March 4, 5 and 6 at Ft. McAllister

Even though we arrived here on the 4th I did not write until today, the day we are leaving. Something just did not make sense to me. It was the fort. I did not understand how this dirt mounded non traditional fort could be so hard to "crack."

The wind blew the bugs bit and I could not hear or see the movie shown. So I sat and read about it. I understood that the Union ironclad, the Montauk sank the Confederate ship the Nashville here, I understood that the Union bombarded this place for over 30 hours before they surrendered but why was it so hard? It was the fort! Later we went to see Ft. Pulaski a more traditional fort and it all came together. More on this next blog.

So here we are leaving. We were parkers here and the place is so large and strung out we needed walkie-talkies and had none but everyone eventually got parked and we did what we needed to do, ate pizza. Delivered late, but nevertheless delivered. GAM (get acquainted meeting) #2 was part of the evening. Bedtime found us fed and tired, wind blown and bug eaten. This beautiful Spanish Moss all over harbors "chiggers" and they go for the eyes and neck and go right through you window screens and hover around doors just waiting to get at you.

Next blog I will talk more about forts and bring my new found knowledge to a conclusion.

Shirley at the overlook at Ft. McAlliser

An example of what you would have encountered to attack by land.

This is a "hot shot" cannon, hot steel balls were heated and set afire the wooden ships they hit.

Inside the hot furnace.

Another view of the furnace.

Officers quarters in the bunker dug below the dirt walls of the fort.

Mens quarters, deeper in the bunker. Cosy? 

A view from inside the fort.

See Ya! Barry and Shirley

March 3, 2012

Today we rode with Bob and Carol. After yesterdays beautiful weather rain was threatening. We first visited and toured Drayton Hall. This was one of those plantations that actually started before this was a country. The family came from England and considered themselves English. They first went to Barbados and arrived in GA with slaves and lots of cash. The plantations money crop was rice and did well through several generations. One of the family signed the Declaration of Independence and became American. Later loyalties stayed with GA for the Civil War broke out. After the war, things changed radically and naturally the plantation fell on hard times. The money crop became lumber.

From here we ate lunch at a place called the Sunflower Cafe, had what we would call California cuisine. Shirley had seared salmon over fresh spinach and I had grilled chicken with sauteed spinach and tomatoes, penne pasta, and Romano cheese. Just like California.

The afternoon, in heavy rain, we drove to see the Hunley, the worlds first operational submarine. This is worth reading about. The Rebels sank a US ship killing 5 and losing their whole crew of 8. Kinda one sided I guess. But a huge surprise to the Yankees. The Hunley had lost a total of three crews during "practice." How they would get volunteers is beyond me. Probably the only thing I can compare it to is the Mercury Astronauts.

From the grounds of Drayton Hall

Inside the "parlor"

Each room had "central heating"

Probably the oldest "preserved" celling in the US

Inside a banquet room

These old trees are beautiful but the Spanish Moss is full of bugs!

A model of the Hunley, a crew of 8 were the driving power.

This is a model showing a model of the first torpedo.

New enlistees?

Will the real Shirley please stand up?

Shirley and Carol hard at work.

Rained all night, we had a small leak from our sky-light which Airstream will get to fix later this year.

We are parkers tomorrow so I hitched up etc. in a driving rain. Watched a video on the Civil War then tried to get some sleep. The pitter patter was more like a roar, but no hail or thunder storms.

See Ya! Barry and Shirley

Day two of touring

3-3-12

Middleton Place.

What can I say?

Some of our group. There are 50 of us.

After all these years, still beautiful.

Some of these trees are 600-800 years old. This one is longer than a bus at its base.

What's the peacock for?

These guys were almost tame. 

A person could live here except for the bugs.

Today we drove to Middleton Place, a plantation near Charleston dating back before the revolution. It has the distinction of being the first landscaped plantation in the U. S. The crop was rice and yes slaves were used for labor. It is beautiful and we enjoyed looking it over.

Lunch was a delight, also on the plantation. We had a buffet but the service was almost like a full-time restaurant. After lunch we needed a nap but sucked it up and drove to see the Citadel. This is a military college, that rivals West Point. These lads (then) it's co-ed now, fired upon Ft. Sumpter as the first shots of the Civil War.

The Citadel

Our guides

The quad and dorms.

The honored guests.

The happy campers.

After we toured the place we sat in review of a military parade. Then went home tired and happy. Weather was warm and sunny all day.

