Jekyll Harbor Marina, Jekyll Island, GA
Woke up excited to see Griff today, who will fly into Brunswick Golden Isles Airport just after lunch, and join us for four days on KORKZcrew. Griff will take over Skeet's room, and Skeet will happily take the bottom bunk in the pilot house. KORKZcrew has ample options for sleeping arrangements, with a sofa in the pilot house that converts to bunk beds, and a settee just across from it that can become a queen bed if needed. What she lacks is privacy and an extra bathroom, so it's not an ideal boat for accommodating overnight guests. We've had visitors in the past who were so kind and flexible about being "housed" in the pilot house, and we'd string up a blackout curtain near the helm so they could at least FEEL like they had some privacy, but it's far from optimal. Our kids of course don't mind, and Skeet thinks sleeping in a bunkbed is cool, so we're in good shape for the next several days.
We spent the morning straightening up the boat and getting more decorations out, which included our notoriously tacky inflatable Christmas tree. That thing has been through the wringer, beginning with the fact that it's an indoor tree that's been abused with outdoor installations its entire short but harrowing life. Today it was showing its age and refused to fill completely with air, and I'll leave the jokes that tend to write themselves to those of you who engage in such behavior. 😂😇 Let's just say that straightening IT up wasn't gonna be on the menu. Ron tried propping it up with everything from bungee cords to fishing line and god only knows what else, and finally managed to get the tree to a point where it was only a partial embarrassment to our more refined neighbors whose decorations looked like people who have actual taste. Let's just say this thing won't be making it to Christmas of 2025, and for that we should all raise a glass. There might be hope for me yet.
KORKZcrew has insane amounts of storage, and one of the craziest features is what I call a basement (I'm sure there's a proper boat term for it but work with me here), and it resides underneath the floor of the pilot house. Ron threatens to lock me in there if I misbehave, and I'm not sure I'd object to the privacy or its spaciousness, even though I could conceivably run out of breathable air. No biggie. 😂 It's like this coolio secret lair that's beneath the rug. You just peel back the rug, lift up the hatch, and go down the stairs until you get to the bat cave and turn into a superhero. Or you can just go get the e-bikes you'd stored down there, whichever comes first.
This is the first year we've added two bikes to our bag of tricks, and they are super cool. Ron found a great deal on these foldable e-bikes that are so compact, each one fits in its own black bag. We needed a way to get these bikes to shore when we aren't at a marina (which is most of the time), so these should fit into the dinghy even if they have to be transported one-at-a-time. They'll provide us with a fun way to explore our various destinations, including, of course, Jekyll Island — all we've heard about Jekyll so far is how awesome it is for bike riding.
I am pleased to report that not only was Griff's flight on time, but they arrived at just the right moment for me to work in another visit to Zachry's for lunch. In the best interest of the family, I mean. And it only made sense because the marina has a laundry room located right next to the restaurant, and we had a bunch of clothes to wash. Two birds; one stone. Two fried shrimp; one hushpuppy. Just call me Efficiency Kack (with a side of fries).
Once we'd returned from lunch we brainstormed how we could tote Steve on our bike rides. The marina has beach cruisers that are free to use, but none of them have baskets big enough for our little buddy. I unloaded my computer bag and loaded it back up with Steve, who liked it so much he wouldn't get out of it once I'd put him back on the floor.
Steve is such a good sport, he can tolerate just about anything. Even sitting in positions I'm not convinced are comfortable for him, such as when he's getting his face squeezed by his biggest fan.
Steve has always and forever been attached at the hip to his dad, aka Captain Ron, but in the past year (or maybe secretly his entire life 🤭), he's switched his allegiance to yours truly, and who could blame him. My humility alone is a tremendous selling point. But it's definitely an ego boost to have this little face following you around all day, making you feel like you're the greatest thing since a milkbone dog treat with peanut butter on top.
Later this afternoon Ron and Skeet decided to go explore a bit on the e-bikes, and Griff and I were both from the it's-too-windy-and-cold camp; please-don't-make-me-go-outside. They came back RAVING about these cool bike trails they'd discovered, and what a cool island it is. I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever find out, because it's just too damn cold to do anything but be a blob, another skill I've perfected over many, many years. But while I felt guilty for not going, I stand by my blob-like decision. Some things can just wait until that elusive yellow disk returns to the sky and the winds die down to something a little more palatable than gale force.
Here's KORKZcrew all lit up for Christmas, and if you tilt your head to one side, the tree might even look straight.
Night night KORKZcrew!
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