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Day 8 Sat.12/4/04 0 miles 1157 mi. Total
We were up early to meet for the 8 AM bird walk. Eight people plus a wonderful, knowledgeable guide wandered up the beach and through the salt marsh in search of shorebirds. We saw 35 different species including many new ones for our trip list. After lunch we went on another guided bird walk, this time in search of waterfowl. For the whole day we saw 55 different species and our trip list of birds is up to 93. Back at the coach we both downloaded our photographs and admired each other’s great pictures. It was warm enough to cook outside but as the temperature dropped into the mid 40’s we chose to eat in. However, it was not too cold for a campfire so we had our first of the trip.
Day 9 Sun.12/5/04 224 miles 1381 mi. Total
Carl was up before dawn to take bird photographs along the causeway. He got some great shots even though it was 36 degrees. After a leisurely breakfast w headed further south. Our destination today is Savannah, GA. Along the way we stopped at the Cape Romain NWR for a short hike and a chance to see where they raise the Red wolves that are being reintroduced in North Carolina. It was mid day and other than seeing a huge flock of Robins, the birds were very quiet. We spent the evening doing laundry and planning our day in Savannah.
Day 10 Mon.12/6/04 0 miles 1381 mi. Total
What, no birds! Today was a more traditional sightseeing day. At the Savannah visitor center we visited the museum then took a 90 minute narrated trolley tour of this beautiful city. Fascinating history and carefully restored buildings. Founder in 1733 by British settlers, the colony was based on some “visionary” principles by the main founder, John Oglethorp. The four basic community rules were, No hard liquor, No Slaves (not so much a humanitarian principle, Oglethorpe believed owners got lazy if slaves did all the work), No Catholics (constantly at war with Catholic Spain, they were afraid of infiltrators), and No Lawyers (self explanatory;-). After the trolley tour we wandered around the city on foot, had a delightful crab cake lunch and shopped until dark.
Day 11 Tue. 12/7/04 131 miles 1512 Total
We headed out for a short run this morning. It was 65 degrees with a light haze that quickly burned off. Three blocks brought us to Tybee Island Lighthouse and the beach just south of the Savannah River. We spotted a group of Black Skimmers among the gulls and terns on the beach. We also passed a house owned by Sandra Bullock (we think). Once we got moving we headed south towards Jekyl Island, GA. Along the way, we stopped at Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge. Woody Pond was full of activity. Dozens of Coot and Common Morehen, a whole tree full of Black Crowned Night Heron, a sky full of Black and Turkey Vultures and several alligators swimming around. The refuge ranger said one of the big ones was about 12 feet long. We hiked around Bluebill Pond but it was mostly dried up. The highlight of the hike was spotting a pair of Pileated Woodpecker (the Woody the Woodpecker bird). When we returned to the coach, the outside temperature was 75 degrees. Back on the road, we got stuck in traffic for about 15 minutes as we worked our way past the worst single vehicle accident we had ever seen. On the CB, the truckers were reporting that a pickup had gone into the woods. At first we thought it was a figure of speech. However, when we got to the scene, a pickup was several feet off the ground, jammed sideways in a clump of 18 inch diameter pine trees. These trees were about 30 feet off the road. Rescue personnel were swarming all over the place but it sure didn’t look promising for the driver. Slow down everybody. On to Jekyll Island where we settled into the campground late afternoon and spent some time reading the local tourist literature before supper. We were here in 2002 for a couple of days after Carl attended a conference in Atlanta. It’s a pretty place with history, beautiful beaches and, oh yes, great habitat for wintering birds. We’ll spend a day here before heading for Jacksonville to see the kids and their kids ;-).
Day 12 Wed. 12/8/04 0 miles 1512 Total
We went for a run this morning. It was 70 degrees and humid. This will take some getting used to, at least for Carl. Our campground is full of towering Live Oak and Pine trees. It forms an almost solid canopy above our heads. Carl thought it unlikely that we could get a satellite link but he tried anyway. Amazingly, the line of sight to the satellite was through a small gap in the trees about the size of 5 or 6 full moons. Remarkable technology. After breakfast we headed out to explore Jekyll Island. Last time we were here, we found a small pond behind the amphitheater with lots of birds. Our return visit was not a disappointment. We found Black and Yellow Crowned Night Herons, Cormorants, Anhinga, a Pied Billed Grebe and Black Vultures overhead. After getting our fill of the birds we visited the local museum and learned about the early history of the island. We then browsed a couple of craft and book shops and an art gallery .After lunch back at the coach we headed to the south end of the island. We stopped at the Tidelands nature center to learn about the nesting sea turtles and other local critters. Next we headed to the beach. The birds rest on the beach at high tide so we got there about an hour before the tide and found a huge flock of gulls with Oystercatchers and Black Skimmers mixed in. We crept closer and closer trying to get good pictures. On the hike back across the dune we ran the mosquito gauntlet. As the sun set, the bugs came out in the marsh and we fed many of them. We had dinner at a local place on the water, all you can eat boiled shrimp – good stuff. Back in the campground we prepared for tomorrow when we get to Jacksonville to see the kids. For the next five days we will be writing about Wyatt and Garrett not Willets and Grebes.
Day 13 Thu. 12/9/04 90 miles 1602 Total
Off to Jacksonville to see Scott, Tara, Garrett and Wyatt. The coach had gotten pretty grimy so Sandy suggested we stop at a truck wash we’d seen on the drive in towards Jekyll Island. This was our first experience in a truck wash. We drove in behind a 53 foot trailer and about eight guys with pressure washers descended on the coach. They worked on the coach for at least ten minutes and did a great job. Once on I-95 it was less than 80 miles to the campground. Once settled in the campsite, we drove to see the kids. We got a friendly squealing welcome from the boys. They were either very glad to se us or they just wanted to know what was in the two big shopping bags we were carrying. It was great fun to see them again. Tara cooked dinner and we spent the evening with them before driving back to the campground that is only 5 miles from the house.
Day 14 Fri. 12/10/04 0 miles 1602 Total
We got to spend a lot of grandchildren time today. After reviewing Wyatt’s wish list on line, we went shopping for some “additional” birthday presents. Tara had won a free golf lesson for Garrett so we “agreed” to take care of Wyatt while Tiger Greenbaum got his first, and perhaps last golf lesson! We went, where else, to Toys R Us (where we had just been). Wyatt had fun wandering around the store. Every time he spotted something he wanted, Sandy would say, “We’ll tell Santa to get that”. Then she would distract him while Carl snuck off to the register, bought the item and hid it in the car. We did this twice. When Sandy and Wyatt came out of the store, Wyatt looked in the empty cart and said, “Why we not buy anything?” When Scott got home from work we had a mini birthday party with cake and presents. Tonight we baby sat for Garrett and Wyatt while Tara and Scott went to dinner with friends. We played with Wyatt’s new Shark Tail game. The kids went to bed pretty easily at about 8:30.
