September 27/28 2013

Friday was a beautiful sunny day, and we all seemed anxious to get going, after the rainy down day yesterday.  The ride had a long and short option – 25.8 or 38.2 miles.  We headed out from the city center, around the town squares.  It truly is a beautiful city – Oglethorpe, the city planner, did a great job!! 

 

 

Originally established as a retreat in the 19^th century for the elite of Savannah, Isle of Hope provided a refuge from the intense heat and outbreaks of malaria prevalent throughout the summer months.  It is a stunning neighborhood, on the water – landscaped with old oak trees covered in Spanish moss, the houses range in style from Greek revival, Victorian, and Neoclassical.  I thought I really loved Isle of Palms, but Isle of Hope took my breath away.

A fabulously lined avenue of live oaks leads to the tabby ruins of Wormsloe.  Wormsloe is the colonial estate constructed by Noble Jones, one of Georgia’s first settlers.   The visitor’s center had a short video telling the history of the estate, and the founding of the 13^th colony.  The construction material for these colonial buildings was made from sand, lime and crushed oyster shells, naming them “tabby”.

 

 

 

 

 

 The long option, took us over yet another bridge, through marshes, onto Burnside Island … a small residential island and bird sanctuary.  We rode along Moon River, originally named Back River and re-named after Johnny Mercer when he won the academy award.

 

 

After lunch the ride took us to Bonaventure Cemetery.  This cemetery was developed on the historically-significant site of Bonaventure Plantation.  The peaceful setting rests on a scenic bluff of the Wilmington River, east of Savannah.   Many notable persons are interred there, ie: Johnny Mercer (songwriter –Moon River), Conrad Aiken (poet, short story writer and Pulitzer prize winner) and characters from the novel, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Most of us were back to the hotel by 3. Although Jane began the week as “sweep”, she wowed us by flying back to the hotel with the “A TEAM” – the gal with the guys (Conrad and Spencer).  She imagined herself carrying the Olympic torch!!   Len and I decided to relax poolside, while others shopped.  I was too tired to continue walking,  knowing that I missed a lot of the town squares.  I decided there and then, that I would return and redo what I missed!

Dinner would be the entire group at the Olde Pink House (1771) – a National Landmark.  The soft native brick began to bleed through the color of the Habersham House from white to Jamaican pink.

Saturday morning we departed – 10 of us – the Lufranos, Holland-Brownes, Grass, the Yosts, and Sullivans for Tybee Island.  Karen managed to snag us a great beach house and we spent the afternoon beachcombing, and lazing on the deck.  A great way to unwind after all that ass-breaking riding!!