Camp Lake Jasper - Hardeeville SC

196 miles - 3 hours

The northeast view of Lake Jasper from the rear
of Winnie

The southeast view...

The Lake Jasper RV campground is a very clean, well laid out campground that was pretty much occupied for this time of the year. My site 46 was situated on a loop that was adjacent to Lake Jasper. Although much of my time was spent away from the site visiting and enjoying the company of friends Wendy and Roger, in nearby Bluffton, my overnight time spent here was quiet and relaxing. As usual, I was treated royally by my long time, (47 years to be exact) fellow Blue Mountain retirees. Their beautiful home in Sun City is always an inviting and welcoming location to those traveling from the north to south and with their gracious hospitality and delicious meals your visit, however long, will be a memorable one.  You can expect guided tours of the area as well...at no extra charge. In their eleven years here they've acquired knowledge of the history of all the surrounding area that would make any professional tour guide jealous. Each year I visit, my knowledge and appreciation of the Low Country increases. My last time visiting in 2015 we toured Beaufort, SC, this year, Savannah, GA. 

A 1953 MG parked in front of the Boathouse.
The 60+ year old owner acquired it while in
high school and had it stored away.

My first night, Sunday, I enjoyed a home cooked short rib dinner done to perfection and soaked with juices atop Basmati rice, green/wax beans and a beet salad. Monday, Roger and I enjoyed a breakfast at Cracker Barrel. That afternoon we went to see the movie, Darkest Hour, a WWII war drama with Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill. It's a must see if you haven't already seen it. Monday night's dinner was at the Skull Creek Boathouse. It's Hilton Head Island's most awarded landmark restaurant featuring beautiful water and sunset views and fresh seafood. They even have sushi. I opted for a filet mignon with Yukon gold smashed potatoes. Tuesday's breakfast featured Roger's (perfect) homemade from scratch Belgium waffles. The treat for today was my first visit to Savannah, GA. The story in pictures:

The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
has the highest twin steeples in all of
downtown Savannah. 

Magnificent architecture both outside...

...and within

Incredibly tall magnificently stained
glass windows around the perimeter.

One of two side alters with beautiful rows of
green marble support columns

The second side alter to the right of the main alters.

The Way of The Cross - Station VII
Jesus falls the second time. Each a huge
intricately carved wood panel.

One of the two tour trolleys available for guided tours
of  the historic sites of the city. Fortunately, I had my own
personal tour guides. I could tell, it wasn't their first time.

Lafayette Square, one of 24 found in the city, is located just across the street
from the Cathedral. Today, just 22 remain due to city development. 

The characteristic "Spanish Moss" so prevalent in the south draping over trees
such as the Live Oak is neither a moss nor is it from Spain. It's a bromeliad, an epiphyte (air plant), and cousin to the pineapple. It obtains moisture from the air and nutrients from whatever debris collects on the plant. I was told by my tour guide that the phrase "getting the bugs out" has its origin with this plant. Seems that Henry Ford's automobiles used "Spanish moss" for filling the cushions but first had to remove the chiggers that found it a perfect home.

Having toured the historic portion of the city, we made our way to the river front, parked and walked along another very historic area. This port and the old buildings that housed cotton is located upriver 15 miles from the ocean. They have been converted to little shops whose insides consist of the original beams, flooring, stone and brick work of days gone by. 

Across the Savannah River is the Convention Center; here
the hotel and...

...next to it, the Convention Center

A view up the river shows the heavy industry, ship building and loading cranes on the

docks. My New York readers should also see what looks like our Tappan Zee Bridge. Don't spread this around but this one is the Talmadge Memorial Bridge and named 

after Gov. Thomas Talmadge. Ironically, in September of this past year the city council passed a resolution to rename the bridge the Savannah Bridge. A state representative said, "It's time to move forward on a bridge that reminds us of segregation and not solidarity and a name that connects to hate and not hope." It's ultimately up to the Georgia state government to confirm the passed resolution.  How 'bout that? In New York, we don't want it named after the governor either. The Tappan Zee is named for a local native American tribe and zee is the Dutch word for sea.

Oh, and here's another tidbit I've learned. With all the PC crap that we're bombarded with these days, a long time chief of the Oneonta tribe says no one asked "native Americans" what they wanted to be called. Turns out he prefers American Indians or North American Indians. 

The beautiful 1800's paddle-wheel-style, Georgia Queen, was docked down the road. It was built in 1995 as a luxury floating casino on the Mississippi River at a cost of 14 million dollars. After gambling legislation changed, allowing for land based casinos to open, the river boat underwent a $4 million renovation and is now a dinner cruise boat. The luxurious details can be seen HERE.

History is written all over these buildings. From the anchor brackets to the cobblestone streets, you can sense what it must have been like. Anchor brackets or wall washers are large plates or washers connected to a tie rod or bolt and used on the exterior walls of masonry buildings for structural reinforcement. You can see two of them above the awning in the photo above. 

Our (My) first stop was this amazing establishment. No, not because I'm a candy nut; rather a glance inside at the selection captured my attention. And so, I went a little nuts with "eye candy" photos.

And I didn't buy a thing :-(

And the same could be said about The Peanut Shop.

Yup, you can sample each and every one of them.

My choices included a tin of Smokehouse Bacon & Cheddar Nuts and the
Milk Chocolate Cashews. Yes, I have the catalog for future orders. Do you like peanuts? Check out their website HERE

And once again, my thanks to my wonderful friends, hosts and tour guides, Roger & Wendy of Bluffton, SC. Eleven year residents of Sun City and very knowledgeable of everything around them.

Beauty & the Beast

After three chilly days (Tuesday night temperatures went down to 29°), I'm off to St. Augustine Beach, Florida and my next blog. Sorry I missed the snow back in NY; maybe next time.