The Canoe Trip That Wasn't

Steve and I departed even earlier than we have been. The sky was still dark. We stopped at a culvert on High Causeway to set our first blue crab trap in the salt marsh. We used the dead bait from yesterday, since none of the fish survived. Still on a learning curve. We apparently have no clue to the entire fishing process. I'm eager to check it tomorrow morning on our way to the beach. Stay tuned.

The beach patrols were the same. No turtle nests. I did get to see a bald eagle from only 20 feet as it perched in a dead tree on the beach. It didn't care much for me or the ATV so it flew back toward land. I radioed Steve so he could look for it on his way back, and he later told me he got to see it too. Funny, because earlier this morning I was wondering when we'd get to see one again. Adam told us there are 12 sub-adults on the island so I half expected to see them more often. Here's hoping.

Steve was pretty exhausted all morning so we napped when we got home. He was excited that we were back in bed before 10AM. He was awoken at 1030 to a tick bite and after inspection found two more. I decided to get up, have tea, and slack off to tv on the computer. Finally, Steve woke up at 1:00. Even though Steve was still tired, we decided to try a canoe ride to shore for groceries. The prospects of a ride off the island are nil for maybe another week since Andy is still in Alaska and Eric just had a baby. We didn't plan for two full weeks without supplies, though we're rationing quite well.

Before we leave the house, Steve starts up the engine to make sure it runs. It does. We load up the Mule with PFDs, Coast Guard required supplies, oars, and shopping bags. On the way to the dock we fill up the gas can. At the dock, Steve and I load the canoe with all our stuff and attach lines so we can use the crane to lower it into the water. (The crane is a lifesaver). After safely getting it into the water, we push off the dock. 

Steve was at the tiller, leading us through the shallow water. We passed the last piece of Ossabaw and immediately noticed the water conditions worsen slightly from the wind. Still doable. We near a sandbar and begin to take caution, but oops, too late. The water was already much shallower than we thought and the engine cuts out. No worries, we thought. I grabbed an oar and pushed the canoe to deeper water. Steve gets it running again and we continue making way. A couple minutes later the engine quits. I grab the oar, this time to keep us away from the sandbar as Steve tried to start it again. He tried, and tried, and tried. I immediately doubted that it would run and started paddling for our dock. The tide was flooding - not what we wanted to fight against. The wind wasn't too strong, but the land funneled it right at us. Steve's effort to start the engine seemed futile so I told him to start paddling with me. We were both giving it everything we had to get this HEAVY canoe back home.

After about 30 minutes, we were back. I'll admit that a couple times I worried about making it. If the canoe fell off the wind, it was incredibly hard to straighten out. After only 10 minutes, the crane had the canoe out of the water, we had the supplies in the Mule, and the canoe was stored away. Although the ride failed, we are still glad we tried. I tell myself that events like these build character (and muscles). We realized on the paddle back that we were in view of the webcam the entire time. After we got home, Steve checked out the shots. We appear as a blip in the distance in most, but some were worth keeping. Just goes to show you should check it out once in a while and you might see us flailing in the water.

The next couple hours were spent on the couch watching a movie. Later we went to feed the animals, and not just the horses et al at the main house. Now we have to care for Andy's and Eric's animals. In total, we are feeding: 3 horses, 5 pigs, 8 dogs, 2 cats, 2 parakeets, 1 goose, 1 peahen, and 9 chickens. It's officially a zoo on Ossabaw.