It's about 100 miles along the Georgia coast from Tybee to St. Mary's, well if you measure in a kind of straight line that is. If you measure all along the islands and in and out of the inlets its quite a bit more. But if you meander up the wide and deep Savannah River, like James Oglethorpe did some years back you'll sail right on past the lighthouse at Tybee, several old forts and on into Savannah's famous river district. If you keep going under the span of the Talmadge Memorial Bridge, you'll be amongst all of those cargo ships that load and unload in the Port of Savannah.
If you turn back the clock, you'll find quite an interesting history of this beautiful city. James Oglethorpe landed along the banks of the river in 1773. He was looking to create a buffer colony between the English colonies and Spanish Florida and French Louisiana. After all, the King of England didn't want those pesky Spanish or French contaminating his holdings. You see, Oglethorpe was one of the kings men, and he was set on sending debtors to the colony rather than prison because there was much more room, or so history tells us. It was also a place for protestants to find refuge and it provided that military buffer the King so desired.
They tried to grow mulberry trees for silk worms, but the climate wasn't exactly right for it. The peach trees they planted, however, did thrive. Peaches originated in China and would be distributed across Asia and into Europe and much later North America. Here in the US we think of peaches and we think of Georgia. (Except those around my hometown, we think of peaches and we think of Gaffney, SC and the giant peach shaped water tower off I-85)
Savannah grew, as did most port towns, over the years into something that is "the same but different" from its original existence more than 200 years ago. Great tall ships were replaced by giant container ships. Cobblestones were replaced by asphalt, and brick buildings were often replaced by modern offices. But the beautiful view of the river is still enjoyed by many as they saunter along River Street and visit the shops. It is a cheaper destination than Charleston, and the beautiful parks are fantastic to visit. Had Savannah been anything but beautiful, Sherman would have burned it rather than present it as a Christmas gift to Lincoln.
And let me tell you, it's still so very beautiful. But more on that later, after we make our annual trip to enjoy the beauty of such a lovely city.
