Scooter Poopin' In Southeast Georgia

Yesterday, we took off zigzagging around Southeastern Georgia. If one could ignore the bone chilling wind, the day was picturesque. The sun was incredibly bright making the sky like unto an enormous blue diamond. It was charming. Like a prelude to Heaven. How could we resist!? Our first stop was the metropolis of Valdosta. We lunched at Smok'n Pig on Valdosta Road.

I just had to snap a pic of the pink pig BBQ grill. Hubby burst my bubble, though, when he said that the first time he cooked on it, the paint would chip. Oh well ...

Sated with good 'ol southern BBQ, we traveled further west to the little community of Dixie (how original, right?!) in neighboring Brooks County.

Winter Road, Dixie, Georgia

The above picture is downtown Dixie, a sleepy little burg, never destined for greatness. I never knew this county had such easy to ride, meandering, shady, scenic roads! Now I want to move there and ride every day.

Emanuel AME Church

County Road 78, Dixie

I snapped a photo of this black church only because it has the most unusual architecture for the area. It must have been built on a shoestring and perhaps with more than one chef in the kitchen.

What is the round room for? I wonder. The front had one style, the windows don't fit the design of the front, and the back is ... well, unusual. At any rate, it was interesting.

One nice thing about old age is it doesn't take much to amuse me anymore. *lol*

Thanks for stopping by. I hope your day is blessed.

Christ Episcopal Church, St. Simons Island, Georgia

While the Senate diddles away our futures in Washington, we hopped on our iron horses and rode to the coastal town of St. Simon's Island, off shore from Brunswick.

Hubby worked in Brunswick for three years before his retirement from BellSouth, so, he got to know the area really well. Even though we've lived here for over 17 years, I've not taken any time to explore "The Island" (as the locals call it). He wanted me to tour an historical church and grounds. Christ Episcopal Church was founded February 1736. Many of the graves are very ancient. Some are enclosed by something similar to coquina rock. It sure reminds me of Florida with all the hanging moss and the way the buildings are constructed. I guess most all the southern coastal areas look alike.


Parked outside the cemetery


Historical Sign


Christ Episcopal Church (front)


Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery And Grounds


Unknown plant
Anyone know what this is?

It was definitely worth the trip y'all! The weather is absolutely picture perfect for Southeast Georgia: blue sky, light breezes, and the smell of Spring in the air. Dreamy!! The fly in the ointment was the gnats and the sand gnats. Once the cool weather is over, they're baaaaaccckkk! Yuck!! But I'm still glad we went.

Thanks for visiting. :)

Cay Creek Wetlands Interpretive Center

Yesterday, we traveled to the Savannah Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina again. It was cold, windy and overcast with very few migratory birds yet. So, after making the 4 mile loop around the park, we headed south towards home.

There we discovered a new public nature walk that is now open. It's near the little community of Midway, Liberty County, GA. Cay Creek is located just west of I-95 off Highway 84.

The Cay Creek wetlands was set aside for the public in honor of Mayor, Willis Britten Hollingsworth (1998-2001).

Since I'm related to many Hollingsworth, I thought I'd check out his lineage. I couldn't find a connection to my bunch (not yet, anyway) but for those interested, I found some of his genealogy here:

Hollingsworth, Willis Britten (1930 - 2001) - male
b. 24 JAN 1930 in Tifton Co., Georgia, USA
d. 22 APR 2001 in Midway, Liberty Co, Georgia
s/o Willis Britten Hollingsworth, Sr. and Minnie Hazel Cook
Source: Bissett/Cook Family

I also found this about Mayor Hollingsworth on-line:

Willis Hollingsworth, Jr. (DVM 1955) of Savannah, mayor of Midway for the past nine years, died April 22. With a deep interest in nature, he made the Cay Creek Wetland Interpretive Center a major project of his for the past five years.
Source: Class Notes, Grad Notes, and Obituaries; December 2001: Vol. 81, No. 1

Turns out, even in the face of adversity, he was quite a 'do-er'. He lost his first wife in a tragic auto accident but still he persevered and made a good life for himself.

The free open access walkway winds it's way through the woodlands leading down to the salt marshes of Cay Creek. Like all wetlands, it has abundant wildlife and native plants to view. Even though it was a ugly overcast day we still enjoyed the stroll through old Georgia. Then we hopped back in the car and had a hearty meal at Captain Joe's Seafood on US Hwy 17 before heading home.


Cay Creek Sign


Best to begin at the begin


Cay Creek Elevated Walkway


Observation Tower


Can you tell I DON'T like heights!


Now that's a good lookin' guy there! :)


Too bad the picnic area was flooded.
It would be lovely to have lunch here some day.


Holly Tree
Anyone know the species and name?

I'm glad we went now. This trip was definately worth the effort.

All photos are here for those interested.

Hope you enjoyed the trip too! ;)

Our Day In Pictures

It was a rainy day in paradise today in Southeast Georgia. Even as I "pen" these late night musings, it's still coming down. So, Steve and I hopped in Ye Ol' Jeep and went exploring.

