Savannah Update # 3 (Sunday - the leave taking)

One of the most challenging parts of any slowtravel GTG is saying goodbye to friends - old and new, and heading back home.

We woke yesterday thoroughly exhausted. There had been far more late nights than I am used to (to say nothing of the effects of last night's ghost trolley tour and then the prosecco fueled ghost story telling with Shannon, Marcia, Dave, Chris, Kim, Paul, Palma, and Brad). Plus a head cold that had been threatening to grab hold, did. ICK

A hot shower forced some of the ICK away but I definitely didn't feel quite 100 %.

We packed and did the 'big search' to make sure that we didn't leave anything behind in the rental. Palma and Brad had to leave early to get to Vics on the River where we were to have our final event of the weekend. Paul and I decided to load up the car and move it close to the restaurant so that we could make the made dash to the airport - our flight was scheduled to leave at 1:50.

Finding a parking spot was far easier than I thought - I have to admit that parking in Savannah has been easy and at $ 8 for a parking pass good for 48 hours a steal! We decided to walk along the riverbank to see if we could find the waving girl statue.

The Waving Girl Statue honors Florence Margaret Martus. Martus was famous in the early 1900s for waving to all shipping traffic sailing into and out of Savannah. Waving for nearly 40 years at passing ships, the legend contends she was trying to locate the love of her life -- who was a sailor.

This is just another example of the quirky things which abound throughout this amazing city. Savannah is a city of characters and takes great pride in honouring their quirky, uniqueness. There is a lesson for the rest of us in that!

It was a hot and sultry morning. As Paul and I walked along the river we both commented on what a difference it was from home where winter refuses to let go as quickly as we would like. It was so hot that we decided to camp out on a park bench under some shade trees where we too could watch the world traipse by.

When we got to Vic's we were shown to an area on the top floor of the restaurant located in a beautifully decorated and renovated old cotton warehouse that overlooks the Savannah River. Now this area could be referred to as a bit of a tourist trap but Vic's offers food above the 'tourist trap norm'.

The planning committee had arranged for a sumptuous buffet of fruit, eggs, apple sausage patties, sourdough french toast, scrambled eggs, and shrimp with tasso ham gravy and grits.

Once everyone had had their fill of great food the planning committee had one last surprise for us. Palma had made a video in honour of the occasion. As always, she had outdone herself. She had managed to find pictures of most of the participants and really captured the essence of the slowtravel community.

Kim had one more contest (because we all love winning things!) - a contest suggested by David - guess how many photos were taken by members of the slowtravel community during the GTG (my guess is 9,350)

Paul and I looked at our watches and realized that we had less than two hours to figure out how to get to the airport, refill the rental car, drop it off, and check in for the flight. ARGH We said our good byes, posed for more photos (hmmm - perhaps I should have raised my guess) and raced off to the airport.

In the end we could have stayed for another hour because our flight to Cleveland was delayed. After a two hour wait in the Cleveland airport we headed to Buffalo where we loaded up the car and headed back across the border to home.

This had been a truly amazing weekend - thank you to the planning committee who donated their many talents and countless hours on our behalf!

Comments

[Kathy]

Glad you made it back, Jerry! It was fun to see you in Savannah, especially there at our command post!

Great photo of the Waving Girl! I just hate that she's now waving goodbye!

[teaberry]

Jerry, I have just loved reading your account of the Gathering weekend - I got to relive so many of those wonderful feelings and moments again.

It was so nice seeing you again, and finally meeting Paul.

[Jerry]

Thanks for sending us down the river to see the statue Kathy - I doubt we would have found it otherwise!

Terry - it was great to see you again as well. When we were flying home Paul commented on how friendly everyone. He sure enjoyed meeting the slowtravel gang!