Trawler Living Aboard Tip - Exploration

We recently took our trawler, the Patricia Ann, on a 4-day cruise over to Cumberland Island, our favorite anchorage. I wanted to look for the white deer and walk the deserted beaches at dawn.  We saw the white deer several years ago...actually we just caught a brief glimpse of them in the distance.  Ever since, I have gone in search of white deer! They are not albinos but real white deer.

We were up at 5 AM each morning as usual; the coffee was just beginning to brew and the aroma was delightful.  And just a little while later, with coffee in hand, we watched from the bridge as the sun began her climb over the horizon. A beautiful day was beginning with not a cloud in the sky.

As we began our day with showers and breakfast, it dawned on me just how fortunate live-aboard boaters really are.  We can leave the dock for days on end and truly understand the term "freedom" and "independence". 

Having lunch on back deck

We took our dingy over to the island to do a little exploring.  We do this each time we visit but each time we see and learn something new.  The wildlife is in abundance; wild horses, deer, turkeys.

This particular morning, we were walking along Grand Avenue when we ran into some park rangers.  We asked if they had seen the white deer recently and surprisingly, they told us they had just seen them near the dunes.  We hightailed it over there only to be stopped in our tracks by a large black stallion messing with two mares.  We re-routed and snuck up on the deer.  Mike was able to get many good photos of the deer so we can prove to all those disbelievers that they really do exist!  I was thrilled; after several years of no white deer sightings, here they were right in front of us.  According to the park ranger, there are 3 bucks and 2 does.


In dingy doing some exploring

 It is getting to be the time of year when the transient boaters head back north so I am sure we will share our favorite anchorage with many of them in the next few weeks.  We are heading there again this coming weekend to do more exploring.  You never know what you will find!

If you would like to experience the freedom and exploration of living aboard your own boat, please contact us at paradiseyachtsales@gmail.com or 904/556-9431.

Mary

One of 125 wild horses on the island

White deer in herd



White deer

Beautiful sunrise