I continued my southbound journey along the South Loop Trail and arrived at a crossroads. Heading straight ahead would keep me on the South Loop Trail.

Turning right would take me west toward Riverview Drive and the Summer Waves Water Park. This is my first visit to the island at a time when the park is actually open. So I turned right to check it out.

Turning left would take me east across the island to Beachview Drive.

Summer Waves was built in 1987 and occupies 11 acres on the southern part of the island.

The park is geared toward kids and features all of the water park standards such as a wave pool, a meandering river for tubing, and a host of water slides of varying heights and lengths.

The turnout seemed to be quite good for the park's next-to-last weekend of operation for the season.

Looking out over the abandoned marina that never was.

From Summer Waves, I continued south along Riverview Drive and soon came to an unmarked trail heading west. I decided to have a look.

I had found the entrance to what has been referred to as "The marina that never was."

Construction began in 1967 for a very large marina that would have held several hundred boats. The area was dredged and a few docks were built and used briefly before the project was abandoned. Mother Nature has been slowly reclaiming it ever since.

Summer Waves can be seen in the distance.

The trail that circles the area was supposed to be the main vehicle entrance to the marina. It's now a popular birding trail.

Looking out over the abandoned marina that never was.

An enormous area was dredged and prepped and then abandoned.

Looking out over the abandoned marina that never was.

The M. E. Thompson Bridge can be seen in the distance.

Summer Waves Water Park.

Looking out over the abandoned marina that never was.

Looking out over the abandoned marina that never was.

A three-picture panorama looking north out over the marina that never was.

Looking out over the abandoned marina that never was.

Zooming in on Summer Waves.

Zooming in on the M. E. Thompson Bridge and the Jekyll Island Marina.

I continued on the birding trail around the abandoned marina.

The pictures don't do the size of the abandoned marina justice. Pedaling around the marina on the birding trail was actually more of a workout than expected.

The above photo shows what I mean by "birding trail." This path encircles the abandoned marina.

Once on the far side of the abandoned marina, the Jekyll River comes into view.

Boat traffic on the Jekyll River.

I saw many boats on the Jekyll River today. This makes sense considering the public boat ramp at the Tidelands Nature Center is close by, (next to the water park).

Looking out over the abandoned marina that never was.

In the photos above and below, I'm on the river side of the birding trail looking east across the abandoned marina toward Riverview Drive, (the road I was on a few minutes ago).

Looking out over the abandoned marina that never was.

The birding trail ends at the Jekyll River at Sharktooth Beach.

I saw a number of kayakers on the water today.

In addition to having the public boat ramp close by, (just out of view to the right in the photo above), I also know that the Tidelands Nature Center offers guided kayak tours that take place in this area.

I had to wonder if this was the same boat I spotted yesterday at the Jekyll Island Club Wharf and Marina, (it wasn't).

No, this isn't the same boat I saw yesterday. I know this because I saw yesterday's boat earlier this morning still anchored at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel Wharf.

Legend has it that this is a good place to find shark's teeth, hence the name.

The Jekyll Island Marina can be seen in the photo above. The dock in the photo is part of the public boat ramp area.

Zooming in on the Jekyll Island Marina.

I also saw a lot of motorized boats filled with people enjoying themselves on the water.

Boat traffic on the Jekyll River.

Kayakers on the Jekyll River.

I spent some time taking in the wonderful scenery around Sharktooth Beach. And all was well until I started feeling drops of water. There may have been blue sky in the vicinity. But the photo doesn't show the dark storm clouds directly overhead. I quickly found out they were there.

As the rain started falling, I also realized that I was on a beach at the end of a long birding trail with no shelter anywhere in sight. This became even more significant when it occurred to me that I didn't bring an umbrella with me.

Oh well, there was nothing I could do about it now. I got back on the birding trail and headed for Riverview Drive. Unfortunately, the rain was moving much faster than I could pedal. I was able to find some shelter under a tall and very dense palm tree along the trail when the clouds emptied. I got soaked anyways.

There is a building off in the distance. I can see the building on a map when I look at a satellite view. But it's not labeled. The building sits along Umbrella Creek next to St. Andrews Sound. Whatever it is appears to only be accessible by boat.

The photo above looks south from Sharktooth Beach toward the St. Andrews Picnic Area.

Turning to the northwest looking toward State Route 520, I spotted something I can't identify.

Whatever this is sits just past the welcome center and toll booths next to State Route 520. It's about 2 as-the-crow-flies miles away, hence the unstable picture at full 140x zoom. I can see it on a map, but don't know what it is even though I pass by it on the way to/from the island.