Brunswick to Jekyll Island

We awoke to a bright sunshiny day and it was made even brighter with a trip to Publix.  What a wonderful supermarket.  Connie Dooley drove us there and shared her of knowledge of Brunswick and particularly the Brunswick Landing Marina which is owned by one of the oldest families in the area, the Torras family.  We weren't in a hurry to shove off because we had to traverse the channel by Jekyll Island at half tide or higher, so we didn't leave our slip until 1130 and with a short stop at the fuel dock we were underway right at noon.  The trip back under the Sidney Lanier Bridge took us out to pick up the "magenta line" and on our way to Jekyll Island Marina.

The trip to Jekyll was all of 9 miles, so it took less than 2 hours.  We tied up on the face dock at the marina and waited for Robby and Carol (my brother and sister-in-law) to show up.  They had left the Chesapeake a week before we did, and we finally caught up and passed them by taking our little jaunt "outside".  It was great to see them slip under the Jekyll Island Bridge and anchor right off the marina.  They had called earlier and asked if we wanted to join them as the ate their way down Jekyll Island.  It sounded tempting, and we agreed to give it a try!  We started with an "early bird  dinner special at the Crane Courtyard.

Jekyll Island has quite a history.  It was chosen by the rich and famous as a winter playground just before the turn of the last century.  It is said that at one time members of the Jekyll Island Club  accounted for one sixth of the world's wealth.  Names like Rockefeller, Morgan, Chase etc. were on the membership list.  One name was Crane (plumbing supply magnate) and he was the first to build a cottage that contained a kitchen (plumbing guy ya know).  It also had 26 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms.  All other members took all their meals at the Grand Dining Room (actually a large building).  The Crane "cottage" is now a restaurant where you can eat in a less formal setting that the Grand Dining Room.

The entire place is now a resort open to the public, but it still has an exclusive clubby air about it.  We were picked up by a van from the JI Club and delivered to the front door.  Ed and Connie Dooley and their friends and golfing partners Bob and Sue Hodes had spent the afternoon golfing on Jekyll Island and joined us for dinner. A great meal and the Key Lime Pie was excellent!  Tomorrow morning - - breakfast at the Grand Dining Room.  ~~~_/)~~~M&D