Thursday, October 9, 2014

A trip to the islands

We spent the last two weeks enjoying the islands....no, not the Caribbean Islands but Hunting Island State Park near Beaufort, SC and Skidaway Island State Park in Savannah, GA.

Although we had a run of days with no sun at Hunting Island, we enjoyed exploring.  We rode our bikes quite a bit, explored the park's trail system, climbed the lighthouse, walked the beach, played Molkky, went to the Visitor's Center and pier, and enjoyed a few campfires with Leon and Linda, a couple that was work-camping at the park and Russ (the campground chaplain) and his dog Yoder,.
Dan enjoying the tree graveyard

Any day at the beach is a good day!
Stormy skies

What a difference a day makes!
Hunting Island lighthouse
It was neat climbing the lighthouse even though I am a tad uneasy with heights.
Proof that I made it to the top!!
The views were nice from the top of the lighthouse but not spectacular as the day was overcast.

Looking down from the top of the spiral staircase
We saw some interesting sights on the way back from the lighthouse...
Dan says this "gargoyle" made out of a stump of an old tree.  Look closely - he is facing to the right. 

Hmmmm...what could this be?

Drift wood with etching in the sand

Our site at Hunting Island State Park  
The next island that we visited was Skidaway Island State Park in Savannah, GA.  We really like how the state of Georgia manages their parks and would definitely return to Skidaway Island. We had a huge, huge, pull-thru site with full hook-ups.
Site 35
The only downside was that we had quite a few large live oaks on our site and had quite a few limbs come down.  Luckily, no damage but it did give Dan heart palpitations once or twice!  And, we got to hang out with Gin and Syl again too!

We enjoyed the trails by bike and by foot....
Boardwalk and Observation Tower
Low tide on the trail
Intercoastal waterway
There was a Learning Center with a replica of a giant ground sloth....

We learned that they could eat 600-700 pounds of vegetation in one day!  Amazing.

The Learning Center had a great area set aside to watch the birds.  They had several bird feeders and bird baths. Gin, Syl, and I sat on benches one afternoon for quite awhile just watching the birds.  I was on a mission to see a painted bunting.  And, we did - many times!
Male Painted Bunting

Female Painted Bunting

I love this picture!  See the birdseed in his mouth?

We explored downtown Savannah one afternoon.  We ate lunch at a local BBQ place.  It was very, very good.  We went to River Street but didn't stay too long as it was the first day of Oktoberfest (unbeknownst to us!) and it was getting rather crowded.
River Steet


Syl walking the cobblestone streets

Talmadge Bridge on Savannah River
We enjoyed our trip to the islands!! 

6 comments:

  1. Inquiring minds want to know :) Heading to Savannah the end of the month and love some good bbq :) What was the name of the bbq place???

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  2. Wiley's BBQ on Hwy 80 was a good hole-in-the-wall joint. Slight smoky smell when we stepped inside.
    I enjoyed riding down River Street on those old cobblestones. Savannah is a pretty old town and the State Park was really nice. Great bike riding too.
    Syl

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  3. Good to see the Pelicans having fun together:o)) Island Hopping looks like a great past-time!!!

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  4. We loved Savannah, and Jekyll Island when we left Florida on way to SC. Such a laid back place, and especially Jekyll, not having to get in the truck. We rode our bikes everywhere!

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  5. Beautiful scenery & loved thepic of the painted bunting.
    Enjoy your advanture.

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  6. As much as we love it here in the Ga mountains, we are starting to feel the need to see the ocean again. Beautiful pictures.

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