A fountain bubbles in Orleans Square in Savannah's historic district.
Hallelujah! The sun finally shone in Savannah, Georgia. We awoke to a clear blue sky this Thanksgiving morn for the first time since our arrival in the Savannah area last Saturday. It poured on Sunday and stayed overcast with a thick lead gray cloud cover the following days. Yesterday evening, hues of pink streaked the sky. Maybe, just maybe, we’d actually see Savannah in sunshine before we hit the road.
The past two nights we dry camped in the heart of the city at the Savannah Visitors Center RV parking lot. (48 hours for $12 cash!) Because today was a holiday with free parking, we didn’t need to be on our way by 8 a.m. So once again we walked the 1 mile by 1 mile historic district, revisiting our favorite squares, Forsyth Park and the riverfront.
While locals were out walking or attending church services before their Thanksgiving feasts, we tourists examined the detail of the wrought iron railings, brickwork and facades on the historic homes. Everyone was in joyful spirits, greeting each other with smiles and hello’s. Our dog, Sonya, is like a magnet. People love to ask about her, pet her and tell her how beautiful she is. She has been the catalyst of many friendly conversations.
Except for some restaurants and the occasional shop, everything was closed for the holiday. People gravitated to the Peacemaker, a docked wooden sailing vessel, open for free self-guided tours. In the center of the Savannah River, towboats escorted huge container ships. I searched for the two playful dolphins I had seen the other evening, but apparently that magical moment was meant to be a one-time sighting.
Early afternoon, after we had fully savored the sun-kissed charm of historic Savannah, we began our journey south to Florida. Our “home” tonight is the Flying J Travel Plaza outside Brunswick, Georgia. We finally had our Thanksgiving feast — a hearty, delicious buffet at the truck stop’s Country Market Restaurant. The yummy home-style cooking hit the spot!
We’re so very grateful for this beautiful, memorable Thanksgiving Day on the road!
Happy Thanksgiving, David & Rose! And thanks for the reminder of the kind of things I’m thankful for: experiencing this beautiful world we live in, discovering new places and old, and connecting with a variety of people, all in the company of someone I love. You two make Savannah look and sound like a dreamy place to float through a holiday. Safe & happy travels to you both.