Remember when I said it’s a good idea to have a couple of different plans in place? Yep, that trend continued into last week when the weather was less than ideal.

When nearly 30-knot gusts hit us on our mooring ball in Fernandina Beach, we knew we needed to move into the marina there. Then, when we originally planned on moving to St. Mary’s, Georgia, toward the middle of the week, the wind picked up even more to nearly 40-knot gusts and we knew we were staying put until Friday.

Nevertheless, it’s always better to choose the safer option rather than push on. Waking up Friday morning to an incredible sunrise felt like a testament to our waiting. We were eager to cruise into our second state on the Loop, and we had the warmest welcome from St. Mary’s, Georgia.

The staff at St. Mary’s Intracoastal Gateway Marina were extremely accommodating to our continually changing plans. Upon arrival, they gave us a golf cart tour of the town to get us acclimated before exploring on our own. The beauty of the small town was evident in how its residents shared their admiration for the community.

We stopped in a local store called Farm to Family, which specializes in local goods and highlights small business owners from Georgia. From there we made a stop at Brackish Beer Company, the local brewery, and then ate quite honestly some of the best tacos I’ve ever had at The Firefly Taco Cantina.

Unfortunately, we can’t pause time on the Loop, so we kept moving forward come Saturday afternoon to anchor off of Cumberland Island. Cumberland Island is known for its rich history and complex habitat, including wild horses. Sadly we did not see the horses for ourselves, but we were surprised to find dozens of armadillos on the island!

There is a chance of some sporty weather headed our way, so we hope to tuck ourselves away in Darien, Georgia, by the end of the week, roughly 8 miles off the Intracoastal Waterway. Wish us luck as we continue to navigate this new, marshy territory with large tidal swings.

Cheers to continuing the adventure!