Hilton Head Island Coastal Discovery Museum

Maybe I should have named this "Butterfly's".

Paula and I have been to several "butterfly gardens" but we have never seen so many. This place had them everywhere and so many kinds that we must have taken 50 pictures. We of course saw dozens of White Egrets, Herons, etc but we have hundreds of pictures of them!























Of course Paula got one to land on here arm!
























































We did have this Cardinal sit still long enough to get a few pictures of him.

This picture is special, the horses are Marsh Tacky horses. They live wild on several of the islands and are descended from horses left here by the Spanish explorers in the 1500's. There are thought to be less than 300 left. There are three distinct breeds originating with the Spanish horses, including Banker Horses in North Carolina and Florida Cracker Horses.

Paula walked up to fence, talked to the horses and spent time petting one, of course.  Later we were told that they are not friendly and will bite!

Savannah Ships of the Sea Museum

We had a rental car for the weekend so we could range a little further than when we are walking. We took a trip to downtown Savannah to the Ships of the Sea Museum. What a treat!

Here are just a few of the scrimshaw items that were on display.












Of course you can't have a Ships of the Sea Museum without a display of the Titanic. The detail is awesome on all the ships. The Titanic even has the band members playing on the deck as she started to sink!










This is another sample of dozens of models on display. Most of the models are 3/8" scale (3/8" equals 1 foot). Each depicts a real boat with information on the history of the boat as well as the specs.

This is an example of some of the detail you will see on these models! I can't even imagine how much time even one of the models represents, let alone the dozens that are on display!

New deer pictures from Isle of Hope

On a recent walk we spotted this doe with two fawns. Paula spent the longest time taking pictures and getting closer and closer. Then when she went to turn and walk away the doe started following her. So she stopped and the doe stopped. Paula started walking again and the doe started following again. I wish I'd had the video camera.





Doe and two fawns in someone's front yard. We think it's cool but the residents here see them all the time eating their flowers, etc so they aren't really that excited about seeing them.

Parris Island USMCRD (by Jim)

Entering South Carolina.

USMCRD. United States Marine Corps Recruit Depot.

I haven't been here since 1966.  I didn't recognize anything until we got to the base. Which makes sense, in 1966 I got there in the dark and I left in the dark!

They have a really great museum.  Since it is an "open base" anyone can come and just go to the museum. Recommend not doing it on a Thursday or Friday since those are graduation days and the base is packed by 6 a.m.  You will need picture ID for everyone in the car and registration and proof of insurance to get on to the base.

Tybee Island (by Jim)

We found this really cool old tree outside Fort Pulaski National Monument and couldn't pass up an opportunity to get some pictures!

A demonstration of musket fire at Fort Pulaski. Since we are in the South they of course are wearing grey uniforms.

An outside view of Fort Pulaski. It is really in good condition.

Tybee Island Light House. The light house and grounds are really well kept and it is just a short walk to the old coastal fortifications last used during WWII. There is a really well done museum there. Both are well worth the trip.

Beaufort, South Carolina (by Jim)

There is a huge flock of Canada Geese that live at a park here in Savannah.  Paula got several good shots of them.

This is, as Paula calls it, a "string art" bridge that crosses the Savannah River from Georgia to South Carolina.

We spotted these two restored antebellum houses on our walk around Beaufort. Another old town with some really beautifully restored homes.

Wormsloe Plantation (by Jim)

Wormsloe Historic Site is on Isle of Hope.

These pictures are of Wormsloe Plantation's entry road. The road is over 1.5 miles long and is totally covered by these beautiful old oak trees. There is virtually nothing of the original house left except a couple of walls, but they are the oldest structure in Savannah. You can't really see much, but some of the original family still live on a part of the land that was not donated as a historical site. The original house was built around 1740. Savannah was founded in 1733.