ROAD TRIP 2011 - 1st STOP: SAVANNAH

Last time in Europe, we met a charming British couple who were self professed 'Bumblers'. When they traveled, they never took formal tours & rarely read guidebook that told them what to see. Instead, they'd arrive at a place and wander (they called it 'bumbling around'). Sometimes they'd miss an over hyped, over crowded, over photo-ed  tourist spot, but felt that 'simply roaming about' offered special travel opportunities that most may miss. They always were very happy, always a pleasure to be around &  always 'bumbled' into interesting places.

Together they've been bumbling around the globe for over 30 years.

At noon today, Sandy & I began our multi week east coat road trip a bit like our English friends. Jumping into my Prius, we headed north. Our only plan was to be in Charleston by sometime tomorrow when we will stay with 2 new friends Adrian & Peter (thanks to the 'airbnb' website).

But today - we could go anywhere/stop anywhere we wanted.

As the miles flew (fueled by a great 2 hour 2002 'live' Paul McCartney 'fab one' concert cd), thoughts of Orlando, Daytona, St. Augustine or Jacksonville stops faded (the 100 degree outside temp was a factor) & we sped by those exits. 

Crossing the Georgia boarder around 4  a sign told us that the state was glad that we had 'Georgia On (Our) Mind(s)'.  Another said Savannah was only about 80 miles away. A little more than an hour away?  Hmmmmm... suddenly a S'town stop was definitely on our minds.

So, we drove into Savannah with no plan, no hotel, no idea of what was happening around town. We were going to bumble. Could we possibly succeed like our UK pals?

(Unfortunately, the pics we took are not transferring from my computer to this blog sight (you have to go to my facebook page - Jack Yuken - to see them),  so I'll have to bumble through our evening in Savannah sans visuals.)

We found ourselves in front of the West Bay Street Quality Inn & took advantage of their off season special (according to locals, 'the season' here is April, May July & October) & began to bumble on foot.

Famous for its tree filled squares, we bumbled into 3: Wright Square (where Creek Indian top honcho Tomo-Chi-Chi is buried),  Johnson Square (where the impressive Nathaneal Greene Monument shadowed a few impromptu chess matches) & Chippewa Square (where Forest Gump said the 'Life/box of chocolates' line - but don't expect to sit on his  bench, it was just a movie prop).

Then we seriously bumbled past the City Market,  the cobblestoned River Steet shops/restaurants in buildings dating back to the early 1800s, the Greek columned US Custom's House, the Old Cotton Exchange,  a pair of horse drawn carriages & the paddleboats that sail the Savannah.

This town's main 'street artist product' seems to be hand folded 'flowers' made from palm fronds. They are available on many street corners/parks & are hawked by their creators. We chatted with 'Gullah Man' - the self proclaimed  'artistic ambassador of love' who has at least a 1/2 dozen videos on 'You Tube' demonstrating his prowess. 

Before heading home we enjoyed an Atlanta brewed Sweetwater 420 Ale  at One Eye'd Lizzies,  a street musician's concert back at the City Market on Barnard Street & yet another Sweetwater (we do like to support local businesses - especially if their product involves hops) at Wild Wings  (where - much to the surprise of WW regulars - we had 8 topped with 'Braveheart', the hottest of the hot.  As we left, two locals actually stopped & congratulated us for our cast iron stomachs. Would THAT happen on a 'tour'? I think not.). 

All in all, a really great unplanned evening.

Our British friends would be proud.