Savoring Savannah

I rode my Indian Motorcycle into Savannah yesterday morning, April 29th, and spent a large part of the day exploring what I found to be one of the most beautiful historic districts of any city I have ever seen.

Savannah was founded in 1733, by James Edward Oglethorpe on the Savannah River and lies between Jacksonville, FL, and Charleston, SC.  The new Georgia colony was authorized under a grant from King George II of England.

Oglethorpe developed a town plan in which the basic design unit was the ward. Wards were composed of four residential blocks and four civic blocks, arrayed around a central square.  These square “wards” were also designed to protect the city from first, Indians and later the Spanish.  As I had limited time, I explored the center of the historic district starting in Forsyth Park and working my way north past Monterey, Madison, Chippewa, and Wright Square.

As I mentioned, one of the contributing factors to Savannah’s beauty is the fact that the city was one of the only ones left standing during Sherman’s famous ‘March to the Sea.”  This allowed many of the city’s Federal and Georgian designed homes to survive today.

As I have referenced in my past blogs, the South maintains a strong sense of heritage when it comes to the “War of Southern Independence.  I was fortunate to have arrived in Savannah on Confederate Memorial Day.   Confederate Memorial Day is a holiday observed in several Southern states since the end of the American Civil War to remember the estimated 258,000 Confederate soldiers and sailors who died fighting against the Union.  When I entered Forsyth Park, I found a Confederate Memorial Day service in the process and it reinforced that there is still a lot of pride in the South.

A statement regarding “Politically Correct”

 

Singing “Dixie” with a “Rebel Yell”

 

21 Gun Salute to the fallen

Turning back to the beauty of Savannah, each Square’s Park was unique in its own way.

And finally, Chippewa Square, known for Forrest Gump and his park bench.  Unfortunately, they removed the bench and it is now at the Savannah History Museum.

Leaving these beautiful parks, I discovered there is another side of Savannah, on River Street.  River Street runs along the Savannah River and is full with boutiques, bars, and street performers to fill many hours.

Loved Savannah and wish that I had more time to enjoy it.  But, tomorrow I am off to an area called the Highlands in North Carolina where I will challenge the “Tail of the Dragon”, Moonshiners 28, Bridal Veil Falls.  These are all part of this motorcycle shrine and I am looking forward to riding and hanging with my biker people.

Keep Wheeling!