Savannah, GA; Bill & Bev - Yr 1, Day 197

Hardeeville, SC (near Savannah, GA)

I played hooky from work today and we spent the day in Savannah.  It was a lot more pleasant this time around than the last time, probably because last time we were in the seedy part of town, and this time we visited all the rest of the city (business, colonial, historic, victorian and river sections).

We got there around 9:00 am.  The plan was to see if we could park at the visitor's center and if not, then backtrack across the bridge and park at Hutchinson Island and take the ferry across.  Oddly enough, the parking lot was almost completely empty, so we lucked out.

The Visitor's center is housed in the same building as the history museum, so we spent a few hours between there and the railroad museum which is adjacent (the history museum was once the railroad shed).  Savannah really does have some very interesting history, having been "birthed" by a Londoner named Oglethorpe.  A major battle was fought here during the Revolutionary War - the Battle of Savannah - which was the bloodiest battle in the entire war.  I didn't realize that France and Germany had sent troops to fight with the colonies against England.  There is a large memorial dedicated to the soldiers who died on the field that we stood on:

Mitch was really fascinated by the railroad museum where Pullman and other trains of the 1890s to 1940s are on exhibit.  It was a working yard -- all steam operated, including the machinery in all the buildings.  We had a tour of how everything operated and was connected by steam, and a tour of the executive cars: the ones the executives of the railroad used - extremely high luxury in its day.  We also got to ride on a hand car (a thrill ride for me, akin to a roller coaster!).  

Mitch on the hand car

The dining room in the executive car

After the museum, we stopped for lunch across the street at a place called The Distillery.  It used to be a distillery during the Prohibition (making "medicinal" concoctions).  Now it is a pub with a full menu.  They make a lot of things from scratch and what they don't, they buy from local vendors and farmers. I had the black bean burger and Mitch had falafels.  They're motto regarding their beer is "no crap."  They don't carry Budweiser, Heinekin, Blue Moon and several other name brands - only craft beer and spirits.

Afterwards, we took a trolley tour through the area, with very interesting narration. A lot of movies were filmed here, including Forrest Gump.  We got off the tour at City Market - a collection of little shops & restaurants.  We lost all control when we entered The Savannah Candy Kitchen where they make all flavors of popcorn, taffy, praline and pecan goodies, chocolates and a lot of other homemade stuff.  I'm glad we don't have a lot of storage space in our pantry; it kept us from buying up the store, although we did buy some cheddar cheese and pizza flavored popcorn, and some praline chocolate goodies.

We got home around 5:00 and I had to do some work.  We discovered yesterday that another DRV pulled in across from us, so we left a note that we wanted to meet them.  Around 8:00, Bill and Bev knocked on the door and we had a great conversation until 9.  They also just started full timing, but have been RV'ing for many years.  They are originally from Iowa.  Turns out they are also on the way to FL and then NC for the same 2 rallies we're going to!  They also post on a few of the same forums, so I already knew them by their screen name (BillBev).

Lots of work and more deadlines by the end of the week, so won't have much to report over the next few days.