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 Well, that was a quick but really nice trip!  Would have liked another couple days in the sun but weather not cooperative. 

We awoke to find it was nearly 9:00!  Could not believe it.  This Sleep Inn on Bush Road in Columbia was in a fairly quiet area.  Not too many hotels and restaurants nearby.  I was not impressed at first view; but it was clean, quiet, and certainly had everything you needed for a nice short stop.  Best part was as we left they said - well your bill is $0.   We paid partial for the night in Savannah but the entire stay in Fernandina Beach and here in Columbia were points from our Choice Hotel program.  Certainly can't beat that!  

We were on the road by 10 stopping at a McDonalds and looking for a gas station.  Stopped at a small exit about 15 miles out of Columbia towards Spartanburg.  First station had no Diesel but when we moved on the the second station at the same exit they had some so we filled up - did not need to but thought best to get it while we could.

Then back on the road headed towards Asheville.  We stopped at the Farmer's Market buying some corn and Poblano Peppers that looked great.  Then we headed over to the Garden Center and poked around.  Looked for a plant that Robin wanted but no luck.  They had some very pretty begonias but not the special one she was looking for....bought some deer repellant that we will try along with our human hair and red pepper to protect our plants! We had lunch at the restaurant there at the Farmer's Market.  I do not recall having been there but Ben thinks we ate there years ago.   Jane had a huge hamburger - could not eat it all and Ben had chicken and dumplings.  Fairly good food but no photos.

We were home about 2:30 to find the house and garden doing fine.  Everything seems a bit dry but with a little water and mowing the grass we will be back to normal!

This was a nice escape and it is obvious things are on the way back to normal regarding the pandemic.  The masks when necessary and using hand sanitizer and hand washing we felt fine the entire time.  The active case numbers for Covid here at home have decreased by nearly 50% in the week we have been gone.  Most places we stopped had mask signs still in place and they were for the most part being followed - in all the states.  FL, GA, SC, NC, and then back in TN.  

The Scott's Strawberry wagon was finally open but we had almost no cash so headed home to get some dollars and then back to get some strawberries - by then they were sold out!  Will be going back out today for our first strawberries of the season.  

Cooked some creamed corn from the Farmer's Market- wilted lettuce from our garden, and chicken with a spicy orange sauce bought at Wegemans in Durham....pretty good dinner.

Headed Home

Another peaceful nights sleep.  Awoke to rain as we expected.  Packed up and headed out - on the road north about 9:30.  Another Stone Barrington book to make the miles fly by.  We stopped at a Wendy's in Hardeeville and were headed on towards Columbia after a short stop.  

We got a little turned around and ended up at the wrong hotel but with a short detour we were at the correct location with our reservation!   Found a Cracker Barrel nearby for some just plain food.  They have really adjusted their menu since we were last there.  We ordered 1 fried chicken dinner ( who could eat 4 pieces of chicken?) and 1 kiddie veggie plate.  Perfect amounts of food by sharing.  There was an Indian Grocery across the parking lot from the Cracker Barrel so Jane enjoyed wandering around there for a bit and picked up a couple things.  Huge bags of cumin, and other spices!  No that was not what I bought!

Watching a bit of TV and updated this blog - such as it is...not much to say today.  Guess I need to get back in the grove of blogging!  We have not noticed signs about gas stations being shut and traffic seems to be really rolling along!   

 

Next day - Wednesday almost same wonderful relaxing day

We started out the day mirroring the day before,  Breakfast - and it is decent at the Comfort Inn Suites.  An employee is stationed in a room off the breakfast area - serving hot items in a clamshell.  Scrambled eggs, either bacon or sausage, and either potatoes or grits.  Not all these choices but eggs a meat and a starch each day.  Then they had serve yourself single serves of breads, fruit, etc.  Better than they had at the Bluff in Savannah.  

