The skies were clear and the temperatures reached 96 above the road surface near Savannah, where the reported temperature was 94 when I arrived at 4pm. The winds above Jacksonville were moderate but they were blowing mostly right at me, so the motorcycle wasn’t impacted too much.
Day’s distance: 242 miles
Total trip distance: 7,001 miles
I woke up to a beautiful sunrise over Daytona Beach and couldn’t resist another walk along the beach and a dip in the pool afterwards.
Between the walk, the swim, deciding where to stay in Savannah, and packing up my stuff, it was after 10am when I finally made it out of the motel.
The rear tire needed some air, again. I am going to have to keep an eye on it. Recall that back on Mustang Island (near Corpus Christi), I picked up a nail. Perhaps there is a slow leak as I had to put air in that tire just yesterday.
I looked for a latte before leaving town. Starbucks seemed to be the only choice my GPS unit knew about but when I rode past, there was no convenient parking so I ended up getting on the freeway and waiting until a bit later.
My route took me to Savannah directly, which means another day of freeway miles. I don’t enjoy traveling by freeway and will soon be taking more interesting and scenic roads again. I must say that drivers here in Georgia share one annoying trait with those in Florida – they love to pass people on the right 🙁 Despite my late departure from Daytona Beach, I arrived at my hotel by 4pm. I guess there is one advantage to taking the freeways – you can travel quickly between cities.
My neighbor back in Seattle encouraged me to stay in Savannah’s Historic District, and specifically stay at the Planter’s Inn, a restored historic hotel on Reynolds Square. I took her advice and found the hotel to be an excellent choice. It is beautiful from the outside …
and the inside.
Amenities include a complimentary sunset social hour, consisting of wine and cheese in the hotel’s lobby. I met two former Seattlites, Jan and Doreen, while enjoying my wine. I love being reminded of how small our world seems, sometimes.
The Historic District of Savannah is adjacent to the Savannah River, separating Georgia from South Carolina. I enjoyed a brief walk along the riverfront …
and along River Street, the old brick street immediately adjacent to the river.
This part of Savannah is organized around squares, or small parks. Each one is dedicated to a piece of the town’s early history. I plan to take a tour of these squares in the morning before leaving.
I ate dinner across the street from the hotel at The Olde Pink House, Savannah’s only 18th Century Mansion, downstairs at the bar. This is a great way to meet folks and enjoy a meal while not feeling alone. I chose a few appetizers with the intention of experiencing some unique southern cooking; including ‘Southern Sushi’, smoked shrimp mixed with grits and rolled in a coconut nori, and Blackened Oysters, served with a watermelon relish and an apricot and pear relish. Both were super good and unexpectedly affordable. Thanks again to my neighbor back in Seattle for the suggestion 🙂
I planned to head to Myrtle Beach from here, but Memorial Weekend begins tomorrow. I’m re-evaluating whether I want to stay on the coast or move inland and find some of those scenic, lesser traveled roads a few days sooner.
Today’s travel was a struggle with the heat, but there is going to be a significant drop in the region’s temperatures beginning tomorrow. That will be nice. Staying in nice hotels, meeting super people, and traveling around for extended vacations, I’m reminded once again that I live a really charmed life.