Georgia & South Carolina 2014

July 24, 2014

Pinckney Farm House

Ft Sumter Monument

Another exciting day looking at National Parks & monuments.   Our first stop was Charles Pinckney National Historic site, Mr Pinckey was a rice farmer who owned Snee Farm.   Here you learn about his involvement in the American Revolutionary War and his political participation, in fact he was one of the individuals who helped created the Constitution of the USA.  Nothing remains of the original site, as it has all been destroyed by hurricanes and time.   The house in the pic to the left, is actually one that was built on the farm in 1820's after his death.

We then drove to Fort Moultrie, which is about 30 min away.  Along the way, we drove along the bay of Sullivan Island, stopping at Breach Inlet.   Here is where they had the first battle in 1776, today it's a nice beach for fishing but you can't swim here, if you do you could get at $1,040 fine.  Very strong currents and they want to make sure you don't enter the water. 

Unique house on Sullivan Island

Ft Moultrie

Next we took a drove along the bay and saw some very interesting homes.  Some were unique and others magnificent in their beauty.   Along this drive we also saw the Fort Sumter Monument.  Very unusual.

Fort Moultrie is located just down the road from the monument and across the bay from Fort Sumter.   Both of these forts were built to protect the opening to Charleston.  However, Fort Sumter fell into the British hands, where Fort Moultrie never did.   This fort  was the site of the first decisive American victory over the British Navy during the Revolutionary War.  Fort Moultrie was operational from 1776 until after WWII.   Today they showed us what the guns looked liked and how they helped protect the harbor.  It's a self guided tour but very interesting, plus you get to see a 22 minute movie that's very interesting.   We did not visit Fort Sumter, just did not have the time, plus you must take a ferry to reach it.

USS Yorktown

Flag over Ft Moultrie

Next we went to see the USS Yorktown.   It's a memorial located about 4 miles from Fort Moultrie but still on Sullivan Island, we did not take the tour.   We drove to the visitors center and walked out on the fishing pier, from here you get a wonderful view of the harbor and of the Yorktown.   It's a beautiful pier that you can fish from, sit and watch the ships come in or take pictures, like we did.

By now it's almost 3 and it's time to head home, it will take us almost an hour to get there.  Tomorrow we are heading to Fayetteville, NC.  Bobby is going to show me where he was stationed while in the Army.

 

July 23, 2014

Lake Aire RV Park

Left Hardeeville, SC around 9 and headed to Charleston, SC, arriving around 11:30, I drove this entire leg.   This park, Lake Aire RV Park reminds me of camping in Oregon, it has a lake that surrounds it and pine trees everywhere.   It's located about 12 miles west of Charleston.   We'll probably stay 2-3 days.   The park is actually located in Hollywood, SC

 Today is a relaxing day, got here, set up and then went to do the laundry.   We drove about 7 miles as the rv park only has a small unit and we needed milk anyway.

While we were shopping at Walmart, the thunderstorms started.   They were so loud you could here them inside the store.   Thought maybe we had left them in Hardeeville...lol.

Came home and cooked dinner.  Then I went for a walk around the park.  Saw these cool looking geese.   Look like they're part of the turkey family.

July 22, 2014

Sun Dial in one of the squares

Green-Meldrim House

Our feet are tired from walking 6 miles today but it was so worth it!  We had bought a walking tour guide earlier and today we did 21 of the 24 historical squares plus walked along the river walk.   The river walk features the third largest port in the USA, it reminds me of the Willamette in Portland, but much bigger and busier.  There are many restaurants & shops in this area, yes we went thru many of them.  Had some wonderful pralines at the candy store.  Another store was the "Bob is my uncle" store.

Each square gives you a different purspective about the history of the city, the architecture of the buildings/homes, heroes, plus tells you about current happenings since the war that made Savannah surrender to the North.

Forest Gump bench

St Johns Church

While walking around each square, the guide book tells you the highlights, so you can feel like you know what happened during the civil war plus learn the details of the architecture, who lived where, etc.   Some of the highlights of the famous people:  General Sherman stayed at the Green-Meldrim House.  The owner gave him his house so that he would not burn Savannah down, it worked!   He also charged him rent and General Sherman paid it.

Other famous people were James Pierpoint, he was the choir director at Jingle Bells Church, it's called that because he wrote the tune while tenuring here.  Also Juliette Gordon Low lived here, she founded the "Girl Scouts".   You get to see her home and grave site.  The home of Flannery O'Connor is here, she is a famous poet.

Hampton Lillibridge Home

Container ship passing thru Savannah

 You also see various churches, in particular the Cathedral of St Johns, it is beautiful.  We could only see the outside as they were conducting a funeral.  The First Baptist Church is the oldest church in Savannah, the first pastor Mr William Johnson wrote the constitution for the Southern Baptist Convention.  The Independent Presbyterian Church has a steeple standing 227.5' tall.   Very impressive.   The Second African Baptist Church is famous, as General Sherman delivered the Emancipation of Proclamation from here.   Also Dr Martin Luther King, Jr practiced his famous speech "I have a dream" here before delivering it in Washington, DC.

There's also a "Pirates House", here many famous pirates hung out, they'd get patrons drunk and then take them thru underground tunnels to waiting ships, where they became slaves.

WWII memorial on waterfront

Loved this store!

