Cumberland Island Adventure!

By: Erin

Last Saturday (March 23), we went to Cumberland Island, Georgia's largest barrier island and the only wild horse herd that is not managed by humans.  It is an amazing island and much more than we had expected.  It was also our first time viewing wild horses.  We got to see a lot of action from the bachelor stallions (young stallions that have left their bands and joined up with each other to build skills they will need when they have a band of their own), a frisky five-month-old colt, and the first day of a little filly's life.

We wanted to be on the earliest ferry, 9:00 am, and the drive was a little over two hours long, so we got up that morning at 4:30!  Needless to say, all of us were very tired that night and slept equally as well!  One neat thing is that we got to watch the entire sunrise, which was very beautiful.  When we arrived, we packed the food for the day into our back packs, grabbed the rest of our gear, and headed to the visitor's center.  Surprisingly, there was a long line of other people at the check-in desk who were also going on the same ferry.  We started to wonder if we'd make it on time!  Thankfully, everything started going quicker, and we were soon heading to the ferry dock!

The scenery was gorgeous!  God's creation is so amazing!

Before we knew, it we were docking and we couldn't wait to begin walking!

We picked the River Trail, which ran right down the river about a mile, and led to Cumberland's famed Dungeness ruins.

Along the trail...

Right after coming out of the trail and taking a picture of this tree, I turned around.  Wild Horses!  After a long time of wanting to see wild horses, there was the first!  We were so excited!  This small band was not very concerned about humans, as we later learned of all of the horses that we saw.   

After some time of watching them, we moved onto the Dungeness ruins where we found lots of action from the bachelors.

Next, we noticed this bachelor band.  Surprisingly, there was a mare in their group.

Then we moved on towards the Dungeness ruins, which was right beside the field that we were just in.  The ruins were amazing, left from a Queen Anne style mansion that had 59 rooms.  It was destroyed several decades ago by a fire, after being deserted many years previously.

There was an Osprey nest up in this high tower!

This colt was very interested in the Dungeness wall.  It also made for a perfect place to scratch his neck!

Soon after eating, we noticed this newborn filly!

Some of us wanted to go around and see the Dungeness again (and the foal 😊).  While we were there, the horses started running around.  One ran right past Mom, about three feet from her!  

The foal's father.

Heading to the beach!

Taking pictures!

One of the subjects of the pictures!  Isn't the sky incredible?

We found many of these beautiful shells along the beach (we were given permission from the park ranger that we could take home shells and sharks' teeth - as long as they weren't occupied 😄). 

A jellyfish!

Heading back to the ferry, along the way we decided to do a short trail.

Heading back after an amazing time in God's creation!

Back on shore!

We are so thankful for the wonderful time we had on Cumberland.  God's creation is truly inspiring.  If you ever find yourself in the area, or live in Georgia and haven't gone yet, we highly recommend going - just make sure it isn't in summer or you'll get rather hot! 

"Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, 

that bringeth out their host by number: 

he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, 

for that he is strong in power; not one faileth."

(Isaiah 40:26)