Saturday, April 5th Savannah, GA

65047 Sunshine   63-84* 202 miles

We drove into Savannah easily and found the Trolley Company.  Saturday morning very light traffic in town. Azaleas in several shades, dogwoods and daffodils in bloom.  We booked a trolley tour and a river cruise for the day to learn more about beautiful Savannah.  James Oglethorpe founded the city in 1733 with debtors and the working poor from England looking for a better life.  He had 3 basic rules: no alcohol, no Catholics (based on the fact that hostile Spanish Catholics were close by in Florida) and no slaves.

Late in the afternoon, we got on the road for the Carolinas via a short way on I-95 and then US 17, the coastal route.  The highway was good road and a pleasant ride on 4 lanes through the country side.  Wisteria grows in the trees along the road making a pretty contrast with the green pines.  In some places, there were so many that we could smell the scent driving by.  Homes were well kept with trim lawns and fields.  Horse ranches and even a bush trimmed into a car shape with hubcaps. It came up so quick that I didn't get a shot. Palms are only seen as ornamental in the yards. Spent the night in Georgetown, South Carolina.

It was a sunny spring day in Savannah.  There are 23 parks with
flowers in blossom.  I had to take many photos.  Live oak dripping
with moss which is actually an air plant in the pineapple family.

All parks had names of course, mostly for famous Georgians or battles

Pinks stood out against the green leaves.

Yep, another pretty park.

Live oaks made a canopy even though not really in leaf.

Another shade of pink azalea

I was motivated to go to Savannah by my sister who wanted to visit
Juliette Lowe's home on our trip.  Here, a group of girl scouts are
touring the house where Lowe started USA scouting in 1915

Chippewa Square was the setting for the bench scene from
"Forest Gump"  (Though this isn't that square)

More wisteria along an iron fence.

The city of Savannah was founded in 1733 by
General James Oglethorpe. His idea of squares was originally
for military exercises but as the city grew, the idea of squares
continued.  Bull Street is a landmark.

So many magnificent homes around the squares.

Interesting architecture

Another style of construction 

Juliette Low's Home

Stylish home

Oldest home in Savannah

Full view of oldest building in the city

Ships from Europe were empty of cargo so they filled their holds with rocks.
When they arrived in Savannah to pick up exports, the rocks were dumped
into the city and used for paving roads.  Several of the narrow streets
leading to the docks were made of there stones as well as some
river side buildings.

Waiting for the cruise in front of the wind sock store.

More paved stone streets with an iron walkway above the street.

Looking up the Savannah River towards the Port

Former President George H W Bush and Barbara have sailed on this little boat
that was tied up to the dock.

Replicas of the Nina and Pinta ships

Savannah is the largest single container port in the US.  This
freighter is nearly 1000' long.

The river must be dredged regularly.  This old wreck is
used to tie up equipment for dredging.

Fort Jackson to the South of Savannah is Georgia's
oldest brick fortification.

Savannah's riverfront

The "Waving Girl" statue on the waterfront. 

"The waving girl was the daughter of a sergeant stationed at Fort Pulaski.  She later moved into a cottage long the river near the harbor with her brother George who was the keeper at Cockspur Lighthouse.

And for 44 years, Florence Martus was the "unofficial" greeter of all ships on the river in Savannah, Georgia along with her beloved collie.  The dates were from 1887 and 1931.  And so the legend goes: no ship came or went without Florence waving a handkerchief by day (some say it was a towel or table cloth), or a lantern at night.  She must have had a very lonely life to devote her time and energy to this 44 year ritual.  Maybe she was just trying to get in some cardio.  She lived from 1868 to 1943.

Many speculate that she fell in love with a sailor and he broke her heart.  And that she went to the river and waved her handkerchief every day in hopes that he would return.

She was such legend, on September 27, 1943, the SS Florence Martus, (a Liberty ship), was christened in her honor.  Also, she was remembered with this statue created by Felix De Weldon, who also sculpted the Iwo Jima Memorial"

Couldn't resist this shot of a crotch rocket with a huge
rear tire.  The bike was part of a group around 20 in size
that were cruising Savannah's streets.

Crossing the Savannah River and looking back at the City.