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I recently visited Sapelo Island right off the coast of Georgia.  I had the rare opportunity to experience the island prior to the Sapelo Island Cultural Festival which was initially planned for the following weekend.  I had a chance to peek behind the curtain and experience the people and their island in an up close and personal way.  Take a small glimpse into what I experienced… Walk with me.

It’s Saturday morning and I'm the first person at the ferry dock.  I have a few moments to look over the marsh and see the effects of recent Hurricanes.  A bit later, I see a very diverse group of teenagers who arrived shortly after me.  More on them later.  It's overcast skies but I'm grateful for the cool weather.  Right on time 'The Katie Underwood' arrives.  It's the island ferry named in honor of Sapelo Islands last midwife.  On board is my friend Tony who extended me an invitation to come to the island.  Typically visitors aren't welcomed outside of pre-planned and scheduled events.  The time he has spent on the island gaining the trust of the locals has made my trip here possible.  I was honored to be invited and do my part to contribute to the future island festivities.

Brotherly Love 

Day one begins and I really didn't know what to expect.  I'm fully packed with my backpacking gear including tent, sleeping bag, Mountain House, stove....  Grandad always said, "It's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it".  I'd like to make a small addition to that, "especially on an Island".  I would soon discover I had much more than I needed.  As I leave the boat and officially step onto the island we are met by a life long resident who will shuttle us to Hog Hammock to begin our work.  Unexpectedly, that diverse group of six teenagers I mentioned earlier, pile into the back of the pickup truck.  They are from Davidson College in North Carolina and they are community service volunteers who have come to help with storm cleanup and preparation for the festival.  Their youthful exuberance was great to see.   They served as a reminder to all that we don't have to all look alike or have walked the same paths in life in order to share common interest.  In today's world, that example is sorely needed.  Tony and I ride inside the vehicle and chat with the driver whom I've just met.  I'm literally in the middle of island culture. As I ride along my ears and eyes are wide open.  Trying to take in as much as I can in my short visit.  The 'Live Oak' trees with dangling Spanish Moss are beautiful.  Intermingled with those are tall pines and short palmetto plants.  What really catches your attention are the leaning pine trees that have been blown over by past storms.  Some only standing because another tree caught them and held them up.  You can't help but think that the ones leaning across the road may be inclined to say hello up close and personal as you pass underneath.  Our friend driving, points out to me that the trees being held up are experiencing 'brotherly love'.  It takes a moment for that to register but the leaning trees 'brother' is holding him up.  "That's brotherly love isn't it?", he says.  "If that tree hadn't been there it would have surely fallen but it's brother was there to hold him up."  He continues "can't we all use some brotherly love"?  As we all laugh, I agreed and I immediately know this will be a rewarding stay.  It didn't matter what was in my pack,  I would be 'held up' with brotherly love.

A Day in the Sun

Day 2 begins with an awesome breakfast at The Wallow.  The Wallow is the local 'bed and bath'.  I would simply describe it as Grandma's house.  That's the feeling I got as soon as I stepped inside.  I felt like I had been here before.  The Davidson College volunteers stayed here but there was enough breakfast for us all.  All, now includes a great group of brothers from Atlanta whom I had the opportunity to meet the evening before and share some stories with.  They have ties to the island and decided to help with the cleanup effort as well.   We continued the work left from the day prior and then headed back to The Wallow for lunch.  Since the ferry back to the mainland didn't leave until 4pm, we decided his work crew could get some more sight-seeing in.  The first day we were able to see the Sapelo Lighthouse and the volunteers spent a couple of evening hours enjoying a swim in the extremely warm Atlantic waters.  Today, we would experience Cabretta Beach located just across from Black Beard Island.  It was unlike any beach I had experienced before and I practically had it all to myself for a little while.  Just look at the photos and you'll understand.  I was able to spend a few moments fishing off a bridge leading up to the beach.  No luck.  The conversation with the local fisherman was much more interesting anyway, as I watched him pull in a fish two minutes after his bait hit the water.  After our tour of the beach we headed back to prepare for the boat ride back to the mainland.

Appreciation

After awesome experiences such as this, I always feel I'm leaving something behind, a part of me, new friends.  More importantly, I always feel like I'm taking something with me, greater knowledge,  a more well rounded me.  I'm thankful to everyone who welcomed me and took care of me during my stay.  Many thanks. 

Condolences

Sadly, Ms. Cornelia Bailey passed away October 15th after I left the Island.  I want to extend my condolences to the family and friends.  May God be with you during your time of mourning.  To everyone else, I encourage you to read her book about her life and Sapelo Island.  It's called God, Dr. Buzzard and the Bolito Man.  It will give you much more insight into her life and this culturally rich island.  Also, see the article about Ms. Bailey in the New York Times

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. - Romans 12:15