Our second southern day included fantastic food and a fabulous fort...the Fort Pulaski National Monument at the mouth of the Savannah River. Mary Jane Sorrel swiftly led us to I-26 south to give us a head start on our busy day. We barreled into Historic Savannah just in time for our 12:00 Noon reservations at Paula Deen's famous restaurant, "Lady and Sons." Our hostess delivered hot cheese biscuits and a "hoe" cake (with butter and syrup...as we looked over the luncheon menu. With Sweet Tea and Fried Green Tomatoes on the way, Jim decided on the special of the day, "Shrimp & Grits" while John chose the Asparagus Sandwich and Jelly Roll Taters. OMG....everything was piping hot and delicious. Jim proclaimed his shrimp & grits, "as good as any he had ever had." Of course we couldn't leave without sampling Key Lime Pie and Peach Cobbler. Needless to say, this may have been our first visit to Ms. Deen's eatery....but it WON'T be the last!!

 

 

Next we walked around Historic Savannah....enjoying the Live Oaks and fountains, in Johnson Square. Then we headed out to see the Antebellum Mansions along the Boulevards lined with Live Oak Trees, Palmetto Trees, and lots of Spanish Moss. Our drive took us out Hwy 80 toward Cockspur Island and Ft. Pulaski National Monument. Starting at the Visitor Center, we enjoyed an orientation film, where we learned the evolution of Ft. Pulaski from a chronological history to when it was abandoned, following the Civil War. The most significant feature of the April 1862 battle was the Union bombardment using rifled artillery. The power and accuracy of rifled artillery signaled the end of masonry fortifications. Ft. Pulaski was used as a prisoner of war camp by the Union Army,following the Confederate surrender of the fort, until the end of the Civil War.

 

 

Tonight we are staying a Navy Lodge on the Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida. We were greeted to the Sunshine State with an amazing sunset!!

 

Paul Deen's Shop in Historic Savannah GA

Pauls's famous eatery, "Lady & Sons"

Yummy Fried Green Tomatoes

Jim's Shrimp & Grits & John's Asparagus Sandwich

Johnson Square and City Hall in Old Towne Savannah



Approaching Historic Ft. Pulaski



Surrounded by a moat



Cannons perched around the top of Ft. Pulaski



One of the wall of Ft. Pulaski (cannon crane in left archway)



Damage from Union rifled guns...trying to set off the fort's gun powder magazine

Spiral stairs up which Confederate soldiers would run powder kegs up to the fort cannons

Ft. Pulaski became a Union prion during the remainder of the Civil War



Union soldiers repaired the gapping holes made in the fort by their rifled guns

The 36 Star-Spangled Banner over Ft. Pulaski



Moat surrounding Ft. Pulaski

Parade yard within the fort....two fruitful pecan trees planted by caretakers in the 1800's

Beautiful Sunset welcoming us to the Sunshine State...Florida