Crooked River State Park - Now we’re camping!

Yeah!  We are being pestered relentlessly by “no see ‘em’s” and everything is coated in pollen.  You can’t open your windows because it all comes in.  The truck is now a lovely shade of lime green and we busted out the “swamp buddy” which is famous for keeping the gnats off.

Crooked River State Park at St. Mary’s/Kingsland Georgia is full of oaks, huge pines and palmettos.  There are about 60 sites, most big rig friendly, a tenting area which I think is closed right now and cabins.  You can’t hear any traffic at night.  No sewer but you get water, electric and cable.  Of course the park is looking over the Crooked River and the Marsh but we took a sheltered sight in the trees to stay away from the gnats which are worse by the river and marsh as we know from previous experience.  But the pollen is horrendous here in the trees making Florida pollen seem wimpy.  So just put on your old clothes and get down and dirty! 

The park filled up today (Thursday) and will be full for the weekend.  People come here to kayak, fish, hike, bike, bird and commune with nature or go to Cumberland.  St. Mary’s is a very small town which would likely get no traffic at all if it weren’t for the Cumberland Island National Park ferry and marina.  It is one of only 2 ways to get to Cumberland and the most likely route.  There are a couple of neat restaurants in St. Mary’s, a lovely town park, a couple of off the beaten track boutique stores and the Blue Goose Cafe which let’s you use their wi-fi while drinking gourmet coffee or boutique wines.   Looks like a good place to eat too.  There is a sea shore museum and several strange antique and book shops in town.  The cemetery is amazing for Civil War history.  There is wi-fi available at the camp office here at Crooked River thank goodness so we can make or change plans with the internet there.  Kingsland is home of one the biggest naval bases on this coast.  

Tonight we will have a much looked forward to campfire with wood that looks punky.  The smoke should help with the gnats.  But at least it won’t go in the RV since we won’t be opening any windows! The park is out of fire wood for heaven’s sake despite knowing they were full.  We bought some at a rather run down looking campground across the road but once we got past the main office it actually looks better.  Maybe another time.  

Laurel Links Golf course is nearby and of course that is a big attraction for us to come here.  It is beautiful!  We went to the range today and marveled at the budding azaleas and other flowering trees and gorgeous landscaping.  We will play it tomorrow.  

We are leaving a day early to arrive at Hardeeville South Carolina Saturday instead of Sunday.  Grant and Gisele are renting a house at nearby Calawassie Island and the weather is coming in cold on Monday so we want to golf with them Sunday.  We may need a break from nature by then.  Not!  It is wonderful to be “really” camping.