TRIP TO ST SIMON'S ISLAND IN GEORGIA

We started our trip to St Simon's Island, Georgia to celebrate our first date, 30 years ago.  

However, we planned the trip before we remembered the anniversary.  

We are old now, and that is the way the old function.

It did not matter.  We enjoyed celebrating our first date.  It was a grand place to visit for a few days.

DAY ONE 

We got on the road in good time.  So much easier to pack a car than pack for an airplane.

We skipped I-95 and added a few minutes to the trip by going back roads.  Well worth the longer trip.  Sometimes the road cut through dense forest.  Sometimes farms showed up with beef cattle.  Most were Black Angus, but one field was scattered with an assortment of colors and included some calves.

There was no traffic and the surroundings were more accessible from these two lane roads than they ever seem from an expressway.

We seemed to have plenty to talk about. There is something very nice about conversation in the car with no distractions, no constant phones, no interruptions.  It was a good talk, mostly about how to plan travel in late life.

We did have a couple calls from the lawyer about getting a date set up the eviction hearing.  April 25th is the date.  The judge will decide how long to give them to move out.  They know this is coming, and a couple have already left, but the others drag their feet.  

So bad when folks take advantage of a kindness.  I would never agree to preoccupancy again.  So, some other honest and responsible person won't get the benefit of a chance.

Well, at least I don't have any guilt about having to evict.  

LUNCH AT EVERYBODY'S DINER IN BALDWIN, FLORIDA.

We ate very little breakfast at home and made it up at lunch.  I had fried chicken which had a very tasty batter although not as much crisp as I prefer.  

Elizabeth had a salad with fried chicken strips in the salad.  She liked it.

The meal came with tasty sides.  I had mashed potatoes and cottage cheese with peaches.

This diner we picked was in the downtown of Baldwin, a very tiny Florida town that did not get consolidated with Jacksonville as most other small towns did.  1396 people.

Most of the clientele were locals and there were some great accents around us, some that seemed more Georgia than Florida.

Prices were very cheap.

Here is the town hall which we could see from the window at our table.

Here are a couple shots from the outside of the diner.

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We stopped at a Winn-Dixie to use the bathroom.  I picked up some Blue Moon NA and orange juice for the room.

We arrived at our condo about 3 PM.  Very nice with two bedrooms,  and all the comfort we might wish for, although Elizabeth would have liked a harder matress and the bedroom required a climb upstairs.

It could be closer to the ocean, but it is not a very long drive.  Walking is possible, but we don't like such a long walk in bathing suits, perhaps a mile.

We unpacked and went down to the beach. 

I love this beach!

It was uncrowded, with great views, birds, and even a 2 inch jumping fish right where I waded.  

The water is very cold.  

But I did wade a bit.

Kids flew some kites.  Very enjoyable.

One of the fine things about a trip away from Meadowcrest is that we see all ages of people rather than just old folks.

When I was very young, I loved visiting old folks and would go from porch to porch in the summer to say hello and perhaps sip some tea or eat a cookie.

Now, not so much.

There was a great place for washing off sand before getting back in the car. It had over half a dozen shower like places, with a lower setting just for feet, 

From there we went to supper.  We chose the Southern Soul BBQ. In 2019 they were rated the best BBQ in the South by Southern Living.

It was a fine meal.  I had ribs and Elizabeth had brisket.  Both came with sides of collards, and I had a side of the stew.  All were tasty as well as the unsweetened iced tea, Hill and Brooks.  

I did not think there was much difference in restaurant iced tea, but this proved me wrong.  Really superb!!

Hill & Brooks Coffee and Tea Company | Private Label Coffee & Tea (hillandbrooks.com)

I make my own at home using a variety of  teas with Newman's as my base.  This was as good as mine.

This was especially appreciated because they did not have any NA beer.  

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TUESDAY

Hard to get started.

Went to the information center and got maps and information.

Decided to walk out on the pier.

There were fishermen there, but the catch was small and not for the skillet.

One fellow caught a small hammerhead shark.  Another caught a horseshoe crab.  One fish was about the size of a bluegill.

We walked up to the lighthouse, but we did not climb it. 

Along the way we saw some "big kid" swings.  So I had fun

We took a shuttle tour in an old shuttle.  It was a bit uncomfortable, but interesting.

War played a big part on the island from Spanish/ English conflicts to WWII German submarines just off the coast.

We only got off the bus to see Christ Church which was an interesting small church with pews for George Bush and for Jimmy Carter.

The windows were very old stained glass.  One was believed to be a Tiffany.  I'm a great lover of stained glass.

The one believed to be a Tiffany.

