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Trenton, Ontario, Canada
In June 2012 we started the Great Loop in our Bayliner Explorer. This blog is for family and friends who would like to follow our comings and goings and , for now, our getting ready for the trip. If you read this blog we would love to hear your comment& suggestions.

Saturday 27 April 2013

Savannah Georgia


Savannah Georgia

24-27 April 2013

It took us a couple of days to get to Savannah from Cumberland Island. Both nights we anchored out with other Loopers.
Sunset (are you tired of all the sunset and sunrise pictures yet?
I can't help it, they are just so beautiful and Gary says one can never
have too many sunrise and sunset pictures)

Oh and the moon pictures, are you tired of them yet?? Right now the moon
full and we have 10foot tides.

To avoid the side trip up Savannah River we stayed at Isle of Hope on the ICW. We anchored out and MV Tango stayed in the marina. We went shopping and stocked up at Sam’s Club who had a free day membership. Boy the little Honda Civic courtesy car from the marina was filled chock o block!!

To get to Savannah we shared a taxi which I swear was driven by Mr. Magoo’s look-alike.

We decided to take the trolley tour of the city. I really like Savannah, I like the houses, the wrought iron the many, many parks and the laid back feeling of the town. It is beautiful. It is Southern.We took so many pictures and here are some of them to share with you….
 Pulaski Square
One of the 24 squares that form the boundaries of the historic district of Savannah

Wright Square and this large granite boulder with a decorative copper plate
marks the burial place of Tomochichi, the chief of the Yamacraws tribe.

Chippewa Square
They filmed much of Forrest Gump at the square.
The statue is of James Oglethorpe who founded Savannah.

Madison Square


Mercer-Williams house, famous for the killings re
 "Midnight in the Garden of Evil" Movie and book

Historical District, Savannah Georgia


The dome of the city hall, Savannah

Lamp pole

Big Duke Alarm Bell
Dedicated as a memorial to firefighters, this bell was originally used
to alert the people of Savannah to fires.


A unique way of bringing attention to certain accents of a building is
to use different coloured bricks, as seen here

Heading down to River Street, the roads are paved with stones
that were originally ship ballast




East River Street

Having a cold one with MV Tango from Montreal
Lise and Renaud

Named so because of it's colour, which comes from the layer
of stucco applied over red brick
Built in 1789 and is said to be haunted as are many places in
Savannah, apparently the most haunted city in the USA.


The Waving Girl.
This statue is of Florence, the lighthouse keepers' sister, who met a
handsome sailor who gave her a white handkerchief as a token of his promise to marry her.
Florence is said to have run out and wave the handkerchief at every incoming ship to
ensure she would be the first  to see her lover return.
She met almost 50 000 ships that way but died of a broken heart (and sore arms)
as her lover never returned to her.

She should have known better than to trust a sailor!!


River Street
Cobblestoned  street that lines the Savannah River
Cool store is called : life is great -Bob's your uncle and Fanny's your aunt!

One interesting aspect of Savannah architecture is the variety of artistic
wrought iron scattered around the Historical District.
Some are gates, others cover front doors of historic houses.
Many have some sort of theme, a certain flower or fruit,
 for example: The Pineapple; in Southern culture the
Pineapple is a symbol of hospitality, said to originate
 in the olden days when the lady of a house was giving a party,
 she would put a Pineapple in the window sill,
 that would be a indication that a party happening and all were invited.


The steeple of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist.

Dueling grounds right next to the cemetary

Colonial Park Cemetrary


Bird Girl
This famous statue can be seen in the Bonaventure cemetery,
this copy was just in someone's garden, so I snapped a picture.

Door knocker

Madison Square - statue of Sgt William Jasper
a hero of the Revolutionary War

More wrought iron

This gate is said to be a replica of the gates at Buckingham Palace

Forsyth Park Fountain, a replica of the one in Place de la Concorde
in Paris , France. Our tour guide claims this one purchased out of the
Sears Roebuck Catalogue  in 1858. Every St Patricks' day they put
green dye in the water to kick off the celebrations

Cool Sphinx outside a coffee shop

The owners of this house on the border of the historical district of Savannah ,
 caused a stir when they decided to paint heir home pink with purple trim.


Ellis Square Market.


to be continued...............

