Jekyll and Hyde

We are at the campground on Jekyll Island, Georgia (map). The campground is owned and operated by the Jekyll Island Authority, a state agency which manages the entire island, technically a state park. We have a 50-amp back-in site for $32, plus tax, and barely working wireless internet -- there are no gaps in the trees to get the satellite on line.

We also paid $5 just to get onto the island -- there is a toll booth at the end of the causeway. But now that we're here, we had no trouble getting everywhere by scooter. When we arrived we thought we might stay three nights, but we've already seen most of the island, and we decided when the office opened today to just pay for two. The office had been closed when we arrived, and the camp host collected only for one night.

We rode over to the closest restaurant last night for dinner, the Driftwood Bistro, on the northeast end of the island. Dinner was tasty and surprisingly inexpensive, including the bottle of wine on special for $10. En route we rode past the enormous Clarion Oceanfront resort, shuttered since January, when the operator bailed. The empty property was being guarded by a pair of State Patrol cars, a side effect of state ownership of the land.

We then rode around the entire northern half of the island. The main road along the eastern shore is closed just north of the main cross-island route, on account of construction on the new convention center. We cut back across to the west side just abreast of the historic Jekyll Island Club Hotel, and briefly rode through the grounds before continuing north to the campground.

This evening we have dinner reservations in the dining room at the hotel. We have low expectations, especially after our relative disappointment at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island under similar circumstances. But the property has such historic interest in its own right that we don't want to miss it. BTW, today's post title stems from the efforts of Henry B. Hyde, who was responsible in large part for the early development of the club property.

This afternoon we plan to try out the Summer Waves Water Park on the island. There is a discounted rate after 3, and the park closes at 6, which gives us just enough time to make our dinner reservation. We'll tour the southern half of the island on our way to the park.

Tomorrow we'll check out by noon and head south to Jacksonville. An Elks lodge there has 30-amp pedestals for $15 per night, and it will give us a chance to eat downtown at our affiliate club. We'll probably spend at least two nights before continuing south.

Photo by Mr. T in DC, used under a Creative Commons license.