Pacific To Atlantic - Day 11 - Savannah

2009, Jan 02 Friday 11:40pm
RoadTrip Diary - Day 11, Savannah & St Augustine..

Yesterday night, decided to catch sunrise on Atlantic ocean next day.. After settling in best-western, browsed thru some maps and realized that the water body we visited was Savannah river and not Atlantic ocean :) ..

Savannah is still 15-20 miles east of the ocean. We need to visit Tymbee island for Atlantic touchdown.

In the morning, when alarm started, took me few minutes to decide if i indeed want to see sunrise.. After 5 hrs sleep, opportunity cost of sunrise vs comfortable drive to Daytona beach.. but finally voted for sunrise..

Tymbee island was around 20miles from the motel.. At the "center state beach", couple of folks were on the beach, jogging, catching sunrise.. we were 10 minutes before sunrise.. but cloud cover was heavy.. 7:25am @ sunrise, only golden lining on the clouds was visible.. sun was hiding behind it.. still after few mins, the yellowish-silver sun rays showed up on top clouds, but still no sun visible.. roamed around the beach for a while browsing thru shells.. felt indeed great after reaching to Atlantic.. water was lil bit brownish in color and not crystal clear.. probably La Jolla shores Pacific ocean is much bluish than this one.. The beach was also lil bit unusual with shell crunch sand..

After half an hour, sun was still under clouds.. so headed back to the motel..

Feeling really exhausted..

Started the day around 9:30am looking for a nice breakfast place near Chatham square, as recommended by the book.. Ms Wilkes restaurant.. but it was closed.. so went to riverwalk st.. yesterday night I was on the same st, but today continued browsing different area near "folkers".. spent around half an hour just walking side by Savannah river.. Container ship was being towed thru narrow river channel.. Savannah seems to be one of the largest port on east-coast for merchant ship traffic.. Visited waving girl statue..

Had nice lunch at Toby's seafood grill place.. Fresh Tuna with cole-slaw was perfect with riverwalk view..



Savannah is exactly at the border of Georgia and South Carolina.. so we went to south carolina just crossing the bridge on Savannah river.. ~1:25pm.. nearby town maybe atleast 25miles from SC border.. so we returned immediately to georgia ~1:35pm and started our way down towards Daytona Beach..

On the way, stopped at "Howlf-Bradfield" plantation historic site, near Dorien town on I95-S.. to catch the glimpse of 1940 rice plantation and slave cabins.. I was expecting more abt slaves and their lifestyle, but the tour turned out to be abt owner house .. The ranger seemed ot be nice guy, but just too talkative.. again.. this house being from 1952 didn't seem really "historic".. but ranger unnecessarily wasted an hour just to see 4 rooms in a house.. Rice fields next to Altahama River, were really huge, around 4 acre area.. Spanish moss oak trees, in open area, were outstanding.

Visited "Fort Fredric national monument" on "Golden Isle Island" near Brunswick GA.. This was ruins of older british settlement fort to fight against spanish invasion and native indian communities.. the whole place is completely under ruins.. literally.. there isn't any "fort" at all.. I was hoping something similar to Nigara fort in Buffalo NY.. but except few walls, no structures around.. Initially, Ranger told me to abt 30mins closing time constraints, but I finished it within 20mins..it was complete wreckage and just so called "national monument"..

Overall, the Golden Isle Island was crowded because of tourists.. mainly for resorts or family fun..

Though we missed the sunrise today, Got a nice glimpse of sunset from the Island and Bay water..

Crossed Florida state line around 6:30pm EST

Reached St Augustine FL really late around 8pm.. The place seems to be similar to Savannah but this one is lil bit older spanish settlement. The St George st is "happening" street.. It is actually a small walkway with small yellowish buildings on both sides.. It indeed gave a feeling of small spanish village..

Had nice dinner at White Lions restaurant..

Visited nearby fort (??) ..was just too dark.. and it was closed from inside.. roamed outside the fort walls well..they were visible because of show lights. The fort was just next to atlantic ocean.. somehow water was really still..must be bay water..

had quick stargazing session with sitaram and meha.. it wasn't too dark.. but good enough for basic constellations..

Had nice ice-cream on St George St again.. and we started heading to Daytona Beach ~10:00pm..

On the way, Another milestone.. 4000 mile mark of the roadtrip..

Reached Daytona Beach travel inn motel around 11pm.. a Gujju guy working here gave heavy discount.. The motel is on US-A1A and ocean is just across street..

Will visit NASA KSC tomorrow..its still around 2hrs drive to KSC.. hopefully should reach there before 10am..

Today's drive: ~250 miles
States: GA, SC, FL

Total Miles: ~4000 miles in eleven days
Total States (15) : CA, NV, UT, AZ, CO, NM, TX, OK, AK, MS, TN, NC, GA, SC, FL