BEAVER/DUFFY WEDDING MINUS 2 DAYS -- DAYTIME

East Beach and the Beaver Family Compound



FOG After Kayaking

Thursday, October 10, had so much activity that two BLOG postings are needed, one for the day and another for the evening. 

Mr. FOG went kayaking again, this time at East Beach.  Last year in October the surf was much rougher.  Today the seas were relatively calm and sand bars had formed a protective barrier, allowing him to kayak more easily.  He started at Massengale Park, near the King and Prince and made it to the Sea Island Bridge and back, a total of about 5 miles not including side excursions to many sand bars along the way.

Starting at low tide made the kayaking easier and more interesting.   Schools of fish were trapped in the shrinking pools of water and the seas' secrets were revealed as the water levels fell.  He was first tempted by a sand bar just off the King and Prince.  A catamaran just beat him to the sand bar, but the sand bar was big enough for two explorers.  The sand bar had been colonized by sea gulls that reluctantly yielded territory to the intruding humans, perhaps knowing their species would ultimately prevail.  

Next he set sights on entering the marsh that separates St. Simons Island from Sea Island.  Last year, given the rough surf it was hard to do.   This year helped by the low tides and calmer seas he easily made it up the coast and entered the waterway separating the two islands.  A channel, protected by the sand bar, drains and fills the marsh lands in the center of St. Simons Island. 

Fishermen, beachcombers, paddle boarders and sunbathers lined the shoreline as he made his way up the coast.  The marsh was different here from where he had been yesterday.  FOG proudly made it to the Sea Island bridge which provides vehicle access to the exclusive Sea Island.  Heavy surf did pound the lower, undeveloped southern end of Sea Island and a solitary beachcomber searched the marsh side beach any treasures to be discovered. 

Afterwards, he was tired from the paddling , and FOG thought a visit to the Colonel Gary’s Officers Quarters, which has a pool, might be nice break before heading home.  In any event, the BLOG needed something on the lives of the Bride and Groom and they were based in the Beaver Family compound.  The Beaver Family compound consists of two large houses with a great backyard that includes a pool, volleyball court and an extensive yard.  FOG expected to find the Beavers frolicking in the pool, and instead found the Beavers, as the name would suggest, busy and hard at work.

Colonel Gary and Vanna Lynn were in the kitchen preparing food, the Bride and Groom were working on an audio visual presentation for the wedding.  Earlier they had put together many wedding welcome gifts for the out of town guests staying at the hotels.   The Groom still had to pick up his tuxedo.  FOG later learned that the tux fit well, so no re-visit to the rental place is needed.  Last year there had been problems with many of the groomsmens' formal rentals. 

While there were still a lot of details to be taken care and FOG would have been stressed, the married couple to be, were relaxed and working on an audio visual presentation for the wedding.  The groom  was taking all in stride, with his usual calm style.  The Bride, was perhaps a bit more intense than the Groom, but not nearly as much, if FOG were the Bride.  In any event she looked well-rested and much  relaxed than when FOG first saw her on Monday.  Also Alex, the Bride's brother had arrived and more of the Beaver and Duffy family were arriving to help with anything the couple needed.  This  may be helping to take the pressure off the couple. 



Beaver Family and Friends at Pool

 FOG decided that the Beaver Compound pool was too inviting to be unused and when Colonel Gary offered an invite, FOG decide to stay a bit.  Colonel Gary was baking a cheese cake and had about an hour of free time while the cake baked to catch some rays poolside.  Soon they were joined by Chris, USMC Don senior, Don the son and his wife Lorraine from Arizona, Madge, Beth, Liza and others from the Beaver extended family and friends. Unfortunately the Bride and groom were not able to join them.  They had too many tasks left to do to enjoy the warm afternoon sun.  Well, they will get some  sun during their Mexican honeymoon.

Beth, the new Wedding Coordinator

Additional Wedding Key Players

Liza, the Maid of Honor

    

Note:  While the ladies look pretty, FOG agreed to this explanation.  He nearly forced them into taking a picture so that BLOG readers would know who they were when you saw them.  They will be even prettier at the various wedding events in the next three days.  Beth is taking the place of the dismissed "dolce vita" wedding coordinator, and Liza is Anna's Maid of Honor.

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FOG returned to his own compound, a nice house near the village, sans pool, but the house's welcoming porch had his Lordship, Nurse Sherry, and Philip of Rum enjoying drinks. FOG had a Madras and all shared their day’s adventures. 

Errors, Omissions, and Out Right Lies

The BLOG erroneously reported that Beaver/Duffy Wedding would have 250 guest.  The correct number is closer to 150.  The BLOG apologizes to Colonel Gary for any chest pains caused by his thinking that his daughter had secretly invited 100 more guests to the wedding.