Woke up and headed back into Savanah on Thursday 2/21. The days are starting to mush together. I still haven't figured out a way to make this a little less complicated date wise unless I do it every day and that would not be very relaxing for me...and it's all about me, you know!
So many jet trails around here! I get excited about one in Eureka!
Leaving our campground
We got a bit of a late start.. so when we
got to the visitor center parking lot where we parked our rig we sat in the Casita and
made our lunch! Then hopped on the free bus that took us all around
town. We hopped off at the water again.
Back in Savanah on the waterfront. The Olympic torch statue. They held the yachting events here in 1996 when the Olympics were in Atlanta
The famous waving girl statue. Apparently she was the lighthouse keeper's daughter and made a vow to wave to every ship until her sweetheart returned.
Another amazing yacht! The Hyperion. It was built in 1998 and is so tall it clears the Golden Gate by only 30 feet. It is owned by the fellow who founded Netscape and Silicon Graphics. Everything inside is run with high tech touch screens. There are only 3 larger sloops. It cost $30 million to build! (all found with google!)
The free ferry. It took about 20 min to go across and come back, but wonderful views!
The city from across the Savanah River at a convention center.
The gold dome is City Hall! We aren't in Eureka anymore!!
The Riverwalk
We hopped back on the bus and it took us to our rig. We then had one more thing to see so drug it though the city. Jerry is amazing!
Forsyth Park. Savanah has a park every few blocks. It was all designed when it was built. This is the largest and has this fountain. Soo beautiful. We couldn't find a parking place so Jerry (with the Casita "monkey on his back" ) circled the park while I jumped out and ran to see and take pictures. I told him "just keep turning left and you will come back to me!" I had to stop a bit of traffic to be able to jump back in!
Around the bottom are swans and "fanciful mermen" I thought of the Riverbend guys!
After that wild escapade we decided to head north on the 95 toward Charleston South Carolina and "my new home" . We found an RVpark about 12 miles from Charleston on highway 17 in Hollywood SC and unbeknownst to Jerry it was a perfect distance to Kiawah Island where the HGTV Dream Home is located! Yes indeed while searching the net I happened upon a website that said that a local charity was giving tours for only $20 on the very days we would be in Charleston!!!
Lake Aire RV park and campground. Weird duck walking around...
We pulled in just before dark. As Jerry was taking the garbage and
exploring he found some folks sitting around a campfire and we talked to
them and they told us things not to miss in Charleston. They also
mentioned it was supposed to rain tomorrow! We tried to watch some TV
with the internet but it buffered so much we gave up and went to sleep!
2/22/13
Pouring down rain by the time we started out. Got new windshield wipers. Amazing how that helps one see better!
The Angel Tree is a Southern live oak on Johns Island. It is estimated to be 1500 years old and is 66.5 feet tall, is 28 feet in circumference and from tip to tip it's longest branch is 187 feet long. It is thought to be among the oldest living things in the USA. Mr. and Mrs. Angel used to own this estate but local folklore told stories of ghosts of former slaves that would appear as angels around the tree.
The tree was stunning! and so huge. Many branches hit the ground and appeared to be growing from there.
A very interesting lady offered to take our picture. As soon as she saw us she started telling us of an interesting artist who takes pictures of nude people with famous or interesting trees. She said he had done one with this tree. She then went on to say he lives up where the redwoods are....Humboldt county we asked? Yes she said! We said of course he is from there...so are we. We were all amazed. She went on to say his art is online at treespiritproject.org and so it is. Check it out if you dare!
We had to go through a checkpoint to get into the residential area of Kiawah Island. Just like at a state park, they even wore uniforms! (We need that in Riverbend! Forget the locked gate, we need guards!) We told them what we were doing and they gave us directions to a parking lot at a nature center where we bought our tickets. We then stood here in the pouring rain to wait for the shuttle. We were not alone...Other folks thought they we going to see their house! and said they would let me visit!
The big moment has arrived!
Better than the virtual tour!
Phyllis, let's make this!
Jerry's favorite part! How'd they do that? They wouldn't let us out on the deck because they were worried we would get the floor wet. We all were bummed. We had to wear surgical booties as it was! We did notice there were no gutters and the garage walls were not solid. They were built with slats and screen. When we asked about that Marie, a young lady docent told us it was due to the possibility of flooding. Hmmmm
It was pretty amazing to be there! One couple told us that they had researched it and no one who has won a house has been able to afford to live there due to taxes so that is why they are giving $500,000 dollars with it. They figured they would just take the car and the money and run when they win! Seems like they should just build more reasonable houses!
We talked with Marie the docent about where to eat around here(Jerry is so good at that!). Turns out she has been to Eureka, applied at Humboldt and wasn't accepted and has eaten at the Lost Coast Brewery! She told us to go to JB's smokehouse on the way to Charleston. She appologised for the paper plates etc, but said it was the best and she was right!
This is the front door! It was an all you can eat buffet. Maybe we are foodies! It was the best everything I have ever had. Fried chicken, Pulled pork with 4 differnt kinds of bar-b-q sauce in squirt bottles on the table (with checkered plastic table cloths), greens, an okra and tomato thing, pork stew, hush puppies, beans, black eyed peas and pudding x 3 for dessert. They even had a salad bar but who wants that when you can have all the other stuff!
On to Charleston! Followed 17 on into the city and found the water (always the first order of business!) Charleston is on a peninsula between the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. Their riverfront is called The Battery. It is at the point of the peninsula and was where the city was defended in both the Revolutionary was ( Fort Moultrie) and the Civil War (Fort Sumter)
As you can see it was still pretty cold but not raining so we walked at a good pace (to walk off our lunch in hopes to eat again this trip!)
We came upon white Point Garden park with several statues and monuments.
and a very cute fountain. see her little foot?
The homes and buildings were spectacular!
Narrow alleys between houses
Called Rainbow Row because of the different colors
The Bible Belt has a LOT of churches!
Looking for a restroom we stumbled upon Charleston Place. A very ritzy hotel with high end shops. Amazing and the bathroom was beautiful, too! The restroom downstairs was being renovated so we had to climb the spiral staircase to the send floor! Jerry kept wondering how they hung the huge chandelier!
This area was the inspiration for the book and play "Porgy and Bess"
a planted fountain! Hmmmm
We never did eat dinner, Wanted to try the other places Marie told us about but we're too full. We'll just have to try shrimp and grits somewhere else! I can't believe it! I am caught up again! Jerry has been asleep for about 3 hours, I can hear a light rain outside, and we are off to Atlanta tomorrow to visit our friend Sandy Mclendon you may have heard us talk about. She went with us on a road trip to Seattle and Victoria BC a couple of years ago. Dad just loved her and her sweet southern charm. She has quite an itinerary planned!
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