Hilton Head Island

Taking the name of William Hilton, an English captain who explored the island for planting crops, Hilton Head is famous for it's twelve-mile stretch of glistening sand, world class golfing, biking and shopping. A must see tourist destination. Well come on, we are tourists after all. Another good example of the lifestyles of the rich and shameless. After all, where else in the US will you find carpeting that leads you down to the beach?

Savannah and the Low Country

We have stationed ourselves just across the state line in South Carolina, a short drive back into Georgia and the historic town of Savannah. It is a nice town to explore on foot from River street, paved with the ballast of ships long that first settled the area to the Market near Paula Deens restaurant The Lady and Sons. This city has way too many little green spaces (parks) to count, each home to statues of patriots from early US history. After touring the town we followed Bay street out of town all the way to Tybee Island just to get our taste of salt water and sand for the day. This is Low Country at it's finest.

St Simons GA

Before we leave the southern coastal region of Georgia we took a day trip to St. Simons Island, just across the river from Jekyell Island but worlds apart. St. Simon is modern with lots of fun shops and the same wide flat beaches we have seen from Daytona on north. We had a small storm when we first entered the shopping area but it cleared up as we hit the beaches. There is a stark contrast as we head out and drive through New Brunswick a very depressed little town.

Jekyll Island

As the old sweet Ray Charles song says "I got Georgia on my mind" and that is where we are this week. Specifically Jekyll Island, former summer digs of the Rockfellers, J. Paul Getty's and others. The first night we walked along the beach in heavy winds but the drift wood on the beach was fantastic. Our next day was spent touring the island and walking the historic area where the former rich hung out. Not bad!

Jacksville, Huguenot Memorial Park

Before we left St. Augustine, Don, Jenny and the Bies stopped by for lunch. They are on their way to Myrtle beach while we will move slowly north into Georgia. It was nice to see everyone so relaxed and enjoying the warmth in the south. Just wish we had more time together.

We blew out of town yesterday on warm southern breeze in the mid 80's and traveled just a short distance north to Jacksonville and Huguenot campground. The campground sits between the St. John River and Atlantic Ocean. This area has the beautiful long flat beaches that you can drive along and enjoy the surf. Great for walking but not much for shelling. The water has dropped 20 degrees and with the last moon phase the jelly fish have teamed up along the shore. This mornings walk turned up hundreds of dead jelly fish inside the jetty along the river. The campground is primitive with no electric or water at the sites. There is water and a dump and showers which we will pass on (not the cleanest facilities) and us our shower in the rig. But the beaches and sand dunes make up for the lack of facilities. In the evening the sites along the river are great for ship watching. We saw the Carnival cruise ship and several large tankers leave at sunset.