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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs we approached Jekyll Island we could clearly see the island from 30+ miles out and started to see the maritime nature of the Brunswick GA area. One of the most proximate features was the rusting, dismembered hull the Golden Ray a Car Carrier (freight ship) that capsized in the channel in 2019. The ship mistakenly left the channel and ran around eventually capsizing taking over 4300 new cars to a watery grave. Fortunately the crew was rescued but the ship and cars were a loss and were sold for scrap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Still 10 miles out we switched to the Unicom frequency and were surprised but pleased to hear another RV10 preparing to land at Jekyll. Prior to landing we started our tour by circling over the island to get a lay of the land and were surprised by how much of this island is still undeveloped. The majority of the southern half remains covered with thick live oak forests and tidal marsh covers the whole west side of the island. The most dominate man made features were an amusement park on the southwest side of the island, the 54 hole (3 x 18) golf course in the center of the island, the three large water towers and most significantly the majestic Jekyll Island Club Resort situated on the Western shore of the island about midway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The airport is located on the western side of the island north of the Jekyll Island Club and just south of a vast tidal marsh. It sports a very well maintained 4000 foot macadam runway, fuel and a very friendly and hungry watch dog. The airport managers also runs the historic golf cart concession, Red Bug, and they are very friendly to visiting pilots offering free bikes to pilots flying onto the island. We actually parked next to the RV10 that had landed just prior to us and had the opportunity to met Steven Bell recently retired to Jacksonville. He explained he often flies up for the day just to bike around and grab lunch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Since we landed at 10am and our hotel didn\u2019t allow a check in until 1600 we left the bags in the plane and headed out for a golf cart tour of the island and some lunch. We started by heading south past the Jekyll club, across the island to the east side and stopping at the Jekyll market. The Jekyll market is the main grocery, souvenir and hoppy shop on the island, they also sports a great little deli and a BBQ shack. We grabbed sandwiches and headed north on the east side of the island and stopped at the first public beach \u2013 the island is run by the Jekyll Island Authority and they maintain great rest rooms and changing rooms all around the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The beaches are amazing \u2013 it may be early in the season but the beaches were almost deserted. The water was amazingly warm and while we didn\u2019t swim it was warm enough we definitely could and we did see teenagers and younger kids swimming on numerous occasions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We stayed at the Days-In very affordable and a great location. It also has a rich history harkening back to the 1950s when it was known as Corsair! We had an amazing view of the ocean and were able to fall asleep to the sounds of the Atlantic meeting the beach. When we checked in the hotel clerk greeted us with an amazing amount of enthusiasm, picked us out as northerners and suggested a number of nature hikes, alligator ponds and seafood restaurants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After dropping our bags in the room and changing we headed out on our first nature walk. We walked a trail that took us through the southern end of the island and then up to the Jekyll Island Club \u2013 about a 5 mile walk. The trail wound itself through a live oak forest covered with elegantly hanging Spanish moss. We encountered our first alligator of the trip on this walk through they were both a pond away. A sign was there to warn visitors not to feed the wild life as isn\u2019t good for them or us. After staring at the gators for a while we fished our walk to the Jekyll Island club an amazingly well maintained reminder of our gilded past. We were able to visit a number of \u201ccottages\u201d and then wandered over to the Warf restaurant for much needed refreshment \u2013 unfortunately the Warf had just closed until dinner but the waitress suggested we \u2018all might try the Jekyll Island Club bar. Not a bad idea at all! We sauntered on over and tried to look and act highbrow but there really was no need, the Jekyll Island club while beautifully maintained is a club for the people. We quickly found the bar and ordered a gin in tonic to enjoy on the porch. The view facing west was amazing looking over the pool and then the salt marsh and then Brunswick. The drinks were not cheap at $9 each but they are not stingy with the gin and both of us were glad we were walking back to the hotel. On the walk back we did stop at the local Circle K convenience store and amazingly enough I was carded ordering a six-pack \u2013 it must be the maskJ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After a short rest we headed out to Zackary\u2019s Riverside Restaurant. This was recommended as the best seafood restaurant on the island. We arrived to find out that the Georgia Realtor Convention was in town and they had all heard the same thing about Zackary\u2019s. So what can you do \u2013 we ordered a cocktail and walked on down the pier to wait our turn. The meal was worth the wait we both had shrimp, mine fried with oysters mixed in and Jaimie had hers blackened. The shrimp themselves were great but the sides might have been even better, we both had cheese grits, coleslaw, collard greens and these amazing hushpuppies. Overall the food was very good the atmosphere was OK but we expect that was due to the large number of guests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After dinner we headed back to the Corsair (that is what I prefer to think of it as instead of the Days Inn) and sat out on the balcony staring at the ocean with a cold beer in our hand. After this hard work relaxing we decided to get serious about this relaxing and headed over to the hot tub. The water was the perfect temperature and the company was even better. We were joined by a retired steel mill worker from Michigan, a very young couple from South Carolina and a couple for Tennessee. Once we wound him up the steel worker entertained us all night long. He paused at one point to say, good thing my wife isn\u2019t here she says I talk too much \u2013 but then he kept right on going and truly made the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next morning we slept in and missed the sun rise \u2013 to not make that mistake again we heeded Jaimie\u2019s Dad\u2019s advice and left the drapes open Wednesday night so the sun would wake us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On Wednesday I golfed at the Jekyll Island Golf club, Jaimie walked the first 9 with me then headed off to run a few errands and to check out the beach. The course was very nice, pretty open and is definitely one I would like to play again. They have three 18 hole courses Oleander, Indian Mound and Great Dunes. We played the Oleander, which I was told was the most difficult thought I found it a stress free event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After picking me up in the golf cart Jaimie and I headed back over the airport to drop off my golf clubs and pick up a couple of bikes. Under direction for the Red Bug crew we parked the golf cart behind the airplane to