Various books and movies have been written about Savannah, a few are:  Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil, this book features two homes, the Mercer Williams House and the Hamilton Turner Mansion.  This house (Hamilton) also inspired Walt Disney's Haunted Mansion ride.   Yes, they say it's haunted along with many other homes in the area.   Another movie is the Forest Gump movie, his famous scene with him sitting on the bench eating a box of chocolates was filmed here.

Many of the homes are said to be haunted, in particular are the Hampton Lillibridge house, most haunted one in Savannah.  It was for sale, think they might have a tough time selling this one.

I'm giving a brief overview but would recommend if you ever get here to take the walking tour.  I'm sure the riding tours give you the same information but you need to have time to look at all the detail in the houses, building, statues, etc.


July 21, 2014

Shelter Cove Marina

Headed to Hilton Head, SC to see the sights.  We made our first stop at Stacks, a breakfast place.   Had a wonderful breakfast and the waiter was funny!

Hibiscus

We then headed to Port Royal golf course, prices were ok just not the weather, felt like it was going to rain anytime.   Summer rates are reasonable in comparison to winter rates.   We could play at 7 AM for around $85 a person

Sea Pines golf course

Next stop was Shelter Cove, beautiful area, the Hibiscus are gorgeous, they had many colors, this pic shows one of my favorites.   Lots of big boats to look at.   We walked around the marine but that did not last long, started raining, means we won't be playing golf today!  

Lighthouse near marina at Sea Pines

Decided to head towards the lighthouse.  While driving, we entered the Sea Pines area, which you must pay $6 per day to get into.  This area has the lighthouse, major golf courses, beaches, etc.  Once we got inside, we saw the Sea Pines golf course (here they play the PGA tournament) so we stopped to look around.  Again prices were reasonable for this time of year and it being a PGA course.   It was raining, so if we play it will mean staying another day in the area, so we haven't decided.

Macaw

We hopped on the local trolley (it's free) and went to the lighthouse.   What a nice area this is!  The marina & lighthouse are here along with many shops and restaurants. We went thru the shops, took pics on the pier, looked at the lighthouse, etc.  While on the pier, I saw a bottle nose dolphin swim by...very cool! Got back on the trolley around 1 and headed back to the truck.

Near entrance to Hilton Head

After returning to the truck, we drove to South Beach, more shops, another marina, they also had 3 macaws in a store, fun to look at.   Looked thru the shops, bought a gift, then headed for home.   We can see the lighting off in the distance so know it will be a mighty wet trip home.  Sure enough it was, it's supposed to last 2-3 hrs.  Getting used to this afternoon ritual.
 

July 20, 2014

Fort Pulaski damage from guns

Guns at Fort Pulaski

 Left around 8:45 and headed to Fort Pulaski, http://www.nps.gov/fopu/index.htm site of the civil war battle between the Union and Confederate Army's in 1862.   The Union general Gillmore decided to use a new cannon, a riffled cannon, which he hoped would penetrate the formidable Fort Pulaski, which had 7.5' walls and a moat all around it.  After 30 hrs of battle, the Confederate army surrendered, as they were afraid that the cannon's from the Union soldiers would penetrate their ammunition holdings.  You can still see the damage that these cannons did, even some of the rounds are still visible.  

Inside Fort Pulaski

Lighthouse at Tybee Island

Next we headed to Tybee Island, this is where the Union army was stationed.   Today it's a large tourist area filled with shops, history of the above battle, a lighthouse and of course the Atlantic Ocean.  We walked up and down the shops, you see the usual tee shirts, etc.   We went out on the fishing pier, there were hundreds of people enjoying the ocean.

We then drove into Savannah, stopping at the Colonial Cemetery.   What an amazing place this is, it's one of the Nations oldest and has lots of history.  One of the most impressive graves was Button Gwennitt, he was the second person to sign the declaration of independence.  A gentlemen who was visiting the grave also, gave us a lot of the local details.   He explained that General McIntosh killed him two days after he signed the declaration in a duel.

One of many graves of Civil War heroes

Button Gwennitt Grave

In this cemetery are many that were killed by the yellow fever plaque, plus many civil war heroes.   Many of the grave headstones have disappeared do to age but many are there but just unreadable.    A person hasn't been buried here in over 170 years.

Afterwards we headed to the visitor center so I could get a map to do our walking tour.  The gentleman told us about the house that General Sherman lived in, when I asked about that, the gentleman got upset.  Obviously they still hold a grudge towards the Union soldiers!   Got our information, we'll come back on Tuesday and walk the historic section.  So much to see and do in this historic city.


 July 19, 2014

Got up and decided to visit the local flea market, nothing exciting so we headed back to the coach, loaded up and left around 8:35.  

We stopped at Costco in Jacksonville, FL for a few supplies and then continued onto Savannah.   We decided to see what the Elks lodge was like since they did not answer their phone.  No wonder, it's a very run down lodge.   Do to this, we continued on to Hardeeville RV park in Hardeeville, SC.   Arrived around 2 as we had to stop for gas and made a couple of wrong turns.   So many trees here, the gps would not hold the signal....absolutely drives me crazy!   I was very irritated with it....and Bobby was irritated with me...lol.

Once we arrived, we decided to just stay in.  Good thing as the afternoon storms came.   Fairly regular item these days!