or I found.

Rhonda and Robyn riding back along the dirt road.

Our haul of shark’s teeth. There were also crocodile teeth, vertebrae, bone, shells, coral and tumbled quartz pebbles. Really interesting and we hope to go again next season.

Craft each Tuesday morning. L to R: Rhonda (the Shark tooth lady), Gloria, Jeanette, me, Terry, Robyn and Carolyn.

We have had a few happy hours and the occasional meal/pot luck. Lovely people and fun to be with. Kris and Jacque have been very good to us as they have cars and have ferried us to the shops on numerous occasions which we really appreciate. Kris is a video producer (Water Frog Productions) and asked if she could come with us when we took the boat out for a run to warm the oil so John could do an engine oil change.

Kris at work videoing the entrance to the marina inlet. 

The approach to Brunswick Landing Marina with Dock 1 and the Marina Office visible. There are 15 docks in the marina with 3 bath houses, 2 laundries (free), 2 libraries/computer rooms, one Club House with 3 TV’s, all fully air conditioned and comfortably furnished. Free WiFi and Cable TV (if you have). The facilities are very good. There are 2 negative things and they are:

Our dock has gained the reputation as the party dock. We are a mixture of French Canadians (Jacque), Americans (Ralph, Beverley, Joe, John, Tom), Danish (Dieter and V), Croatian (Anna) and 2 Australians. Kris (American) is always here as well. Our last night and last Bar B Que with these wonderful people.

L to R: John, Anna, Joe, Ralph, Jacque, Beverley, Chris, John, Carolyn, Ben.

This brings our 2016 season to a close as we are due to fly home on the 10th August. I can’t believe that we have owned Five Islands for over 5 years now. Next season will start with maintenance jobs for the first few months then we have no real plans. We will see what happens when we return.

All the best for the rest of 2016

Sue and John