Day 162 - March 24, 2013: St. Mary's - a violent storm, then a sunny Palm Sunday

Not every day of cruising can be sunny, warm, calm and relaxed. The night brought rain and the morning a front of severe storms, lightning, hail and wind gusts from 50 to 60 mph. It hit hard around 9:30 AM, and as lightning and thunder clapped overhead, the wind built up white-topped waves in the river and beat Great Laker against the dock. We rocked as flags stood straight out, water spray flashed over the docks, and foam built up against the hull.

White caps in the river

Flags at attention with 50-60 mph gusts

Then, like a sign from heaven, the winds died and the sun came out -- just in time for us to get to the Palm Sunday services at St. Mary's Methodist Church. This is the oldest practicing church in the area (started in 1799), and the first church building is on the property along with the current church.

Methodist Church built in 1858

Later, we took a walking tour of the city and focused on the historic area. Here are three examples of the many homes that we saw, all built in the early 1800s and carefully preserved. After killing Alexander Hamilton in a pistol duel in 1804, Vice President Aaron Burr fled south to Cumberland Island, where he was turned away by Gen. Nathanael Greene. He then moved into the St. Mary's home of his friend Maj. Archibald Clark (see below), whose wife didn't approve of having Burr around. After just one night, he moved on.

West side of Osborne St. 

West side of Osborne St. 

Clark-Bessant House built in 1801