From Sandy to Sun

Hi All,

Sorry about the long delay.  For those who were wondering how we fared through Sandy, we managed well, experiencing only wind gusts and dark gray skies.  We drove inland to Wilson, North Carolina from the Cape after determining we couldn't wait too long on the Cape for fear the roads would be impassible even with a little storm surge.  Locals say, "Well, you can wait for a wave to wash over the road and then go.  You just have to time it."  So, we left a few days before the storm hit - Friday rather than Saturday.  The storm was at its peak on Monday there and we heard that later in the week people were evacuated from the area.  Our concern is still with everyone in the Northeast who got hit so hard.  We love the Jersey shore and go there often.  Our thoughts are with everyone there and in NY and CT.  We only had to give up our planned path along the Cape south and ferrying over to coastal N.C.

From Wilson, we head southeast back to the coast.  Note about the Carolinas (also known as the lowlands) - There are countless miles of cotton fields here.  We take a "scenic" road that is all marsh and cotton fields.  Though not completely boring, I'll look more skeptically at the map when "scenic" is indicated.  Neal stopped on the road side and picked a branch of cotton.  He shows the kids and explains that you make cotton fabric from this and clothing. "Isn't it interesting?"   Later, Gwen is looking closely at the cotton and says, "This IS interesting Daddy."

We drive to Charleston and find a very nice campground.  The kids have a good time exploring here and find 'dinosaur bones'.   We take a tour of Charleston in the free trolley.  It's filled with tourists and locals. A woman sits down next to Neal and asks him questions.  "What's your name?  Where are you from? What is his name (Phil)  What's your name?  What's your last name?  Where are you staying?  At a campground?  Why aren't you staying in a hotel?  What's your name? (At some point Neal begins to make up answers, poor guy)  She looks around suspiciously.  Eventually, she finds a different seat and then she gets off the trolley.

The trolley ride continues around Charleston - a very congenial city.  Of course, it's sunny as it has been throughout the trip.   Lots of people and events.  In every city park or square there appears to be something going on - farmer's markets, fairs, a large group painting with easels and canvases.  We stop at a fair and walk through.   The kids want to pet every single dog they see.  They don't break anything so it's a success.

Now we continue to take the coast south stopping next in Savannah. We stop in a pretty state park and do some bike riding.  We drive through Savannah as we leave and I really love the way the city looks and feels.  It's hard to know what a city is really like until you've spent more time there - but I love all the squares, cafes, restaurants and galleries.  Of course, the book "The Garden of Good and Evil" is on my mind. I'd like to come back here.

We travel to Jekyll Island, owned by the state and once owned by millionaires (Pulitzer, etc.) who built there grand vacation homes here.  Perfect for bike riding.  Lot's of bike paths. I'll get some pictures up of this when I get a chance.  Dolphin jumping in the sea, stuccoed beauty of another era.  This is also the furthest west you can be on the East coast.  Jekyll shares a longitude with somewhere in Ohio.    Still, it's got a sleepy, dreamy, forgotten, out of the way feel and I'm looking forward to moving on.

We drive to Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island.  My maternal great grandfather, Cornelius Griek, came down here seasonally with my grandfather to fish.  He also died here of either a burst appendix or cancer in 1917.  We go to the town hall to obtain a death certificate but we're told to contact the state.  We go to the cemetery and look for his gravesite but no luck finding his grave either.  My Mom has found it before.  It still doesn't feel like a total washout.  We take pictures of the the old section of the cemetery and can research the internet for more info later.

We really like old town Fernandina - it has a "Key West" feel to it.  We stay at the the Fort Clinch state park - this is probably one of the nicest state parks we've stayed in.  Brand new facilities right on the beach.  Phillip really is enjoying the beach now and is digging in the sand.  We go to Fort Clinch.  It's very interesting.  Re-enactors abound and it is beautiful too. Gwen asks about a soldier - we ask who he is.  He says he is from the war of 1812.  This is a post revolutionary war with Britain, spurred by the British harassment of US interest on the sea.  Gwen is interested - I think the costumes get her attention.  Fort Clinch is so pleasant that Neal ponders the joy of being a cook at the fort back in the day (it never saw any action.)

So forward we go down the Florida coast.....!   I'll add pictures later.