Day 164 - March 26, 2013: Exploring Jekyll Island

This morning brought record lows in the 30s to the Southeast and the barrier islands. This morning, it was the same temperature here as in Chicago! Georgia marinas, unlike those in Florida, seem to have loaner cars, so we borrowed one to drive around the island. We stopped at Driftwood Beach on the north end, and despite the cold and bitter winds, set out for a walk along the water. We imagined how fun this would be on a warmer day.

Driftwood Beach on north Jekyll Island

Is this the weather we came for???

After a lunch of Georgia-style clam chowder, we got brave and took a bike ride along interior trails through the historic center. We encountered a small pond, and Anne sighted the first gator we have seen on this trip! This one was at least 8 feet long and appeared to be sunning itself along the edge.

An 8-ft. Georgia gator, the first alligator sighting of the trip!

We also stopped at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, an institution devoted to the rehabilitation of injured sea turtles. The exhibits were well done, and we watched a feeding of recovering Loggerhead turtles.

Surgery center

Recovery tanks