We saw a double row of live oak that had been planted decades ago.

We went to The Crab Trap for a drink at the bar and some shrimp for me and crab bisque for Elizabeth.  Both were good.

I must remember when I order my virgin bloody Mary to ask them to go light on the ice and to add olives.  I do ask for "spicy" but that is open to interpretation.  The best I had was at Iquana's.

We met a couple from Augusta Georgia. Ashley had been coming to the Island for 45 years and gave us some tips and pointers.

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I bumped into a guy in town and apologized for my missing left eye.  He apologized for his missing left eye.  So we had quite a conversation and a good laugh.

DAY 3

We went to see the historical Gullah School a one room schoolhouse saved from demolition. Nice little tour given using photos and clipping and some artifacts by a pleasant woman.  Quite a story.

Historic Harrington School – Saint Simons African American Heritage Coalition (ssiheritagecoalition.org)

 Elizabeth got a shirt.  I got a cup.

Quite a few photos of people who helped save the school from being torn down.

Here is a broom they used.  It is over 100 years old.

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We went to lunch Palmer's Village Cafe, recommended by Ashley.  

Breakfast & Lunch All Day - Palmer's Village Cafe, Saint Simons Island, Georgia (palmersvillagecafessi.com)I had surf squared.  Very good. 

Surf Squared

Two Eggs, Poached, on top of Seared GA Tomatoes, Café Crab Cakes, Spiced Hollandaise, Arugula, GA Olive Oil and Pickled Red Onion Elizabeth had another concoction that was also good, included shrimp.

Coffee was Hill and Brooks.  

Product Distribution & Delivery - Hill & Brooks Coffee and Tea Company, Inc (hillandbrooks.com)

Very good.

swimming at second beach with sand bar.

Much more shallow water with less surf.

Little guy crawling to the water.

Walked to sandbar in waiste deep water.  E took photo

Weather has held perfectly.

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My favorite restaurant was the Iquana Restaurant.

The shrimp appetizer platter, some onion rings, and free iced cream made for a fine supper.

We had drinks and added to the bill was $2 for ice.  Elizabeth questioned it and the owner met and talked with us and then took it off.  He was unsure why it popped up.  

We've encountered things like this in other restaurants.  It is built into the software that now types the bill.

The soft served iced cream offered three flavors, four toppings, and lots of sprinkles.  What a deal!

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Around St Simmon's are figures carved into the trunks of trees.  

Tree spirits of St. Simons: What stories do they tell? - Coastal Illustrated: Ci

We only saw this one right next to the welcome center and quite impressive.  

Legend holds that a spellbinding beauty named Cora has lived in the depths of the Golden Isles for centuries. Part human, part fish, Cora has rarely been sighted by islanders. Those who have managed to catch a glimpse of her gliding through the currents never forget her splendor and grace. Her sun-kissed skin is golden brown, her green eyes sparkle like emeralds, and her chocolate-hued hair falls in ribbons down to her waist. But Cora’s true beauty shines from within: She is the gentle protector of the islands’ loggerhead turtles. When a mother loggerhead lays her eggs on the sand, she hums a sweet song only her babies can hear. When the babies are ready to hatch, Cora waits at the shoreline. She hums their mother’s song, patiently guiding them to the water. When the hatchlings reach her, Cora leads them out to sea to begin their new lives. Along the way, she guards them from fishing nets, teaches them to become strong swimmers and shows them how to eat conchs and crabs. When they’ve become independent enough to find their own ways, Cora leaves the turtles to await the next group of hatchlings.”

GAINSVILLE FLORIDA

Our last day we packed out in a huge rainstorm and left soaked..   I changed pants at a gas station where the gas tanks were sheltered, and my shirt at a McDonald's when the rain gave us a break.  My pants were still soaked until we got to the hotel.

The night in Gainsville was great fun.

We stayed at the Raddison Country Inn and swam in a very, very cold pool.

For supper we had steak at the Texas Road House across the street from our hotel.  We tried a Thai place, but it was just too cold inside.

I had a fine NY strip.  I liked the chart that explained what medium was.  I generally get medium rare, but not here.  I did not like the chili, but the salad was huge and very good.

I've posted examples from the art museum. in the last post.

On the way home we stopped to use the bathroom at Carl's 32 flavors of iced cream.  I had a double scoup, decadent mix of caramel, vanilla, and chocolate.  This is a great place for iced cream.  The prices were reasonable, unlike many iced cream places.

We were home about noon and ready for a long nap.

It was one of the most delightful trips that I remember.  I think we will take more when we are down here next year and we will certainly go back to St. Simmons.