Then we headed to the beach - drove south about 5 miles to mid-town beach.  This one allowed driving of 4x4 or all wheel drive vehicles on the beach.  There are the normal homes along the coastal road with access between houses at least every quarter mile with parking closeby.  The state park on the south end of the island is closed for several days so we are not going to get to visit this trip.  We have heard it is a really nice park with great beaches and very hard to get campsite reservations.  Have to see it next time.  So we did not explore the south part of Amelia Island.  It seems to be the "ritzy" end of the island with an Omni Hotel and a Ritz Carlton.  Overall we like this area - maybe worth coming back! 

We lasted about one hour in the sun.  Bit more wave action here but still very calm surf.  Watched dolphins, some sea birds, and a few boats.  Headed back to the hotel, walked over to Salt Life Seafood Shack and split a great grouper sandwich with avocado and lime dressing and some fries.  Then back to the hotel for a short nap.  About 3 PM rain began and continued for several hours.   Great weather until about 3 when we had a rain storm.  After the storm nice dinner - we headed to the Down Under Restaurant which is back on the Amelia River - maybe 5 miles from our hotel.  Everything is fairly compact in the Fernandina Beach area.   Ben finally got to eat lots of oysters!  

The restaurant is old - from the 50's and has been added on to through the years.  It is built downunder the huge bridge across the Amelia River and marsh. We had Gumbo, She Crab Soup, Oysters on HalfShell (Ben) and Fried Shrimp.  It was all good but not outstanding.   Hard to believe our last seafood since weather wise we will head home tomorrow since they are looking at a couple days of rain here.

Not much of a photographer today - in fact none other than our lunch and diner.  

Really down under!

Ben's Oysters on Half Shell

She Crab Soup

Shrimp and Sweet Potato Fries

Seafood Gumbo

 Beach, Sun and Unique Food

Decent breakfast at the Comfort Suites in Fernandina Beach.  Sun was shining and we had been afraid we might have rain - so we headed to the beach - one block! Took our chairs and spent about an hour watching the Atlantic and walking along the tide line looking for shells.  Not many shells to be found.  People had some screen type things to search for sharks teeth. We people watched and enjoyed the beach.  Since it was day one we decided 1 hour was enough. Good partly cloud cover was good with intermittent sunshine. Not many people.

Calmest we remember for the Atlantic

We spent the next couple hours exploring and doing some basics.  Ben had been reading about the potential issues with gasoline shortages due to the Colonial Hacking.  So we thought we best gas up to be sure it was not an issue later in the week when we needed to head home.  Found gas and had no problem buying diesel but the station where we stopped was out of regular. That errand done, bought some water and a couple other things.  Then we explored old historic downtown Fernandina Beach.  Nice small town with beautiful homes, a big container port, historic buildings, lots of shops, restaurants, and such.  

Finally chose to eat lunch at Bretts' on the waterfront.  Ben had Fish and Chips and Jane had something unusual - Fried Calamari Salad with Peanut Dressing.  Both were excellent.  Never had Calamari before and it was quite tasty.  

Waterfront in Fernandina Beach

Calamari Salad

Fish and Chips

A nap was in order and some pool time - Ben swimming and Jane just chilling.  Reading a little as well and then we began to think about more food.  Going to try a really unusual place - Wicked Bao - with lots of different Asian Street Foods.  We checked out the menu on line as we had read you ordered when you went in and then were seated with the waiters bringing food as it was ready.  With eating little bits of this and that you don't feel you have eaten very much.  It was all very very tasty and unique.

First up were rice tots with some fantastic sauces for dipping.  Then Singapore Chili Shrimp which was shrimp with rice a wonderful sauce and green onions.  Next up was Chicken Satay with a very unusual but excellent Peanut sauce.  The Street Corn was really unusual with a fantastic spice mix on it - so good Jane bought a tin of the spice!  Then to top it off was Green Tea Mochi - which were ice cream balls inside a rice cake.  We got them to go and forgot to take a photo...The Mochi were good cool down flavors from all the spicy foods.  We also could not resist having a house special drink - Sake Sangria - tasty!  

