Took the Tolman to St Georges Island here in N, FL this past few days
but was not able to use her. Put her in the water at the oystermens
"ramp", basically a sandy area with steep drop off. Pushed off and
tried to start motor. Would not start for anything. Wind pushed us
across a shallow harbor for about 100 yds. OK, so I start kicker to
get us back to ramp. Uh oh, we are now in water too shallow for it.
CRAP, I gotta jump in and push off cuz wind really pushed us hard
aground. Once in water, decided to just walk her back across shallow
harbor EXCEPT, the mud was 3' deep. I got it done but my legs are cut
up from oyster shells.
THEN, although the park ranger had told me there were no other ramps,
I find that 200 yards closer to the bridge is a NEW paved ramp that is
very nice.
Unfortunately, Apalachicola has turned in an artsy fartsy hellhole
where I doubt a real oysterman can afford to live.
St George Island has gone from being an ok sort of place to stupidly
expensive out-of-stater beach homes that us Fl natives who live inland
will have to pay for when a hurricane takes em away. The whole island
seems boater hostile with every place I went having no place to park a
truck and boat trailer.
At least the Thanksgiving collards were good.