Leaving Fort Myers and first day in Savannah, GA

We left Fort Myers on the March 3rd and headed north to Savannah, GA. It was a nice day for traveling with clear skies and the temperature got to 80 degrees. As we were headed north the first weigh station had some extended light polls that have a mesh platforms on top for the osprey to build nests. Here one of the parents is leaving the nest, presumably looking for food.

  

While driving we had another Allegro Bus pass us and motioned to get on the CB. He informed me that the pickup lights were signaling different than the motorhome. They had checked out OK when we left in the morning. We had to stop for gas anyway so I checked the lights out and, sure enough, they were backwards. It can’t be the wiring because everything has been working OK for the last year and a half. We stopped early around 2:00 at a KOA in Starke, FL, to check out the lights. After checking out the wiring I traced the problem to the wire connection on the pickup.

We woke up to rain on Sunday so we decided to stay another night here in Starke.

On Monday we drove to Savannah, GA.

 

We are starting to see spring in bloom.

We decided to stay at the Savannah Oaks RV Park that is located on the backwaters of the Ogeechee River.

Today, Tuesday the 23rd, we went to Historic Downtown Savannah and took a three hour bus tour of the area. Even though we could not get off the bus to take pictures, the tour guide spoke nonstop about the historic structures and history of the area. After the tour we went out to Tybee Island to check out an RV park and to see some of the historical sites on the Island. This Battery was used to guard the entrance to the Savannah River.

Here I’m heading out to the beach area.

 

Although the original lighthouse was built in 1736 it has been destroyed and moved a couple time to its present site by the Battery.

 

Some pictures of homes on the island.

Fort Pulaski was a fort on Cockspur Island that was taken over on January 3, 1861 by the Georgian government two weeks after they seceded from the Union. The Commandant started the reinforcement of the fort to withstand artillery of the time (round cannon balls). On November 10, 1861 the Confederates abandoned Tybee Island thus giving the Union the only site from which Fort Pulaski could be taken. The Union army later landed on Tybee and set up 11 artillery batteries containing 36 cannons of which 10 were new experimental rifled cannons that fired pointed projectiles. While from a mile away, across the south Savannah River Channel and after breaching the wall and exposing the power magazine the Confederate Commandant surrendered 24 hours into the battle with only the loss of one soldier on each side. After 1880 a caretaker and lighthouse keeper were the fort’s only occupants. They too were soon removed and the fort was left to nature’s decay. Cockspur Island was made a national monument in 1924; restoration of the fort began in 1933, probably with help of the CCC.

 

The next day we went back downtown to take pictures and visit a couple of the homes that are open to the public. We started at the water front.

 

Factor’s Walk is now shops and restaurants, but was once the cotton exchange.

 

This new bridge from Savannah to Hutchinson Island was built so larger ships could get through.

 

The lower streets were paved with ballast stones from ships coming in to pick up cargo.

The following 4 pictures are of the of the Owens-Thomas house where the Marquis de Lafayette stayed when he came to the city in 1825. They do not allow the taking of pictures inside the house.

 

 

Colonial Park is a Cemetery that was established in 1750 and closed in 1853. It has three styles of burial monuments, upright headstones, flat or raised and crypts.

 

This house is a duplex. The one on the left, with the red doors, is the unit where General Johnston lived. The other unit’s doors look like they could be the originals.

 

A lot of the houses have interesting stairways. Most of the houses and buildings are built with the first floor half in the ground. This first floor was usually where the kitchen, laundry and storage were placed and the second and higher levels were used for the living quarters.  House entry stairs began at the sidewalk unless people were wealthy enough to purchase a “trust lot” which allowed for a 20 foot setback from the street.

 

Here are some interesting architectural styles of houses we saw.

We saw this group of horse patrolwomen several times.

Spring in bloom.

 

 

Our last days at Fort Myers.

On Monday the 10th Sandy and I went back to the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island because the last time we were there it was closed. As we got ready to enter the toll booth to cross the bridge this large birdcage pulled up next to us. Now that is a serious birdcage. And if you look to the right side of the picture you can just barely see an osprey nest built on the green street sign. It seems the osprey build nests everywhere.

  

We rode on the tram tour that was an hour and a half long with a very good narrator. Unfortunately, we were on the wrong side of the tram so we were not able to get many pictures. An Egret walked along the road and posed for the tourists.

 

On Thursday the 11th it looked like the rain might miss us so I hopped on the bike and took a 260 mile drive. As it turned out I had rain for about half of the ride and of that about 30 miles was real heavy. But when I got back home I was all dried out, so in my opinion it was a good day for a ride. We ended up with 6 inches at the park for Thursday and Friday.

This Red-Shouldered Hawk hung around our lot one day just over our neighbors fish pond.

Today ,Sunday, we went with a group of friends to an event called October Fest in March held at the Shell Factory. We got there in time for the 11:00am Polka Worship.

 

After the service we all went and checked out the vender booths. It appears that Jane and Brenda have found something interesting to check out.

Now here was a cute dog stroller. They were even leashed in so they couldn’t get out.

 

Different bands played all afternoon and the dance floor got very crowed as the day wore on.

All the accordion and button box players got together for a few songs.

Later we walked around the car show. Here is a Rat Rod that was actually driven in by the owner.

 

This is a very nice La Salle.

I have always liked the older Buicks and this is a 1953 with a straight 8.

 

John L, what year is this Corvette? I know it’s a 72 or older.

  After supper on Monday we drove to the Lee County Convention Center to see if we could meet up with our friends, Joe and Jan, who were attending a Tiffin Rally. When we got there we saw that people were exiting the supper hall so we pulled up to see if they came out. When they did not appear we went inside to see if they were still inside and to our surprise they were sitting and visiting with another couple we know, Steve and Sharon. We sat and visited with them until they closed up the room. We will get to see Joe and Jan again when they pass through the Twin Cities on their way out west this summer.

Sandy had talked with some people who had been at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and said it was a must visit so on Monday we spent about 4 hours walking the 2.25 mile trail.

  This is one of the few breeding grounds left in the USA for the Wood Stork.

If it weren’t for the Audubon Society and the preservation groups who purchased the land in 1954, this stand of old growth cypress and wildlife habitat would have met the same fate as much of Florida. Some of the trees are over 600 years old.

 

We saw several Red-Shouldered Hawks.

We watched as this Great Egret stalked and caught a small fish.

It must be getting time to leave Florida as the snakes are starting to come out. There was an Audubon volunteer standing watch by this Water Moccasin. He said that it has been showing up the last three days.

It looks like they will let anyone in the park as long as they pay the $10 entrance fee.

 

This Barred Owl would not turn around and look at us so this was the best picture we could get.

An Air Plant in bloom.

 

It was just a perfect day to spend at the Sanctuary.

Well, it’s Saturday the 19th and we are getting ready to pack up, leave here and start working our way north. Our first stop will be in Savannah, GA. As I was dumping the tanks I noticed that the orange tree was starting to bloom. Things are way behind schedule because of the cold winter we had. The weather is finally in the 70’s now during the day which is just perfect..

Our last night out for pizza with Cypress Woods friends Bob, Brenda, Georgana, Steve, Bob, Lou, Sandy and I. We’ve had a wonderful 3 months in this park and will miss all the social activities we’ve enjoyed. This park truly has a lot of fun, friendly and creative people.

 

Until next time,

Dave and Sandy