Friday, November 1, 2013

The South - LOVE!

Once again my four friends from college made our bi-annual (sometimes annual) trip to Fripp Island this last week. This time there were no delays or any travel dilemmas - PTL! Was a great flight, landed in Savannah, got our rental, and made it to the island without any problems. There are not enough adjectives to describe this wonderful place that we treasure as well as Beaufort -- amazing, beautiful, dramatic, magical, mystical, mesmerizing, historical, colorful, delicious, and crazy..... especially when we are all together!

These pictures are upon arrival on Bay Street of Beaufort - the large old oak trees and Spanish moss evoke romance and mystery.

 

 


 

The ocean is just as inviting - the color, sand dunes, and sea grasses are all part of the drama and beauty of the low country area.
 
 



No matter where you are on the beach, it is glorious! The sands are clean, hard, and full of sea shells that draw you to look closer to see what they are saying.

 One of my famous portrait of all of our mugs while enjoying the beauty of the beach! We have never been here in October, but it was a wonderful experience.. Not too hot but very comfortable. The weather couldn't have been any better.
 I love this shot of us - I talked a couple into taking our picture - they were so friendly!


 

 
 We made the trip to Beaufort for the Historical Homes Tour and also for the Cuisine Tour which we enjoyed very much. Was a treat to enter into these old homes built before the Civil War. Much was destroyed or burned, but many withstood that as well as the great hurricane in 1893 where over 2000 people were killed.

 


 

 Then it was time to head back to Savannah for a little bit more touring. We went on a Ghost tour one night and the next day we headed to the Savannah River to shop and of course eat at a bar and grill.
 The cobblestones here are quite intriguing and the brick ancient - made by Graves...

 Along the river you see so many historic sites, shipping and cargo delivery areas, and of course shipping containers on the freighters. This one came from China! Our Captain said they travel 11 knots on the canal and are 16 containers wide. The minimum depth of the river is 45 feet. So they are constantly dredging the river to maintain that depth.

 
But the part I enjoyed the most and I think I can speak for my friends, was the dolphins we befriended on this excursion. They would swim right up to the boat and were curious enough to swim right up to the back and literally look up at us. They were as curious about us as we were about them!  I have a great video of them surfing behind the boat, but it is too long to attach... I think!

 
Shark tooth found in this river! Yikes!
 I think Jackie was off talking on the phone when I had the urge to take another group shot!

 In Beaufort on the Beaufort River where they have an amazing park, swings, and grills, and of course shopping.
 Happy Birthday to Jackie - # 63 on our trip in Beaufort!
Vic enjoying a little water on her toes!
 A great picture of our group while at a grill right before entering into Fripp Island.

This picture was on Fripp headed to take the golf cart back. Fun times!
 

A glorious trip - fun times, great food, precious memories! Thanks girlfriends....