See Ya! Barry and Shirley

Finally we all get together for Civil War Caravan 2

On 2-29-12 we all gathered at Ladson, SC near Charleston. Which is near Ft. Sumpter where the war began. We all knew we would be seeing one another again this year so leaving last year was the easiest we have ever had. It was like old home week. Hugs, and parties broke out all over. Such fun!

Here we are all set up at Ladston,SC 

Most of the group.]

After we all chattered and met, we had a drivers meeting and met those who were new to us (not many), had our pictures taken and prepared for the next day.

Gathering to go to Ft. Sumpter

Boarding the boat

As usual, it's us

Not much left, as the Yankees shot it up pretty well getting it back.

One of the few remaining guns

Not too much to see at the fort, but you have to see it to get the feeling. It was raining and the island was added to by man to make room for a fort. Probably never dreamed it would be the site of a civil war.

More tomorrow. Strange weather, rain, but hot and muggy. Everything is blossoming out and our truck is yellow from pollen.

See Ya! Barry and Shirley

After leaving Mac and Mary's we headed for the vacation spot of Georgia. Jekyll Island, people from all over the east coast flock here to spend the winter. It is so popular that we actually got the very last place to stay for the evening. We met people who had been there since Thanksgiving and rented the same site for years and years. Well, we got there and it rained. We meant to leave the next morning and join friends headed for our caravan. We instead, did laundry and watched it rain. We did go for walks to visit folks and between showers walked the area. The wind blew and it rained some more.

By the 28th we left in fog and headed for Skidaway Island St. Park to finally join our friends. We re-met with Harold, Sandy, met Fred and Searcy, HV and Pat, Bob and Vaughnette who were on last years caravan and a new couple Jack and Bev. Naturally we had a little party.

Just before leaving Jekyll Island

Looks Sunny but lots of fog

Below is what we did at Skidaway Island.

Harold cleaning his rig

HV, Pat and Dixie

Beverly, she and Jack are new to us

Tomorrow on to Ladson, SC

See Ya! Barry and Shirley

Passing through Florida to Georgia

Since Florida was not our main goal we just spent the night at De Funiak, Fl. It is a resort-like place that snowbirds choose to utilize. People are some of the friendliest we have ever met. They seemed to go out of their way to say hi and make you feel accepted. But we drove on the next day and arrived in Pelham, GA to spend a few days with Mac and Mary.

We met Mac and Mary on our very first caravan and became fast friends, we have not seen them since then but being with them again was like having never been away. We took off just as we had never parted. Mary fixed us one of the best dinners we have ever had. When you visit in the south you are asked if you have eaten yet and then fed a feast. Better show up hungry is all I can say.

We stayed at their place, they had hooks-ups for us but all we needed was some electricity. Next day we toured Pelham, where they live, Meigs, GA where Mac was raised, Thomasville, GA where we had lunch and gossiped and just had fun. Mac and Mary are as enthusiastic about Georgia as we are about California. Therefore we had a great tour. We visited a plantation named Pebble Hill and drove by several others. Just never enough time.

Our first night it was warm, not nearly as cold as we had had up 'til now. Second night it was flat hot and by our third night it was cold. The whole trip has seen warmer than usual weather. Seems the whole nation is in a drought.

By evening Mac had arranged a "Red-neck" BBQ for us. I think we California folks were on display.  Well, we met kinfolks, lifelong friends and family. Since, I don't think, anyone will ever think we are not red-neck material I hope we held our own. These were some of the nicest people you would ever want to meet and all made "Southern Hospitality" a verb!  We loved it and had a great time.

Next day we drove to through Tallahassee, Florida on our way to Shell Point where M & M have the cutest little beach house you have ever seen. For interests sake, Tallahassee is like Sacramento but with hills. After we got back we had supper. Dinner is supper and lunch is dinner in the south.

Next day, the 25th we headed for Jekyll Island, which is where this is being typed.

Shirley, Mac and Mary

How's this for a tree? At Pebble Hill.

Gotta have flowers even in Feb.

Ussens.

Spanish Moss is all over the south.

All y'all.

Couldn't resist this shot.

Pebble Hill.

M & M in front of their "farm."

Mary, Sue and son Glenn

Some of the "red-neck" girls.

This is one of the boars that did not get away.

This is for sure a hunting lodge.



See Ya! Barry and Shirley