St. Simons Island
Another Friday adventure, another Georgia barrier island. This is the largest of the barrier islands in Georgia and is just on the other side of Brunswick, south of Savannah.
With only two Fridays left we are very intentional about our choices. St Simons has a light house and I LOVE light houses.
I spoke to my boss yesterday and he asked where we headed. I told him St. Simons and he suggested Fort Frederica, thanks Scott!
So I plotted my course on Google maps (is there an app for this? My Google maps did not save my route.).
We headed to Fort Frederica and I asked Gary if we could check it out once the car was parked and the bikes unloaded. We used their very very clean restrooms and checked out the gift shop. I asked the attendant there how close we were and he gave us directions (very close, the educational piece begins right off the porch). This is strictly a walking course, no bikes allowed.
Let me tell you, my home school mama heart was singing with joy. This is a great place. And it's free! There is a scavenger hunt for the kiddos. They have sites that have been exposed, the foundations of homes from the 1700s. The whole place is laid out, there are even street names and the occupation of the occupants. We walked toward the water and saw what is left of the Fort remains. This is where the British defended their village from the Spanish. The Spaniards had claimed Florida and the area south. The British had the areas above the Carolinas. The Carolinas and Georgia where a source of contention in the 1700s.
Fort Frederica National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)
1700s Era cannons displayed at Fort Frederica
There were staff and volunteers doing a live dig. In 2020 they used radar to detect the foundation of a building below the grade. Most of the northern part of the village has been uncovered. But this finding is in the southern part of the village. Since 2021 they have been working slowly and painfully in 2 foot by 2 foot sections combing through dirt and debris looking for evidence of what once was.
They think this was the site of an inn judging by the landowner records. And it is a large footprint, larger than your average home in the 1700s.
Evidence points toward the home having been destroyed by fire based on some of the charred wood and melted glass they have discovered. They receive assistance from summer camps and high school interns. This particular day we met the site manager and two interns. I could have stayed and talked to them all day. How cool!!!!
Excavation of a former inn at Fort Frederica.
We headed back into the gift shop and purchased post cards for the after-school kids at the Y and the grands.
Time to hit the road. Listen, I gotta tell you. I have poked fun at my mother for years about being directionally challenged... but I'm beginning to think it's hereditary. I set the gps and I still took us the wrong way ... I went out the wrong side of the roundabout. I think I need to spend a few days in the woods with my Land Nav expert son and get some training!!!!
Gary got us straightened out and we headed to our first destination, East Beach. It was a lovely blue sky day but the wind was whipping. We sat on the beach and had our picnic lunch and relaxed. Then it was time for more adventures.
East Beach, St. Simon’s Island.
We headed to Moo Cow for ice cream.
We had lovely service and wonderful ice cream. I had the Moo Crunch and Gary had the Oatmeal Creme Pie...I think he has a new favorite ice cream!!
Moo Cow Ice Cream St. Simons Island
From here we headed out on foot to Pier Village.
I saw a shop called Rahab’s Rope. Well, I knew what that meant. So, I entered. And I told them too, I only entered because of the name of your shop, you are believers aren't you? Yes ma'am! The items have been made by rescued trafficked women, mostly from India. I found a bracelet for $5.00 and had a lovely chat with Susie, the cashier.
We traversed the rest of the street without entering any additional stores. Living in an RV and on a budget means I have all I really need!!!
We then went to see the lighthouse. It was so pretty. The ocean behind us was hitting the rocks and was also beautiful.
We walked back to the bikes at Moo Cow and it was time to head back to the Fort and the car.
All together we did 15 miles. The weather was absolutely lovely. I am so thankful for blue sky days and wonderful temperatures. I am also thankful for a husband that loves me, the beach and ice cream… not necessarily in that order!!! But he goes along with me on these adventures and almost seems to enjoy them. ♥
As for biking in St. Simons, we were able to be on the sidewalk most of the island. Only when we got near the beach did Gary's gps take us through some neighborhoods and we had to share the road but they had frequent speed humps and no one was speeding.
If we do this island again next year when we are in South Georgia I would prefer to explore the northern portion of the island. The southern portion had all of the touristy things I wanted to see but there was so many humans and so much traffic. Even though we were on the sidewalk there were a lot of intersections and roundabouts where potential interactions with distracted drivers were an accident waiting to happen.
All in all it was a lovely day. Not our favorite, but I'm glad we did it. No regrets.
I love you deeply. Please let me know how I can be praying for you. ♥
Massive Live Oak St. Simon’s Island