A Rainy Night In Georgia

October 30, 2015
A rainy night in Georgia
A rainy night in Georgia
I believe it's rainin' all over the world

Dolly nestled in the rain in Georgia

We started our Georgia journey in the cool woods on the shores of Lake Lanier, the major source of water for the Atlanta Metro. As we got into our site in the middle of a forest, the rain began. We laid in our comfy bed inside Dolly the Dolphin listening to the soft rain on the roof all night. The rain is comforting and brings back fond memories of sitting by the fireplace on a rainy night in Oregon.

It is very appropriate that we were in Georgia the week of Halloween. I mean, this is the setting for the TV series The Walking Dead. That show has been part of our consciousness since it first came on the scene. The idea of a zombie apocalypse is fascinating to us. So, we've been on the lookout for walkers. There are scary noises coming out of the woods at night. I'm sure that there will be a ton of walkers out for trick or treating this Saturday night.

Roddy Freeman, college mate

We had a great time hanging out here. Cheri and I and the boys went and met our friends Jeff Cook and his wife Elizabeth and their daughter Alexis. It was great to spend time with them and dine at a very fine restaurant in Jasper. I also got to spend time visiting with friends Harry Lyles and Roddy Freeman. While I was meeting with Roddy, Cheri got together with several of her old friends in the area, who she's known since she lived in Atlanta in the '80s. One of the great things about traveling around the country is visiting with friends that we normally wouldn't have the chance to be with in person.

Swans, Geese and Ducks in Alligator Lake

And, then there's Savannah, Georgia.
While Atlanta is situated in the middle of the state, Savannah is on the coast. It felt like we had gone from a cool rainforest directly to a tropical beach. And it's only several hours away. Our camp here is on a lake where there are signs warning of alligators. For that reason, we didn't allow Satch and Bebop to romp freely in the water. We kept them under close supervision. The lake was full of swans, geese and ducks. I could swear these are the same geese that were flying South over our heads in Mystic, Connecticut.

Savannah is home to 22 squares

Savannah cemetery

Following with the Halloween theme, Savannah is much like an East Coast version of New Orleans. There is black magic in the air. And it is a haunted city, The city's design was based on magical symbols. There are ghosts in each square and in most homes, hotels and businesses. A lot of blood has been shed in this city going back centuries. It makes the city a dark mystery. No wonder the TV show Ghost Hunters filmed episodes of stories in Savannah. We watched Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, the Clint Eastwood film based on the book about one of Savannah's mystical mysteries.

The historic Pink House

Sazeraks at The Pink House

The squares are an interesting feature. While many cities and towns will have a town square, Savannah has 22 squares in the historic district. We walked around this area and dined at The Pink House, one of the many historic homes in the area that have been preserved. The bartender mixed us up a couple of Sazeraks and we had a great Southern feast. We also walked along the cobblestone River Street, which now hosts many shops and restaurants for the healthy tourist business in Savannah. It's a lovely place and we felt we only scratched the surface of this town as there is a deep history here to explore.

It's time to keep moving South. Next stop - Florida!