After a very cold night in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, we made ready to hit the road yesterday morning, in search of warmer weather. Lenny and Janis Thomas came over to say goodbye, and after chatting with them a few minutes, we were on the road about 11 a.m.
We took Interstate 40 into Asheville, where we picked up Interstate 26, and took it southeast across South Carolina. Once we were out of the Smokey Mountains, it was still hilly for a while, but as we got closer to the coast, the terrain flattened out. The autumn colors also got less intense the further we drove.
We got onto Interstate 95 and took it south about 80 miles to Hardeeville, where a few miles of good two lane back road brought us to Hardeeville RV Park, a very nice family owned campground located just a few miles from Savannah, Georgia. We got a nice level pull through 50 amp full hookup RV site, on grass, for $21 a night Passport America rate. I was able to get 4G service on my Verizon MiFi, but both the 4G and the 3G air card speeds ranged from fairly decent to not at all. I finally switched to the campground’s free WiFi, which was four times faster than the 4G MiFi. At this point, I am not at all impressed with the MiFi.
We have never visited Savannah, but I have always wanted to see the historic city at night. I think it’s because of a line I read in a long forgotten book I read when I was a teenager that stuck in my head; “At night, you can shake hands with a ghost on every street corner in old Savannah.” So once we were all settled in, we drove the 10 miles into Savannah, across the beautiful and very high Talmadge Memorial Bridge. I’m glad Terry was driving, because that thing is big!
Miss Terry spotted this huge globe behind a fence and we had to stop and check it out. The globe was built in 1957 for the Savannah Gas Company, and was actually a 100,000 gallon natural gas storage tank. Today the globe is owned by a mortgage company and used as a one of a kind advertising sign. It certain got our attention!
An interesting bit of trivia about the globe – when it was repainted in 1998, it included Hurricane Floyd heading toward Savannah. Once it was finished, somebody noticed that the hurricane was depicted (incorrectly) with the clouds turning clockwise. So it had to be blocked out and repainted with the clouds turning in the correct direction. Now I don’t feel quite so bad about all of those typos that slip into the blog and paper! 🙂
We are history nuts, and after just a short drive through the Historic District, we had both fallen in love with Savannah. There were block after block of beautiful homes, along streets shrouded with huge old live oak trees, draped with Spanish moss. We stopped at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist to admire the magnificent old church, whose congregation dates back to the early days of the city. The cornerstone was laid in 1835, and when the original church was destroyed by a fire in 1898, the present building was built, and opened in 1900.
One thing that impressed us about the Historic District is that, even though it was after 8 p.m. and dark, there were quite a few people out strolling the sidewalks, and everybody said hello or nodded and smiled as they passed. Try finding that kind of friendliness in New York or Philadelphia, Or even Tucson or Phoenix, for that matter!
Our friends Peter and Connie Bradish are once again graciously giving us the use of their lot at The Great Outdoors in Titusville, Florida for a couple of weeks, and though we are expected there on Tuesday, we decided to stay here at least a second night to be able to spend some time exploring Savannah. I really feel a kinship with this beautiful city.
And besides, it’s going to be in the mid-60s today, and 70 on Tuesday. That’s almost warm!
Thought For The Day – If you think you’re too small to make a difference in the world, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room.
Nick Russell
World-Famous, New York Times Best Selling Author, and All-Around Nice Guy!
Nick & Terry…
By all means check out the “Mighty Eighth” museum. It is dedicated to the Eighth Air Force that bombed Europe during WW2. It’s on I95 south of town.
Very impressive & sobering
I think you are going to find that even one more day will not be enough. Savannah can take weeks to explore.
We, too, love Savannah. Lots to see and do. See you soon, Connie B.
Being the reader you are, I’m sure you’ve read the book (or seen the movie) “Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil,” but if not I highly recommend it, especially while you’re there to see the sights depicted in the book & movie.
Nick and Terry, I am SO jealous! Ever since I was a little girl I have wanted to visit Savannah! I think in another life I must have lived there.
Thank you for telling about Savanna. We have driven thru parts of Georgia but never had time to stop, we were on military orders and you know they only give you x amount of days to get anywhere. We plan to try to do the east coast next summer. We will make sure to add this city to our plans.Be safe and enjoy the city.
Nick, if you like Savannah, you need to visit Charleston, SC. It is every bit as beautiful, although quite different in atmosphere.
As to friendly people on the street, that must extend as far north as Charleston, West Virginia. We stopped two ladies on the street there to ask directions, and they took the time to introduce themselves! So Thank You, Joanne and Marcia!
Nick and Terry
Make sure you eat at Paula Deens restaurant, The Lady and Sons. The lunch buffets are all southern foods and excellent. I have never been so stuffed. You have to make reservations very early. It will be worth your while. Oh yeah if you take on of the jump on and off tour trolleys and get a driver named Tigger say hi for us. He/she is a hoot.
We too stopped in Savannah for one night (drove up from Florida to get
out of the rain during Spring break). We spent the next day doing a
quick tour, took a horse and buggy ride. Decided it was so nice that
we came back the next year during Spring Break (still had one son in
school) and spent 10 days there. The azaleas were in bloom then and it
seemed like every other block there was a park. Very beautiful.
Thought about you this past spring when we crossed that same bridge….and we saw most of these same sights…aren’t they wonderful?!!!! And about the aircard…Am long time loyal Verizon customer. .I’ve considered switching to the mifi and have heard several people not impressed, so as long as I can hold onto the old slot aircard, that will be the ticket! I think our Verizon service in general is worse….and all over the country. I get lots more dropped calls, kicked off internet…etc. Slower connection…. wonder if someone will better this eventually? Hope so…this sucks.
We did the Gray Line Tour. . . in my opinion, worth every penny. . .saw all the highlights. . .decided what we wanted to explore further. . .no parking issues. Will definitely return. We liked the Hardeeville RV Park also!