“This place is fantastic; it’s like Gone With The Wind on mescaline. They walk imaginary pets here…and they’re all heavily armed and drunk.”
I awoke this morning at 9am for a tour of Skidaway Island via golf cart. To the sound of our tiny vehicle motoring along, we ducked through Deer Creek, around the manmade ponds to a section called the Deer Creek Islands. After driving the main drag for a few moments, a sudden sharp right-hand turn puts you on a worn path through a thicket and low hanging trees. Suddenly there is a wooden bridge that extends one hundred yards or so across marshland. The sun reflects off glimpses of water beneath the golden marsh. It is silent and serene. Upon returning to the hustle and bustle of this neighborhood, one yearns for both a longer bridge, and wider space in which to bask.
Everyone had items on their agenda today so I took the car downtown. Leaving Skidaway Island at 10:30am, turning onto Montgomery Cross Road, six miles until you hit Abercorn Street, which leads you directly into downtown Savannah. Neighborhoods turn over quickly, from beautiful archaic structures to areas desperately in need of rejuvenation. Today being Veteran’s Day, I soon found myself amidst a procession that was winding its way towards Bull Street in the heart of downtown. I wanted to wait a few minutes to let the parade pass through, so I visited Forsyth Park, which the Yankees declare is the Savannah version of Central Park. Never one to disparage a city, I’ll say that the park is beautiful, and the fountain around which the lush greenery blossoms is awesome.
After driving down Drayton and across McDonough, I first parked behind a Marriott Hotel on some side street and walked towards the parade, where I sat on a street corner watching the different participants pass by. I shook hands with an old man in uniform who thanked me for coming out to support the event. When the final car rode by patrolmen followed it closely on horseback. As they passed each intersection, barriers were removed and cars were allowed to roam the previously closed-off streets. I hopped back in my car and headed for Albercorn Street, where I parked beneath Calhoun and Lafayette Squares, alongside to the Colonial Cemetery. After a brief stroll through the burial grounds I began walking through the various squares (in no order: Chippewa, Oglethorpe, Wright, Johnson, Reynolds, Chatham and Warren) which break up the North South streets, before hitting the East/West streets like Liberty, State, Congress, Bay and Broughton. The architecture is quite inspiring; the green landscape and the waters of the Savannah River soothing. You have to descend a series of staircases before you reach the cobblestones of River Street, which extends into four different sections that trace the waterline.
I stopped at Moon River Brewery and tried their sampler, which included maybe, seven of their beers in 4 ounce glasses. All of them were impressive, I’ll have to see if I can find some to bring home. I had another drink at Churchill’s Pub a few doors down. I popped into various antique stores, because the streets are lined with them. I browsed bookstores and record shops. I found SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design). By now it was maybe 2:00pm, and I was quite enjoying soaking in the scene. Of course, I had also been drinking and not eating. I found a little corner shop and got a bag of chips and a soda and found a nice sunny bench in Wright Square where I watched people walking hand-in-hand, canoodling on benches, and a little blonde girl playing in the fountain. I walked for another hour or two until it was time to head home. I’m accustomed to so much walking since I left Vermont, so I was quite exhausted. Five and a half hours or so of exploration will do that to a man.
On the way home I stopped at Pin Point but felt horrible taking any photographs. It’s disgusting. Garbage is piled higher than trailers. I took some nice pictures of Moon River and the marsh.
Dinner was at a clubhouse in one of the sections of the community whose name I don’t remember. There were lots of old people surrounding us. One thing I’ve realized in my brief time here, is that the older you get the more you tend to relish meals (not that anyone in my present company is old by any means… don’t want to get sued for libel). Everyone eats three meals and I’m just not that into food. I like booze for meals. Speaking of which, I bought three six-packs of local brews to transport home to New Jersey. They look tasty.
Later, I was made to watch Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. It was pretty good, and I spent more time paying attention to shooting locales than the plot. I recognized a ton of different places already.
Tomorrow will surely be one of those experiences that can define a trip. I was given a ticket to the local chili cook-off, where twenty-five area restaurants are setting up booths at which to sample their chili. Having never tried chili, and having no real desire to do so, I’m sure I’ll be the perfect person to judge a cooking competition.
