Saturday evening I drove out along a country road (most are country up here) and saw this little gate. This setting seemed perfect for a late afternoon photograph. And then there was time to take a quick photo of Cocoa Joy smiling. (smile)

Jesus was raised so that we might walk in newness of life! He is our life, our blessed hope, and our resurrection!

He died so we might live.

Back to reality, back to light weight jackets, and back to life in the mountains. Here is Chipley practicing his best move (so far in doggy agility). We had to cross over a couple of small streams. He went right over the water and never thought about what he was doing all because Cocoa Joy had gone before him. And where was Cocoa when this photo was taken? Oh . . . behind me . . . pulling to go on down the path toward the river. She always leads the way.

Here are a few final shots taken on the way back to the boat at Cumberland. Being on the island is truly a once in a lifetime experience. But the fun thing is this: it doesn’t have to be that way. If you live close enough, it can be enjoyed over and over again. Call for reservations. The Park Service only allows a certain number of people on the island each day. Overnight camping and backpacking are allowed in certain areas. For the most part, the facilities are primitive (There’s no Coca Cola on the island, no machines and certainly no vendors.) Bathroom facilities are few and far between but well maintained. What you pack in, you must pack out. Still it is a very worth-while trip even for families with small children. Plus, I saw lots of older people hiking on the island this time. The best thing to do is bring sunscreen, bug and tick spray (a must), a camera, and enjoy all you see and do.

There are several pathways like this on the island. Maps are given out at the visitor’s center and are easy to follow. Most people do not get lost—I don’t think. These sun-speckled routes (like the one above) were cut through maritime forests by early owners, who were made up of some of America’s wealthiest families.

The Park Service continues to prevent the ruins at Dungeness from falling in or completely being over grown by vines. However, the nearby recreation house that once contained an indoor swimming pool and racket ball court has collasped. When I first visited the island in the ’80′s, it was still standing but barely. Long time residents continue to recommend Cumberland Island: A History as a must have book on the island’s history.

I thought I would post a couple of the seagull photos I took while on Cumberland Island. While we were there, the sky was cloudless and a deep Indigo blue. I knew that when I looked at my photos everything would be blue, blue, blue. A friend with me suggested that I use a photoshop action that would add clouds to the sky. That could be fun at some point, but I thought I would just give you the Cumberland sky—uncut and unedited.

These little guys were sitting on the dock when we left the island. They both seemed quite content to pose for my camera. I wondered if they were friends. C. S. Lewis wrote, “Friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” I also found it interesting that one of them brought the other a gift. Notice the small, colorful object in the center.