Thursday morning,
15JAN, we (Rebecca, Jaxson, Mason & us) hit the road for Savannah, GA, in
the RV. Why? – to visit daddy Raymond
who is attending an aviation mechanic training school in Savannah. We departed in cold & rain which was
pretty constant for the entire drive to our first stop – Tallahassee, FL. Enroute we stopped at the Florida welcome
center for lunch, to our stretch legs & get computer pics with an alligator. After eight hours driving we pulled into
TownePlace Suites Hotel parking lot where Rebecca & the kids will spend the
night. Now we just needed a place to
park the RV where we will sleep; thankfully the desk person told us just park
in the empty medical center parking lot next door.
By early afternoon Friday
we finished the drive to Savannah, GA.
Upon arrival we set up camp at Lotts Island RV on Hunter Army Air Field
where we stayed back in FEB11, when we last visited Savannah (see below BLOG
link for details of our last visit, & some of the history of Savannah). After our arrival the ladies & kids headed
on foot to the mall right next door.
Late that afternoon daddy Raymond arrived at the RV camp. After gathering up Rebecca, Jaxson, Mason
& all their luggage; he then took them back to the hotel he is staying at
for his aviation school. A short time
later we threw their large “double kid” stroller in the back of the Toad &
hauled it to their hotel (it wouldn’t fit in Raymond’s rental car). After showering at their hotel (note - there
are no showers or restrooms at our RV park) we left them & headed to the
Olde Pink House Restaurant in Savannah for dinner. This is probably one of Savannah’s top dining
spots & we ate here back in 2011. Corrie
went with the BLT salad (which she had last time) & scallops, Dan went with
Caesar salad & the arches platter; still highly recommended!
Saturday morning it
was back to the kid’s hotel & then traveling in two cars to the beaches at
Tybee Island, GA. First stop was the
beach (cold & windy!); followed by a drive to the end of US 80 (trivia –
this is one end of US 80, where is the other end?) & the “old” town of
Tybee Island (mostly a tourist trap), which was pretty empty since the “season”
is over. For lunch we headed to The Crab
Shack. The Crab Shack is a favorite of
Savannah locals, & only serves seafood that is grilled or boiled (no frying
allowed). One thing they do different is
that you can get a boiled seafood platter that includes crawfish, blue crab,
snow crab, mussels, shrimp, corn on the cob, sausage & potatoes! A little pricey but a very good seafood
sampler!
After lunch the kids
& grandkids went to Fort Pulaski National Monument, & we went back to an
“art yard” we spotted on the drive into Tybee Island called Fish Art Gallery
by Ralph Douglas Jones. Mr Jones was a
former outdoor advertising artist, this man became a fish artist in 2000 and
makes fish out of everything imaginable -- tennis rackets, metal trash can lids
and rake ends, even guitars -- that he picks up from dumpsters, yard sales, or that
are given to him by people. The
“gallery” wasn’t open; a note on the gate said – “open by appointment or by
chance”?
Sunday morning we
head back to the hotel, & the decision was made to head to the Savannah
visitor center to see what is available for museum tickets? It is decided that the ladies will take the
Toad & head downtown to tour Factors Walk & the river front; the guys
will take the kids & tour the Georgia State Railroad Museum.
“Located at the old
Central of Georgia Railway Savannah Shops and Terminal Facilities, Georgia
State Railroad Museum is a stunning National Historic Landmark that is part of
a National Historic Landmark District. Enjoy a close-up view of the fully operational
turntable, learn about the many historic railcars and rolling stock on display,
and experience the handcar with the help of a knowledgeable and friendly
historic interpreter. Check the schedule
for train ride dates and times, which rotate between the No. 30 steam
locomotive built in 1913, and the 'modern' No. 119 diesel locomotive built in
1947... Either way you won't want to miss a ride into Savannah - and the
country's - past. Georgia State Railroad
Museum is believed to be the largest and most complete antebellum railroad
repair facility still in existence, in the world!”
Because of the size
of the museum grounds & the small number of volunteers on hand, many of the
exhibits (Pullman car, various engines, boiler room, etc) are only open for a
brief time once or twice a day. Lesson
learned check their website for the daily schedule & plan accordingly. We did luck-out & got to ride on an old “pump
car” where you work the levers up-and-down to propel the car. Although most of the museum is not really
geared for toddlers, the grandkids had a pretty good time!
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