Jekyll Island

I apologize for being slow to post this but Dad has been having a lot of trouble with his back lately and Lilly and I have been busy looking after him.  In a way, it's great 'cause he hasn't been going to that stinky old mill lately although I hear him occasionally grumbling about having to go to "another damned doctor".  I'm not entirely sure what a "damned doctor" is but I think it's kind of like a Vet for humans.  That's not the only thing that confuses me lately.  For a few days there, the only way he could get around was by putting these strange-looking chew sticks up under his armpits and hobbling around like that.  Eventually, he put them up in favor of his shillelagh ( which is just a different type of chew stick ) in order to move about.  In the past, whenever the shillelagh came off it's hanger on the wall, it meant that we were going for a walk, ride or both but it's significance has definitely changed radically of late.  It's kind of got me wondering but at the same time, it's made me feel extremely fortunate to have four legs instead of two.
Fortunately, before this all happened, Dad and I were able to check out Jekyll Island which is down near Brunswick, Ga.  It's a pretty good ride from here but then most everything is.  If you're looking for miles and miles of secluded, leash-free beach absolutely littered with "driftwood" that is actually the eroded carcasses of huge trees to explore, this one is definitely a keeper!  The island is actually a state park so there's a small parking fee to get in but once you're there, it's like stepping back in time.  It is, by no means, primitive but it does lack the over-development and commercialization that is so prevalent nowdays.  It has pretty much all of the amenities that humans find so necessary to their survival but is free of strip-zoning and garish shops, bars and tattoo parlors that are so common in seaside getaways.
The south beaches (south of the convention center) are much more human-oriented but some allow dogs with certain restrictions but Driftwood Beach on the northern end of the island is a whole different story.  We entered by the fishing pier up by the campground and walked for miles without hardly ever seeing another human or dog.  Part of that is due, I'm sure, to the fact that we went on a week day fairly early in the year (about mid June)  but I'm sure that this area never becomes as congested as some of the more "civilized" beaches.  There are no Tiki bars or seaside eateries here.  You're on your own but if you're up being self-sufficient, the payoff is worth it.  Leashes are not required here and there's tons of room and stuff to explore.  That being said, one must keep in mind that the other dogs there are not on leashes either and some of them are extremely large.  Everyone we saw there  (no more than a dozen humans is the course of an afternoon) seemed to be there for the same reason though, to get away from it all and we never did come within a couple hundred yards from any other party.
At first, Dad was a little disappointed that dogs were not allowed on the fishing pier which he described as awesome but later realized that it wasn't really a necessity.  Not far south of the pier is an area where the woods are fairly close to the water and it would be possible, late in the day, to fish from the shady edge of the beach.  This shade has other benefits as well.  On most beaches, the sun is always a factor to be kept in mind but here it's possible to thread your way along while shielded from the worst of the afternoon sun.  Even then it's a good idea to bring fresh water with you.  Once it gets warm, we never leave the house without a big cooler of water which we left at the van.  In retrospect, it would have been better to have had a smaller, more portable source of water with us as well.  The beach was so nice that we had wandered much further than we'd planned and were both quite thirsty when we finally got back.  We were never in any danger but it would have been nice to have.

Here's a few shots that Dad took with his phone.  You wouldn't believe how many little critters hang out in those root systems and little pools!  Notice how we're the only ones there.  You'd have to walk about 3/4 of a mile before you might see someone else.  Then again, you may not.

Yeah, we're definitely coming back here and next time we'll bring Miss Lilly too.  She'll love it here.  Beach access is quite informal on the north end.  Dad says it reminds him somewhat of Vermont where you'll be driving on a wooded road, spot a couple of vehicles parked on the shoulder and, upon further investigation, find yourself a brand new swimming hole.
The rest of the island bears further exploration as well.  Like I said, it quiet and relaxed but not empty.  Following the road past the campground, there's what looks to be a village square filled with shops with food and merchandise all presented in good taste.  We were too tired to do any further exploring but I'm guessing that this area is as dog-friendly as the rest of the island as there were several dogs with their humans on leashes milling around the shops.  Really could have used an ice cream about then but we just didn't have it in us.  As it was, I slept most of the way home.
Speaking of sleep, we really never got much of a chance to check out overnight accommodations either.  Dad had done some research online and surmised that most of the dog-friendliness in that industry is pretty high-priced with a lot of places requiring $110.00+ in the way of a non-refundable deposit per pet.  Most places also put a size restriction of generally around 10-15 pounds as well.  There are a couple of lower-end establishments on the north end of the island that may prove serviceable as long as lower-end does not equate with nasty.  I have no particular preference as to whether my water and food are presented in Waterford crystal or plastic bowls so long as they are clean and Dad's not much fussier either.  I'll let you know if we find anything worthwhile.  Meanwhile, Dad's talking about digging out his old Love Beads and buying an old VW bus to bring to the campground.  I have no idea what he's talking about but I'm thinking that "campground" sounds like it might be fun.
By way of a summary for this adventure, if you're looking for the typical busy beach scene and just want to be able to bring your dog along for the ride, this is probably not what you're looking for but if you are looking for a place to take your dog(s) where you can share hours of uninterrupted solitude in a largely-unspoiled natural setting, you might be as pleased with this gem as we were.  Like I said, some self-sufficiency is required but with just a little pre-planning you can both enjoy a day of beach-combing or surf casting or both without the complications and distractions of modern everyday life.