Day One - Eagle Island - A Relief!

 

Come along with me as I take you on a trip to The Private Islands of Georgia .....

www.privateislandsofgeorgia.com).

Be my partner, my companion, my friend, my buddy for the next three days. We'll experience this secret hideaway together.

I promise you a Five Moon Get-Away....better than a resort...Eagle Island Lodge is 'a Relief.'

Andy Hill, owner of these 7 magnificent private islands and 2 companion lodges on the mainland, assures me that we only need the basics, everything else is provided. So, pack your favorite vittles and drinks along with shorts, t-shirt, sweatsuit, toothbrush, camera, walking shoes, bathing suit, visor, and sunscreen…….and, we’re off.

For us Jacksonville folk, our journey begins on Interstate 95 north for an hour and a half when we arrive in Darien, GA. Heard of it?  I had only seen the name when zooming past it on the way to Savannah, but not a place I would think to pull off and visit. Aha! That begins the mystique and the secret of these private islands. Today, I not only stop, but am promised my life will take on new meaning in just a few hours.

Our destination is Eagle Island, the main private island with the others being: May Hall, Little May Hall, Mick Island, Jagger Island, and Grassy Fields Island.

Eagle Island, 10 acres of old coastal Georgia, preserved by Andy, because he is a naturalist and a believer in old Georgia.  Andy also is happiest on the water and brings that option to us.  His vision is to offer a pleasure island, of sorts for our enjoyment, relaxation, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, reunions, nature events, private gatherings, retreats, vacations, boating, kayaking, and so on and so on.

The value of visiting these islands begins with Andy meeting us at the Darien boat dock where he loads and unloads our goodies and backpacks. From that point, we are carefree souls open to this new venture. We take off our watches as Andy pulls away from the dock and leads us into and around the marshy waters off of the Darien coast. From now on the only time to watch, is Eagle Island time. Eagle time is determined by the tides – just low and high tide is our concern - not the hour or the day, just the tide.

Ten minutes later, we arrive at Eagle Island’s boat dock where Andy leads us up the pathway, through the natural habitat of massive oaks heavily laden with Spanish moss, pines and palm trees standing tall, and the elms providing a shady path to the Lodge. An easy walk over the oyster shell path and then, The Lodge appears in front of us.

The Eagle Island Lodge greets it’s visitors with open arms. A two-story cabin with a 360 degree view of this magnificent land. The screened porch encircles the second floor providing a different view from all directions.

Sitting on the swinging bed on the southend of the wraparound porch, I look out onto a pond, perfect for children to skim rocks, look for little fish, or to view the reflection of the island in its mirror-like luster as the rising sun provides the reflective light.

Two horseshoe beds at the edge of the pond, assure me of a little healthy competition later in the day. A wooden swing on the opposite end of the pond is the perfect spot for the onlookers as they cheer for their team.

I spot a trail leading out into the woods. Let’s see where it goes.

Are those fresh boar tracks I see? Andy says, they inhabit the island, but not interested in us at all. Okay, I trust this man, so my thumbs up gesture means….we’re movin’ in.

Deeper into the island’s trail we walk, over shell mounds and wood planks, raised roots and marsh mud. Listening closely to the island sounds. New sounds and just a few sounds; quiet is the only pulsing sound. Birds freely singing, yes. Breezes softly swaying the palms, yes. My breathing, yes.

And, that is it.  Quiet, complete quiet. Privacy, complete privacy.   Oh, how different. Oh, how grand!

As we continue on the trail, we stumble upon oyster shell mounds and uprooted areas.  Could they be native burial grounds or the remnants of bonfire pits of days gone by?  As a prior guest writes in the lodge's log, 'you must stop and listen quietly to shake off the drum beat of civilization and transition back through the ages to hear the shouts of the raftmen as they guided their knotted logs through the river channels to the sawmills.'  'Do you hear the captains bark order in loading their ships.'    Listen!

We arrive at the south end of the island. A hammock awaits. Oh, just in time to relax a spell before we go on. I listen, sleep, and dream. Mmmm. I know one day soon, a family having a reunion will visit this lodge. They will find this spot. The teenagers will pop their tents here and have the time of their life, camping on this private island as if running away for the first time.  They, too, will hear the indians drum beat!

Andy says that just across from this spot, Mick Island and Jagger Island, will soon house chicki huts along with their picnic tables allowing campers to visit year-round. Jump in a kayak, your's or Eagle's, and within moments you are setting up camp at Jagger Island.

Time to weave back to the main house taking the exit trail back to the pond location.

Now, I don’t know about you, but that was my kind of hike. Flat land, just the right trail length, and no way to get lost. If you want more than that, there are 10 acres to choose from in the next couple of days. Keep me posted, will you?

(oh, yea, Eagle Tip of the Day:  Be aware of the tides when out hiking on the trail.  They come in fast and furious.  One could get out on the south tip and have to 'wade' out their return.)  Not that I experienced that first hand or anything :(

By now, our travel items are delivered at the house. Let’s go pick our bedrooms. There are four bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. As goldilocks said, I need to find one that ‘feels just right?’

Starting from the top, we have the loft bedroom with an adorable desk/vanity and king size bed and spiral staircase leading from the living room to the loft. On the main floor, we have 2 bedrooms with king size beds. All 3 rooms share the main house bathroom which has a beautiful tiled walk-in shower stall and vanity.

Looking for even more privacy? Out the front porch and down the stairs, the entire bottom floor is another ‘apartment’ / bedroom. Two sets of bunk beds and a queen bed along with a ping pong table, dining table, TV area, laundry room, and full private bathroom. Ok, that helps me make my decision. I’ll take the bottom floor, you can have your pick upstairs. They are all so special. With all these options, Eagle Lodge could really sleep at least 12 individuals who know and like one another; or, a couple and 4 kids downstairs, and 3 more couples or 6 kids upstairs. Be creative, customize it to your individual needs.  Oh, did I say, there are also 2 queen roll away beds. 

At Andy’s recommendation when reserving the island, we are prepared for a low-boil feast tonight. Andy’s Eagle Island recipe with special seasonings is on the website for our use and I highly recommend it.  Andy and David Goode create a spectacular feast.

Using the downstairs (under the main house) summer kitchen, we start meal prep.

The large pot is boiling on the gas potboiler, the corn on the cob gets cleaned and cut in two, the large onions get peeled, the sausage is cut into bite-sized pieces, (Eagle tip: if you add two kinds of sausage – hot and mild – to cut them in different angles so you know what you are getting,) potatoes are chunked, jalapeños are sliced, and the whole shrimp are ready to add. Check out the web, for Andy’s special rue making this a Cajun country Low-Boil feast.



Within an hour, we are full to the brim and our taste buds satisfied. We relax by the raised-hearth fireplace in the living room sharing stories.


I brought my drums with me, so why don’t we find the island’s night rhythm. Boom, boom boom, Boom, boom boom -- Lub Dub, Lub-Dub, Lub-Dub.  The heartbeat rhythm allows us to soak in the pleasures of the day as we attempt to keep our eyelids open for just a minute more. We are very relaxed. See you in the morning.

Night, night.......