Moving up the GA coast

Hello armchair cruisers,

We left Brunswick on Friday the 16th, meeting our friends Liz and Steve from Minnesota on Shingebiss, and traveling with them up the intracoastal. It was great to get caught up on their experiences in the Keys through the winter, and to share our travels.

The weather is warm and wonderful, except for the continuing irritation of the bugs, both no-see-ums and biting flies. So warm, that for the first time since leaving Cuba Landing back in October,we have travled without the windshield. WOW! We anchored out 2 nights along the way,(the current and wind was too strong to get to and from shore by rowing. Ask Jack :) and arrived here at Isle of Hope (don't you love the name?) Marina on Sunday. This marina doesn't have the usual kind of slips: everyone ties up alongside one of the three piers, which are very close together. Then the staff moves boats as some leave... That afternoon we biked around Isle of Hope, and visited Wormsloe, property settled in 1733 by one of the first settlers and kept in the family for 10 generations to the present.

Today we took the bus into Savannah and rode the tour trolley around this beautiful and historic city. We were reminded of its long history, starting with the failed settlement by some of England's 'deserving poor' (we found out that GA was not a penal colony, as we had thought), the founding of Savannah, the participation in the Revolutionary War, the wars against the Spanish to the south, local skirmishes, and the Civil War. Plus the challenges of the bugs and a very different climate from what they left in England. A difficult life! Oglethorpe's design for the city included many 'squares'... public land in the midst of the city, which are now beautifully landscaped, with flowers, fountains, benches, statues, and wonderful live oaks. (One of those 'squares' was where Forrest Gump told his life story while waiting for the bus to visit his love Jenny.) Each one is different, but all very impressive. We ate lunch at The Pirates' House. Inside the house is the opening of a tunnel that leads to the waterfront. Through that tunnel, drunks were taken to waiting ships. When they finally sobered, they were crewmen on ships headed for faraway places! A Johnny Depp lookalike visited the tables, sounding and moving remarkably like the cinema pirate. (See Shingeiss blog for a pict of him with Liz.)

Tonight when we returned from Savannah we found "Aloha Friday" with crew Nancy and Ted here. We traveled with them back on the TN-Tom above Demopolis and saw them again at Port St Joe. They 'crossed their wake', meaning they completed the loop at Ft Myers, and are now headed home back in Solomons MD.

Tomorrow we travel to another anchorage, then move on to Charleston. That trip will likely take us 2 1/2 days. We're looking forward to seeing another historic city.

In the picts above, you're looking at Brunswick photos: yards blooming with azaleas,us returning from the grocery, the high-water sign. Also, the Shingebiss trawler, Steve and Liz approaching to visit, photos of Isle of Hope homes, A lemonade stand stop while biking, us with Liz and Steve at Wormsloe, the Wormsloe colonial enactors, and picts from Savannah today including Jack conferring with Johnny Mercer, composer of "Moon River." Lastly, you'll see a pict of the marina here. (Oops, somehow the pict of us with Steve and Liz at Wormsloe didn't get in... I'll try to add it next time.)

We didn't get to worship this week, but we do continue to pray with and for the churches and our friends and family. The e-newletters that we receive, and our daily lectionary readings keep us in touch in many ways.

We're so happy to have warmer weather! After almost 1900 miles, this is still a great adventure and we're blessed and thrilled to share it together. And, through this blog, with you!

Safe cruising, calm seas.

nan and jack