There was both inside and outside seating - we selected the patio outside.  Beautiful bromiliad right beside our table.  The place was not huge and if very very busy would be wild.  We were there at 6 and there was a constant flow of people and food.  The owner was everywhere explaining the concept of "Street Food" to  everyone and helping them make selections.  After you were seated and eating - if you wanted more of anything out it would come very quickly.  Unique concept for a restaurant and it seems to be very popular.  We enjoyed the experience. 

Wicked Bao - we ate right behind these chairs on the patio

Beautiful Bromiliad

Rice Tots with Sauces

Singapore Chili Shrimp

Chicken Satay

Street Corn - maybe our favorite - a surprise

Sake Sangria

The leftover dishes!

 A little TV and reading and sleep...nice vacation so far.  Tonight we are expecting rain.

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 Made it to Florida!

We are barely inside the great state of Florida.  Our second choice for our beach getaway - Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island.  It is 85+ degrees and really nice....Nags Head is about 20 degrees cooler.  So even if we have a little rain the next couple days it will be warm!

Slept pretty good at the Bluff in Savannah.  The air system made a wind blowing sound and it kept Jane awake off and on - either that or the side effect of a short term medication to help my back and knees.  Anyway pretty good sleeping in until 8:30!   Breakfast and on the road south about 10.  We only had 120+ miles to Fort Clinch - our first stop.  We passed by St. Simons, Saint Mary's and Cumberland Island....all places we have enjoyed so we should like Amelia Island too.... Ben had been here once for a short trip with the scouts but he remembered little about it.   

After getting off I-95 we searched for a Krystal - why you ask - Ben had it on his mind and there was one showing on google maps - but we never found it - so made a quick stop at a What-A-Burger - another place we seldom stop...decent hamburger and nicely managed restaurant.  Such a difference from yesterday's lunch.  Not traveling much over the past year has made Jane a bit rusty on her internet navigation skills!

Since we would not be checking into the hotel until 3:30 or 4:00 we headed to Fort Clinch State Park to tour the fort and hike around a little.   The park was so very nice - palms, live oaks, and Spanish moss. It was sunny and hot!   

Fort Clinch - Pandemic Viewing!

Up with the Canon

The Parade Ground

Looking across to Cumberland Island

Ben investigating the Spanish Moss

Beautiful

At the fort we toured around their small museum outlining their long history of protecting the US coast from before the Civil War through WW2.  Reminded us of many other forts we have toured of that era.  They have done a good job of restoring it.  Ben says when he and the scouts took their overnight trip on the nuclear submarine USS Maryland from Kings Bay Naval Station they were on the deck headed out to sea right past this fort.  

We climbed around the fort, sat out in the sun a while, and finally made it back to the Visitor Center.  Drinking lots of water but the time in the sun was really taking it out of us!  We drove around enjoying the scenery and then headed to our hotel.  Remarkably it was only 5 minutes from the park entrance.

After some rest and research we selected Salt Life Food Shack for dinner.  It was 1 block away from our hotel and had great reviews and the food we wanted - so you couldn't beat walking a short distance.  We are 1 block from the Atlantic.  This restaurant has great ocean views although we did not go to the upstairs deck this visit.  Great sax player on the deck, and an informal fun atmosphere.  Ben wanted raw oysters but not too many....so he tried an Oyster Shot - it was a shot glass with beer, cocktail sauce and a  huge oyster.  He said it was great - Jane did manage taking the photo.  

Ben's Oyster Shooter - that is one BIG oyster

Rain Forest Mahi

Chili Lime Mahi

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Great Music on the Deck at Salt Life Food Shack - Atlantic in background

Our dinners were super great - not sure they topped last nights, but were equally good in their own way.  Jane had Chili Lime Mahi - grilled with a white rum coconut sauce and grilled veggies.  Ben had Rain Forest Mahi - blackened, served with black bean orzo and plantains.  We both ate nearly every bite!  It is going to be hard not to go back there again!  We had a pineapple upside down cake dessert to go and finished it up a bit ago....sorry forgot to take a photo before it was gone....

Watching a little TV but think sleep will come early tonight!  

Haven't seen a sign like this since we were in Alaska!

 FINALLY on the road again!

