July 31 - Visiting Savannah One Last Time

Bill says today is the real D Day. We had our normal Sunday breakfast and then set to getting things ready to leave tomorrow. We took down the bird feeder, the cactus, the lights, the clothesline, the dog pen and put them all away and then the ladder. We loaded all of our scrap wood and things we thought would help with the fridge cooling issue in the truck to take to the dumpster. By then we were soaking wet from the humidity. After a cold drink we showered and headed to the VC to turn in our shirts and badges. On the way we did stop at the dumpster and the lid was shut, so I opened it and there was a raccoon inside. I told Bill he would need to put the climbing limb in for it that was along side the dumpster, as they get in there frequently when the lid is left open. When he looked in he said there were 2. Sure enough when he put the limb in I went for the camera and we just stood there and watched the 2 just climb up and out and slowly walk away into the woods. It was really pretty neat.

Bill, Rangers Ron and Patty and Kelly

At the VC we got to say our goodbyes to Ron and Patty. Ron hadn’t realized we were done and apologized that he wasn’t prepared for us. He gave Bill a book and a Ft Pulaski patch and gave me a really nice glass ornament of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and a patch also. He’s going to send us letters of recommendation for future park applications but also said we could always have the parks call and give him as a reference. While we were there in came Cathy and her husband Tim. She was off today but came in to tell us good bye. She is so nice and we really enjoyed working with her in the bookstore. She gave me her marinara sauce recipe that I will try very shortly after we get home. They have a place in Bradenton and we hope to see them when they are in Florida.

We went to the fort to see Nancy and Wanda. Wanda manages the bookstores and we wanted a Cockspur Lighthouse patch and a magnet and when we went to check out she asked it that is all we wanted and I said yep and she said take it. I think she really appreciated that I always offered to do extra for them in the bookstore whether it suited the rangers or not. I hate just sitting all the time so I did stocking and cleaning and straightening. I think too she appreciated the baked goods.  Nancy was getting ready to range guard for the musket demonstration but we did get a quick hug and good bye and I gave her our card with our emails, etc. We both told Tramas and Brian goodbye just before they did the soldier and musket demos, so it was time to head back to the truck.

We made a quick run to Chu’s for a Sunday paper and then home for BLT’s for lunch. I made extra bacon this morning since we were out of lunch meat. We had some fruit, carrots and a cheese stick to round it out.

After lunch we went stopped at Wal-mart for a new egg crate pad to use in the truck for the animals and then we went into Savannah to Paula Deen’s Store, which is right beside her restaurant, Lady and Sons, or whatever it is. We did a little last minute shopping and checked out the Nathanial Greene monument in the square where we parked, and on the way back decided on our route for tomorrow. So many of the streets have those beautiful low hanging trees that we needed to have a good plan for our exit. We stopped for a few things at Walgreens and then Bill topped off the gas tank.

We relaxed for a bit and read the paper and Bill took a nap. I cut the egg crate for the back seat and we put it in the truck. We went to dinner a little early as we had things to do still when we got back. I still had some credit on my Crab Shack gift card so we went there and there was no waiting since we were there about 5:30. Bill had pork bbq and I had a steamed shrimp and crab cake dinner. Again the crab had too much filler but it was seasoned well and the shrimp were good. We drove to Tybee to see where Cathy and Tim live and they are just about as on the beach as you can get. She said we are welcome any time and if they are gone in December when we come back she’ll leave us a key. Not that we’d go to the beach in December but it’s nice that she made the offer. I could walk to the lighthouse every day!

It was getting gray and rumbly out so we changed clothes quickly when we got home and set out to finish our prepping for tomorrow. I greased the hitch while Bill took the slide stabilizers down, then we put the bike rack on and the bikes. We put the sheet on the back seat for the girls and all that is left is for Bill to drain the tanks in the AM and put the hoses away. Tonight before bed I will turn the recliners around and pack up the laptops. We’re going to stop for lunch so will only have cereal bowls and the bacon rack to wash and put away. I’ve put the antenna down and secured the bedroom TV so we hope we get going at a reasonable time.

We have certainly enjoyed our time here. So many new friends that we hope to keep in touch with and meet again. So many great experiences that we would never have had any place else. We really do like it here, if it just wasn’t so darn hot!