30. Apr, 2016

30. Apr, 2016

30. Apr, 2016

SUNDAY 02-11-08 

The clocks went back last night, the seasonal adjustment for the coming winter, and so we could have a lie-in without feeling too guilty. Last night was one of the most peaceful we’ve had at a Wal-Mart supermarket. Most large stores for commercial reasons tend to be next to very busy highways and Interstates, but this one was part a large shopping mall with a very large car park off US17 North, and we were far enough away from it not to hear anything. 

I seem to have collected a few nasty insect bites including one on my throat which I’m not too pleased about. It’s time to try and find a solution to the problem as my body has a distinct dislike of being eaten by insects.  Before showering Rosina trimmed the front of my hair, trying to put right the bits the barber in Atlanta missed, including I think, most of the top. 

After a nice shower and breakfast we made our way down the road to the Publix supermarket for some nice fresh crusty bread and other fresh produce. Their fresh food is better than Wal-Mart’s but costs more, and so we look at the occasional visit to such stores as a treat. 

Loaded up we programmed the Satnav for Beaufort pronounced ‘byoofert’ in these here parts. We again drove past the Negro basket weavers at their roadside stalls selling their wares made from sweetgrass, something we hadn’t expected to see here, it reminded us of Kenya. 

After a couple of hours or so we found ourselves circling Beaufort looking for its Visitors Center where it was hoped they could tell us where we could park the RV. Once we found it The Chef, as always, popped in to see them whilst I, as always, stayed with the vehicle. She returned with a map of how we could find a parking area used by coaches. Fortunately for us Sunday seems to be a family day and just about everywhere is shut – heaven, empty roads and car parks. 

We had a nice walk around the downtown area which was pleasant but only in a voyeuristic kind of way. It had lots of quiet back streets full of fancy, mainly clapboard houses of various sizes, included some which were very large, the original owners of whom it seems made their money by importing slaves and using them to plant and harvest rice of all things in the swampy wetlands which are all around this area. It begs the question 'Did any of the businessmen of that period make their money honestly and morally, or were all such houses built and owned using wealth created at the expense of slaves?' Other than numerous picturesque houses with numerous large mature trees covered in Spanish moss set beside water and wetlands the only thing the town had were touristy shops. 

We then set our sights on Savannah just over the border in Georgia. It is supposed to be a beautiful city and where much of ‘Forrest Gump’, probably my favourite movie of all time, was filmed, so it will be interesting to have a good look around. First though we needed somewhere to park up for the night, which not surprisingly ended up being another Wal-Mart car park, but tomorrow night we’ll want to be in a campground, and by the following night definitely need to be, but as always we’ll play it by ear. The Chef and I were discussing this very subject just a few nights ago and agreed that having to think on our feet, work out where we’re going to stay for the night having identified what our needs were and finding a way of getting from there to our ultimate destination and back, is all part of the challenge of the trip. 

Tonight I have plugged in a newly purchased electric bug zapper to try and finish off the remaining ladybirds and Japanese beetles that look like ladybirds but which bite together with anything else that fancied taking a chunk out of me. It’s really for outside use and can deal with up to an acre of land so should cope with 32ft x 8ft 4”. I’ve also bought myself a portable LPG powered bug deterrent so again we’ll see how I get on. 

LOCATION TONIGHT: Wal-Mart Super, 6000 Ogeechee Rd, Savannah, GA 31419 (GPS: N32.000095 W81.255757).

30. Apr, 2016

30. Apr, 2016