From Wilmington to Savannah

Wilmington to Myrtle Beach

Woke up late in Wilmington, enjoyed the hotel a little before heading out.  Plan was to have an easy day,  to drive from Wilmington to Huntington Beach State Park, camp there and then onto Charleston in the morning.  I decided that I wanted to see Myrtle Beach again, so I routed my GPS, and did the beach run. Myrtle Beach hadn’t changed much since I had been there a few years before, except maybe grown a little more, which I didn’t think was possible. How many Wings stores does one beach need, anyway? The ride on 17 was uneventful, except watching the 100s of Harley guys ride around with no helmet, shorts, tank tops, and flip flops. Glad that they can feel so invincible.  I messed around most of the day, looking for places I had stayed in years past, to see if they were still there.  I think I messed around too much , because when I got to Huntington Beach State Park, there were no vacancies to camp there. The ranger told me to go 16 miles back and I could find one of those family camping grounds to stay at. No thanks. Not wanting to backtrack, I decided to push on for Charleston. I was about an hour and a half away.

Myrtle-Beach to Buck-Hall

After riding all day, I was pretty sore, and getting tired. So I started looking for parks along 17. That part of 17 is really pretty, so I knew if I could find a place, it might be pretty. Passed one, seemed to marshy, and I was worried that the bugs would be nightmarish that night.  Then down the road I found a place called Buck Hall. It’s part of the national forest I think.  I turned in, to find out they too were all booked up. Discouraged, I started to head out, and a guy flagged me down. He traveled on a motorcycle himself a lot, although this time he was camping with his wife.  Nicest people I think I met all trip. Invited me to dinner, which I hated to decline (was too tired), and hung out with me in the morning, made me breakfast, really showed me a lot of generosity. If you like hot sauce, he makes it, check his site out here.  Really good, cooked eggs with it, and treated me to some good old fashioned cowboy coffee. Thanks again guys, if you see this.  Buck Hall was nice, although seemed to be mainly RV camping.  It is right on the intercoastal waterway. Went to sleep that night in the tent listening to 1984, by Van Halen on my iphone.

Buck Hall water view

After I left Jeff and Cindy at Buck Hall, I pressed on to Charleston.  Ride was kinda boring again down 17, but I did notice that Sweet Grass Baskets must be hot item for all the tourists. Tons of stands down the road.  I didn’t stop.

I had never been to Charleston before.  Cindy, at Buck Hall, told me some spots I should see. So I plugged them into my GPS and set to find them. She said that you would cross a massive bridge (twin one to the one in Savannah), then come into downtown.  I headed through downtown, through all the tourists, and found a place to park in the Battery Area. I locked my stuff up and walked around and took lots of pictures.

Charleston

Charleston

Charleston

Charleston

Charleston

Charleston

Charleston

Live oaks in Charleston

Charleston

Charleston

After walking around a bit, I looked for a place to eat lunch.  In every city I have been through, I have been using an Iphone App called Yelp, to find good restaurants to eat in.  I found a place called Poogans Porch on Queen Street in Charleston, which I have to say is probably the single best meal I have had all trip. Pure Southern Tastiness…  Fried Green Tomato Eggs Benedict with Apple Smoked Bacon and Hollandaise Sauce on a fresh made biscuit. Highly recommend this place if you are ever in Charleston.

Charleston to Savannah

After lunch I headed out of Charleston and onto Savannah. I read in some Harley Map book before I went that the ride on 17 from Charleston to Savannah was a good one.  Scenic in parts, but lots of and lots of construction, and immense heat made it kind of unbearable. Maybe that part of that book was written by the Harley guys that ride with flip flops. Had to listen to the ipod to keep entertained. I finally made it.

I booked a place at the Thunderbird Inn, a 1960′s era motel just outside the historic district. Cindy (at Buck Hall) had recommended it.  Pretty cool, redone in a really nice way. Enjoyed my stay there, although having a hotel means hop of internet, and evidently their wifi doesn’t reach the rooms, which was kind of disappointing.

Thunderbird Inn

Thunderbird Inn

Coming into Savannah on 17 was kind of nice… the GPS kept indicating I was close, but it seemed like i was still in the middle of nowhere.  You cross a bridge into Savannah too, just like Charleston’s bridge. Must have been built by the same people. They look like they are identical.

Bridge into Savannah, shot from Savannah side.

I rode around Savannah a little last night, taking in the downtown historic area. Shot a few pictures, and headed back to the room for the night, to try to get to sleep. Stayed up too late watching the Cup finals though… but still managed to get a good night’s sleep.

Paper Factory? in Savannah

The Bike

Savannah Street

More later, trying to make it to Atlanta area today.