Wanna come with? Here's our day in pictures. [click on photos to enlarge]

Altamaha Apiaries
Gardi, Wayne County, Georgia
Built circa 1900, this structure originally served the community as a post office and general store. I found this message posted at another blog: "The Altamaha Apiary [sic], in Gardi, was started by my wife's family around the turn of the century (circa 1903) ... it was sold and left the family. The building is currently owned by a close family friend." Signed "Co A". I don't know who the family was!

Look at all the old bee hives
stored behind the building.
I'll bet they were all once busy as little bees.

Altamaha Waterfowl Wildlife Management Area
Then we skeedaddled over to the coast, north of Brunswick, and drove around in the Altamaha WWMA. We saw several small birds but no waterfowl. I wonder if it was even too wet for them?!

No problem!!
I think I'll stay in the truck, thank you. I've had my lunch, don't want to risk feeding them too. :)

Champney Island Road

Opps! We drove off the map!

The Church Of The Good Shepard (Episcopal)
There's a lady buried in their front lawn. It's the only marked grave there. It states, "Deaconess Anna E. B. Alexander, Founder, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church 1894, Parochical School 1902, First Black Deaconess Ordained 1907, 18?? - 1947, Rest In Peace". There's a newer church building right next to the original.

Saint Cyprians Episcopal Church
There was another neat old black church in Darien (McIntosh county) just across the way. Crossing the Butler River north of Brunswick on into Darien. The Episcopals must have had a lot of missionaries in this area. The historical sign states the church was established in 1876.

Neat Old House
These two photos (above and below) were taken on Highway 99 leading out of Darien towards Ludowici.

Another interesting old house

Rain, rain, go away ...
Finally headed home down historical Hwy 57 towards Ludowici. Had to stop at the IGA to get a 'secret ingredient' for Steve's super venison meatballs.

Venison Meatballs
These are ABSOLUTELY HEAVENLY!!! Want the recipe? Maybe another post.

I'm too pooped to pop and too old to stroll after all this 'work'. [ha ha]

Hope y'all enjoyed the photos! (More here if interested)

Meinhardt Vineyards and Winery

Today, we traveled from our country home to the lovely small town of Statesboro, Georgia about hour and a half north of us. Statesboro is a great town located in Bulloch county is rich in history that goes back as far as 1758.

This trip we took an as yet untraveled backroad, by us, and found a nice winery called Meinhardt Vineyards & Winery. So we stopped and participated a wine tasting. I thought I'd share our photos with y'all tonight.


Hubby tasting his red wine


Eagle Run (white)
I brought 2 bottles of this home.


Meinhardt also sells jellies and syrups


There is a lovely wine tasting area
under a large pergola on the grounds
for large or small groups.


Ah, you caught us leaving
with all our loot! [hic]

Hope you enjoying the tour too. We're gonna make it a point to visit this winery again. They also have an outlet in Savannah, GA, for anyone who may be in the area. That branch is located at 306 West St. Julian Street.

Now I'm sleepy. [yawn]

'Night y'all!


Meinhardt Vineyards & Winery
305 Kennedy Pond Road
Statesboro, GA 30458
(912) 839-2458 Telephone
(912) 839-4017 Fax

Hours:
Tue, Wed & Thu 11am to 8pm
Friday & Saturday 11am to 10pm

This Is The Day The Lord Has Made

Yesterday, we drove our Jeep to Emanuel county here in Georgia. The roadways are so alive with color this year! The Turkey Oaks are absolutely stunning with their bright orangy red leaves. The Cherry Trees are brilliant yellows. Slash Pine trees stand out like sore thumbs now with their perpetual green leaves. There's just so much color everywhere.

This was a combination Genealogy and Motorcycle trip. I had a couple of tombstones to look up at the Old Canoochee Primitive Baptist Church cemetery for genealogy research. Then, we scooted on over to Statesboro to look at .... yeah .... you guessed it, dirt bikes. [blush] I still want one doggone it. I have looked at every possible 200 or so size dirt bike except the one I really want: 2009 Kawasaki Super Sherpa 250. But, I think this 'want' will be put on the side line. Got too many things that need to be done to the ol' homestead. Aw, well. There's always next year. I feel very, very blessed (more than I deserve) and oh so thankful. I don't know what it is about being out in the woods. I always feel so much closer to God than in any building (but if you're reading this Pastor Scott, todays sermon was very good indeed).

Here's some of the views we were treated to yesterday.

This is the day the Lord hath made;
He calls the hours His own;
Let Heav’n rejoice, let earth be glad,
And praise surround the throne.

Today He rose and left the dead,
And Satan’s empire fell;
Today the saints His triumphs spread,
And all His wonders tell.

Hosanna to th’anointed King,
To David’s holy Son;
Help us, O Lord; descend and bring
Salvation from Thy throne.

Blest be the Lord, who comes to men
With messages of grace;
Who comes in God His Father’s Name,
To save our sinful race.

Hosanna in the highest strains
The Church on earth can raise;
The highest heav’ns, in which He reigns,
Shall give Him nobler praise.

Words: Isaac Watts, The Psalms of Da­vid, 1719.
Music: Ar­ling­ton, Thom­as A. Arne, 1762; ar­ranged by Ralph Har­ris­on, 1784

God bless y'all!

♥ ∞