Savannah, Georgia for a sweet southern sojourn

Arrived in Savannah GA in the late afternoon after driving over lots and lots of bridges that crossed the rivers/ creeks, waterways of southern Georgia. Stopped for petrol (gas) and had the amazing experience of being asked for my I.D. when I wanted to buy a beer. I guess I’m looking younger these days.

Started the day at the Savannah Visitor Centre where we obtained great information including where to get free parking and the free hop-on hop-off DOT buses.

On our way to the free parking we stopped at the Ralph Gilbert Civil Rights Museum. We walked in right in the middle of a presentation from an informative guide to more than 50 Year 8 kids. After he finished his talk he suggested that we watch the 18 minute movie before taking the self-guided tour of the museum. We followed both suggestions!!

Savannah played an interesting part in the civil rights struggle and the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) organised: Sit ins @ Shops lunch bars; a15 month boycott of white shops; mass meetings in a different church @ 4pm every Sunday and a Wade in at (white only) Tybee Island Beach. Interestingly Savannah had no race riots and integration occurred there 1 year sooner than in other southern cities!

 Rode the whole (free) DOT bus route to get an overview of Savannah and then spread our picnic blanket and had lunch under the shady moss draped oaks of Forsyth Park. Shade was important as the temperature on this cloudless day was approaching 35C (90F).

Although it was tempting to "do a Jeff" and fall into the fountain we headed back onto  the DOT bus and made our first stop at the riverfront where there was no choice but walking. 





Unfortunately I had not taken either my ankle support or walking poles so walking was going to be a little difficult! Making it more difficult the walking was on cobblestones! Oh well it was time to remember and put into practice the mechanics of walking that are part of the treadmill work at the Bay St Gym!!!!!

Stumble (and fall) free after about 1.6km (1 mile) we caught the free ferry that is also part of the DOT scheme and the full circuit of the ferry gave us a great view of the waterfront and necessary recovery time.




Walked to Bernie’s Oyster Bar for 1 dozen oysters ($6). The oysters were larger than Sydney Rock Oysters from Wagonga Inlet however not quite as tasty.  But on a hot and humid Georgia day and when washed down with a Key Lime Daiquiri and a Moon River Beer they were pretty darn good!

Walked with our drinks ( a Savannah custom) & drank another beer, then back on the bus after the driver waited for me to finish the beer, to then stop at Ellis Square at the First African Baptist Church which was one of the regular meeting places of the sixties.
 
To a Trip Advisor recommended restaurant “Sweet Potatoes” for dinner with the navigation provided by Mrs G, where would we be without her! Probably lost!! Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad for the Apiarist and Peach Glazed chicken w Lemon Collard Greens & Sweet Potato with Brown Sugar Butter Sauce for the Educator finished our stunning Savannah day.