ensure they didn\u2019t rent it out again. We jumped on our bikes, which while they looked a little weathered were amazingly comfortable and functioned perfectly. We biked up the west side of the island stopping by the Major Horton house to learn more about the islands history dating back to the 1780s. We took the scenic route to the famous driftwood beach along a bike trail through the tidal marshes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Drift wood beach was amazing. It has been the back drop for a number of movies and television shows and when you see it you know why. A single mile long stretch of beach along the north east side of the island is covered with live oak drift wood. The beach was pretty crowded so we made this a short trip and only stayed for a quick tour, but it was interesting enough we decided to come back the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the beach we biked back to the airport again passing under the majestic live oak forests and Spanish moss. We learned that the original bike trails were funded by the Rockefellers and made from Tabby \u2013 a concrete made from crushed oyster shells recycled from Native Americans trash piles, these trails are still in place. After turning the bikes in we drove the golf cart back to our hotel to relax before dinner. As we sat on the balcony we were entertained by two sections of A-10s passing just off the beach at 500ft. The ocean and an airshow not bad pre dinner entertainment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For dinner we decided to find a place that offered shrimp. We had read about ordering a bucket of shrimp and decided to try Tortuga Jacks about half way up the island on the Atlantic side. This was a great choice with affordable margaritas, shrimp and situated right on the beach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After dinner we headed back to the Corsair and walked the beach south for about a mile \u2013 the beach was almost abandoned and we were able to enjoy the waves and sand. After our walk we intended to enjoy the hot tub again, but for some reasons it was closed for maintenance this evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We had originally planned to stay on the island until Friday but a storm system was forecast to move up the east coast. While the storm wasn\u2019t going to impact the barrier islands thunder storms were forecast for the Augusta area on Friday so we decided to head back on Thursday evening. We started the day by watching an amazing sun rise followed by another walk on the beach going north this time, stopping to chat with one of the fisherman. After our walk it was almost 11am and time to check out so we loaded up the golf cart and headed to the airport to load up the plane. Our first stop after unloading our bags was to head back up to Driftwood Beach for another look. The morning fog was still covering the east side of the island so it added a bit of an early feel to already surreal sights. We walked nearly the full length of the drift wood section and took time to feel the amazingly hard and smooth ocean crafted pieces of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After Driftwood Beach we were ready for lunch so headed south to the Jekyll Market and another of their great sandwiches. We went back to one of the beaches on the east side of the island and sat at a picnic table watching the fog start to dissipate to eat our lunch. Since we were looking for sun after lunch we jumped in the golf cart and headed across the island to the ST. Andrews Beach area. This beach is located on the west side of the island and while the east side was covered with fog this beach was in direct sun. This park hosts a memorial to the African slaves who died one of the last vessels to arrive in American carrying Africans for the slave trade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The beach was great \u2013 clean hard sand with one section covered by an oyster bed and salt marshes to the north. After laying out for about an hour at 215 we decided to head back to the airport and head get ready to make our trip to Augusta. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The winds were from the south and a bit gusty so after a through preflight we started up and taxied to the north for a southerly takeoff. We were airborne in the first third of the runway and while we experienced a bit of wind shear on climb out we had great views of the island and we did a right hand climbing turn to put the island on the camera women\u2019s side of the plane. We also continued north so we could get a look at ST. Simon the next island north and home to a recommended BBQ place Soul BBQ. Next time we might try to make a trip up there to give it a try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again we filed IFR between Jekyll 09J and Daniels Field (KDNL) due to the numerous military restricted areas and were happy we did as the rather grumpy JAX Center controller amended our clearance multiple times weaving us through the air space. The low pressure had brought with it turbulent air below a broken layer at 8-5K so after trying to tough it out at 4K we gave up on the scenic trip and received a climb above. The flight was uneventful until we were given a decent right over the Savannah nuclear plant on our way into Augusta. We spent a little time flying south of the airport on a vector to avoid a medivac helicopter headed into the hospital then entered a left downwind for runway 23. The winds were 180 at 18 gusting to 28 as we came in and made for an interesting but safe landing. It was actually a nice touch down on centerline but a gusty cross wind did momentarily lift the left main off the ground during our aero braking but nothing dramatic just a little lift. We taxied into a waiting rental and premiere parking right in front of the terminal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We will definitely be back to Jekyll. The state of Georgia has done a great job of preserving the island, it was amazingly clean and affordable. All the other vacationers we met were very friendly and many had been coming to the island for years if not generations. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Jekyll Island Georgia Coastal Island Vacation 22-25 March 2021 Tuesday morning Jaimie and I left Augusta for a short one hour flight to another world […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-posts","category-flying"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mikesflightblog.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/307","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mikesflightblog.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mikesflightblog.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mikesflightblog.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mikesflightblog.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=307"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mikesflightblog.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/307\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":515,"href":"https:\/\/mikesflightblog.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/307\/revisions\/515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mikesflightblog.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=307"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mikesflightblog.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=307"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mikesflightblog.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mikeflightblog.duckdns.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/IMG_1268.jpg\")
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