We left Kingsport about 9:30 on Friday May 7th for our first post Covid trip! We headed to Durham for a visit with Jeff, Robin and Daniel.  We have talked but not had a real visit in over a year! Way to long!  Uneventful trip and although we did make a short stop in Mount Airy at Barney's Cafe for a quick lunch - Ben wanted a club sandwich and Jane had a salad with chicken pieces - no long stops.  Lunch was OK with people mostly walking around with masks on - much like at home.  Restaurant was not crowed and food was OK - nothing special but a good solid 3 with nice service. No photos - not back into the travel mode!

We arrived in Durham to find all at home mid afternoon with Jeff still working from home, Daniel finishing up the year in on-line school, and Robin home from work too.  We knew from talking with Dan on the phone his voice had changed and he had grown soooo much.  Much taller than Ben and I - has not quite caught up with his Dad yet.  We no longer have a little grandson - we have a teenage grandson.  I knew it but seeing is believing!  We had a great visit with good food from Peruvian Restaurant,  shoe shopping at REI, Garden Center excursion, and burgers.  Really enjoyed visiting and catching up.  We forgot to take photos until after Robin had left for work - scheduled for early morning on Mother's Day - but I did get a couple photos.

During the past few pandemic months Robin has been redecorating and done so many nice things to their home.  I should have taken lots of photos - it is like they have a new house!  

Sunday morning after a special French toast and fruit breakfast cooked by Jeff and Daniel we hit the road south headed to warmer weather.  We had originally planned to stay at the Outer Banks but the weather just was not that appealing so we headed to Savannah and on to Amelia Island Florida.  

The news indicated one of the largest Gas pipeline companies had shut down due to a cyber attack so we were wondering about availability of gasoline - not a problem.  Jeff recommended a BBQ restaurant near the NC/SC state line for lunch but it was closed on Sundays.  We stopped near Darlington at a place we have driven by many times in many places but never stopped - a Zaxby's.  Very poor choice - I have seldom written a bad review on Trip Advisor but they definitely got one.  In case anyone is reading this and considering stopping don't!  Very poor Covid procedures, poor service, and the food was barely OK - and we just ordered the basic chicken sandwich!

Back on the road after getting some gas with no issues, we continued south.  Listening to the end of our Stone Barrington story the miles clipped by, the sun was warm at 80+ and we reached Savannah about 3:30.  We are staying in Comfort Inn Choice Hotels using up "points".  There is a new Choice Hotel in downtown Savannah - The Bluffs - it may be new but built in art deco design.  It may be an old building rehab.  Either way it is brand spanking new - very clean and comfortable.  It was reached quickly as we came into town on US17 across a huge bridge and the shipping port. 

Ugly bay with container loading facility

Up Up Up 

Brand New Bluff Hotel 

Our first choice for dinner did not work out as the restaurant was too far to walk, the shuttle was not running today, and there was no parking nearby....so we moved on the plan B.  We have been to the Pirate's House twice before and knew they had plenty of parking and great seafood.  It was a great choice.  We could not get a reservation but walked in at 5:45 and were promptly seated in the bar area.   Parked right outside the front door!  

We had an excellent dinner to make up for the poor lunch!  She Crab Soup, Crab Cake and Grilled Shrimp with a fantastic sauce.  It was served with mashed potatoes and green beans.  Great choice of restaurant and food.   

Crab Cake, Shrimp, Potatoes, Veggies

She Crab Soup

 

We enjoyed the drive back through Savannah. We were headed to the opposite end of Bay Street from Pirates House - where the Bluff is located.  The hotel is at the very edge of the historic district but has the free shuttle every day but Sunday and Monday - I guess their slow days....and also has complimentary bikes for the guests to use....so transportation is not an issue most days.  There were lots of people walking around the historic area but we were satisfied to drive slowly through the tree lined streets and historic buildings.  Back at The Bluff...

The bar area - not so busy on Sunday night!

Lounge area of our room 

The sleeping area 

Nice day and I have not made too many mistakes trying to recall how to write and post this blog!  Tomorrow on to Florida.