Touring Savannah: Ogeechee Canal

Several weeks back, our travels took us to the Savannah-Ogeechee Barge Canal. I guess it's a good thing that David shares my passion for all things historical. And if we got a little bird watching in, then that would be icing on the cake (Spoiler alert: no birds of note were spotted, which was disappointing).

The canal was constructed back in the 1820s and served as a channel to move lumber, cotton, and other wares through the Savannah area. You can read here for more information on the canal.

It wasn't the prettiest of days and after lots of rain, some of the trails weren't very accessible. However, we still got to see most of what the canal had to offer.

It was a very beautiful walk down by the canal. However, when we got to the end we hit a bit of a problem:

 The last little part of the trail that leads you to a viewing point of the Ogeechee River was underwater.

Here is David's sad face when we couldn't go get a good look.

However, we eventually found another trail that we could access the river.

We encountered some wildlife on our hike that I would have preferred not to.

This little guy about gave me a heart attack. He's just a red-bellied water snake and harmless, but still. I don't do snakes.

David spotted this frog just hanging out. I can handle him. The snake, not so much.

After exploring the canal, we wandered over to the gopher tortoise habitat.

We have these at my parent's house, and I've always loved these slow moving guys

He wouldn't come out of his hole, but we still got a little glimpse of him.

Well folks- that wraps up the riveting trip to the canal. We are making our way around Savannah, one park at a time!

The Thomasville Tourist, Part 2

Welcome to the second installment of my journeys around my town. Sunday, David and I went down to Pebble Hill Plantation to tour the grounds.

Main House

Original Main House before burning

If you are ever in the Thomasville, GA area, I suggest you put Pebble Hill on your places to visit- especially if it's a beautiful day outside. We opted not to do a tour of the Main House, which was fine by me, because I mainly wanted to see the beautiful landscapes!

The table and chairs are out because there was a wedding there the night before

Pebble Hill is truly a turn of the century plantation. That's when most of the buildings were added to the property by the Hanna family. I will spare you the history details today! Mainly because I don't have the time! So I will let the pictures do the talking :-)

 

School House



I loved these unique chairs in the school house!

Laundry Room

 



 





The Kitchen Gardens

I loved this!

The inside. I would love to have one of these!

David really wanted this turtle spout.

Where the wedding ceremony was held the night before.

Noah's Ark

Murals inside

Well, there is our trip to Pebble Hill in pictures. Guess it was grossly overdue for me to go visit, so I'm so glad we went!  

The Thomasville Tourist, Part One

David and I actually had a pretty busy weekend- right here in Thomasville. We did several touristy things that we (or more namely, I) have never experienced right here in my backyard. I had a great weekend and I got a few things marked off my "Thomasville Bucket List" in the process!

This weekend, Thomasville had it's historic Rose Show and Festival. I have lived in Thomasville since 2007 and I have never once gone to the Rose Show or watched one of the Rose Parades (unless I count last year when I got caught in traffic trying to get home after work and had to watch some of it). On Saturday, David and I loaded up and hit downtown. The weather was gorgeous and the perfect temperature to go look at some roses! The Rose Show has been a staple of Thomasville since the early 1920s. Just about every variety of rose is on display at the Rose Show.

Some of Broad Street downtown was blocked off for the car show and block party.

I was able to grab a beloved snow cone and stroll the streets with my man, enjoying looking at all the interesting cars. I was also excited because I got to see close up the progress on the courthouse restoration.

It looks like they are FINALLY getting close to finishing it!

Another item I got crossed off of my list was a trip to the Old Cemetery downtown. I must have been the worst Thomasville History docent on earth, considering that I just this weekend went to a few historical sites that I always got asked about on a regular basis!

Maybe I am morbid or something, but I just love old cemeteries. I love the history that is there. I love the beautiful craftsmanship of the tombstones, ironwork, and vaults. Every grave has a story and going through the graveyard seeing some of the people that are laid to rest and remembering their stories from the ones that I told tourists during tours at the museum.

Above is the memorial dedicated to Thomas County's Confederate soldiers. The War between the States greatly changed the course of Thomasville/Thomas County. Before the war, Thomasville was your typical, sleepy plantation area. Not much going on other than farming. After the war, is where Thomasville's history took a turn. The town could have died a slow death, like many other southern towns. But thanks to a doctor and his "discovery" that Thomasville's pine scented air and climate had great benefits, Thomasville became the resort town of the Victorian era. It was because of this influx of Northerner visitors that came and bought up the properties, that Thomasville's plantations were preserved, the downtown was built and thrived, and the lovely homes that are prewar and after are still here.  

All of the symbolism in the cemetery is fascinating- but don't worry- I will spare you! Although, I will touch on the sea shell covered graves...

 It is really unknown why this particular grave (and a few others) are covered in shells. Some believe, that it is because this particular family had strong connections with the Florida coast. Or it could be because they crossed water to get here, or rebirth in their Christian faith. Either way, it is interesting!

This is the Mitchell family marker. The man that is buried here is the brother to Thomasville's first millionaire- T.C. Mitchell, who was the owner of the famous Mitchell House, that was popular during the late 1800s.

The Mitchell House, circa 1890

 Well, that is part one of my Thomasville Tourist adventures! Coming up- Pebble Hill Plantation