St. Marys Thanksgiving

Approximately 10 years ago, a small group of boats was stranded in St. Marys for Thanksgiving because of weather.   The owner of the local hotel/restaurant/bar asked them what they were planning for Thanksgiving dinner.   Since the plans were loose at best (there were boaters-who needs plans?) he volunteered to cook them a turkey and said they could bring side dishes into the hotel and eat there.   The story continues that they had such a good time that they came back the next year and then the next year....Last year there were over 100 boats and now the town sponsors an oyster roast on Wednesday and donates the turkeys for Thursday.   The parties actually start on the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  There is a happy hour every night at the bar.  We buy our drinks but bring our own hors d'ouvres because the bar doesn't serve snacks.   Joe's never thrilled but this ends up being dinner Sunday-Wednesday (snacks are a food group-right?).   Ann and Lynn on SV Seatramp, check in all the boats, organize the side dishes so there aren't too many duplicates, provide rides to the grocery store, laundromat, liquor store and generally keep the boaters focused which has to be like herding chickens.   Actually they and the town do a great job and the shop and restaurant owners couldn't be more gracious.   This year there were only 80 boats (about 200 people) for Thanksgiving dinner.   I swear it is so well organized it runs more smoothly than our family celebrations at home.   We caught up with lots of friends from last year and made a few new friends.   There are only 2 things wrong with St. Marys that we have observed.   They have a never ending infestation of  sand gnats (they insist they are not sand fleas-whatever!) that swarm as soon as you arrive on land.   Bug spray is a must.   And second, just like most of Georgia and northern Florida, the anchorage has a strong current with about a 7-8'tide.   Usually it is fine but of course on Thanksgiving morning, the wind kicked up to 20-25 and when it was against the currents, many boats began to drag their anchors.   Now there are 80-90 boats in the anchorage and when about 1 dozen of them start moving randomly, it gets a little dicey.   Joe was in the dinghy trying to help 2 boats that became tangled on each others anchors when I noticed us starting to drag.   Luckily the anchor drug a short distance and then took hold.   However, that left us too close to another boat so we had to pull up and re-anchor.  All this while prepping stuffing to go in the oven (and you thought it was all fun and games out here right?).   All's well that ends well:  the wind diminished and a great dinner and time was had by all.   Thank you St. Marys for a great holiday!