Wednesday 24 April 2013

Fernandina Beach and Cumberland Island


April 21, 2013

We left Jacksonville on cold and windy morning and headed to Fernandina Beach. By the time we got there, the winds were blowing 25+mph and gusting to 40+ mph!  We tried to get a mooring but the mooring field was full. Anchoring in the wind was not an option, so we headed into the Fernandina Beach Marina. Thankfully they were able to get us on the inside of the break wall. As we approached our slip I noticed it was just big enough that we could fit into it, Gary had to parallel park the boat and he did a great job. The dock hands even shook his hand and told him he did a great job of parking in such bad conditions in such a small space.

We went for little walk through the town. It is a very quaint little place with lots of restaurants and touristy shops; unfortunately there are also two pulp mills just outside of town and the air reeks!! Luckily we were upwind from the factories but apparently it is worse when the wind is from the South. Can’t even imagine!!

This Brazilian boat was taking on water, damaged sails and engine ...
crew were told to abandon ship and they refuse.
US coast guard to the rescue


The next morning we woke up to rain and more high winds. We decided to stay put and even though we had to pay top $$ for our slip, at least we were safe. Unlike a poor sailboat from Brazil who had to be escorted into the marina with ripped and torn sails, apparently they were out in the bad weather for the last 4 days and they were taking on water. The coastguard wanted them to abandon ship but they refused and with the tiller stuck at a 20’ angle they were able to start the motor again and limp into the harbour. Those poor guys!! It took 20 people to try and get them on the dock and tied off. They had not eaten or slept for 2 days and were looking forward to a hot shower. It is going to take them a month to repair everything but they are happy just to be alive.



April 23, 2013

With the bad weather behind us, we moved on to Cumberland Island. Once owned by the Spanish and then the British in 1844 it became the property of Thomas Carnegie who built a mansion on the ruins of a home called Dugeness. The Carnegies lived there till 1898 and donated it to the National Parks Foundation in 1971. 
Horseshoe crab

Wild Horses around the ruins

Dungeness Ruins

Picking up sharks teeth in the spoils that are used for road filler

Jungle man

New addition to the wild horses on the Island

Tall ships anchored with us

US SUB



Maritime forest




April 24, 2013

Today we decided to get some distance in and headed north with MV Paddy Wagon. We passed Jekyll Island but promised ourselves we would stop there on the ways south in the fall.

We had dinner with our friend on Teaghlaugh and said a sad goodbye to our cruising buddies. We left the Bahamas with them but they were now eager to get back to Canada while we were hoping to take some more time to get north.
Sometimes we are followed by very large ships
that make us feel a little  weird....................
                          


…………………….to be continued

St Augustine to Jacksonville Florida

April 17, 2013
We left Fort Matanzas anchorage for St Augustine.
We picked up a mooring at the municipal marina and after taking care of the usual chores (laundry etc.) we headed into town and were soon lured to a pizzeria by the tantalizing smell of pizza. And it was good.
We took a ride on the sightseeing trolley and got to know the area a little.
We spent a lovely evening with MV Maia who are Loopers from Virginia.
Great Cross.
This massive structure, made of stainless steel and rises two hundred and eight feet above the marshes of the Matanzas River, stands as a sentinel over the Mission and a “Beacon of Faith” for all who pass this way.

The Bridge of Lions

Peacock at the Fountain of Youth

The Fort as seen from the water



Two Donovans


Ponce de Leon

A gorgeous street in St Augustine with moss covered trees

Ripley's Believe it or not

David


Lightner Museum

George I can't stands ya...



Drag er off to jail...

Bridge of Lions
April 18, 2013
We spent the whole day sightseeing in St Augustine a town rich with history and culture.
The Castillo De San Marcos is the oldest masonry fortress in north America.
 
April 19, 2013
After a long day we arrived in Jacksonville. We were in for a surprise; a band was playing at the free wall where we were docked and the annual One Spark festival was in full swing. There were lots of people walking the waterfront and it seemed everyone stopped to look at the cats and ask us about our life on the boat.
                                                              Some Jacksonville sights



                                                      Main street bridge at night
Where Norma works , the Baptist Hopsital

Free dock at Jacksonville
April 20, 2013
We were joined by Mike and Norma as we toured the Budweiser Brewery. It is a free tour and afterwards you get to sample some beer. Loved it!! We spent the whole day visiting and Norma surprised me with one of her homemade lemon meringue pies. Am I lucky or what??

Norma and Mike





to be continued..........................................