Peach Tree 23 Yard Sale, South Carolina

“I’m a yard sale addict on the road to recovery. Just kidding! I’m on the road to another yard sale!

Anonymous

Today we headed to South Carolina for a yearly yard sale on Hwy 23 that stretches from Modoc, South Carolina to Batesburg-Leesburg, South Carolina, a total of 44 miles, and it is called the Peach Tree 23 Yard Sale. They are celebrating their thirteenth year of celebrating what they call the “Longest Yard Sale”. I’m not so sure about it being the longest, but it was a good distance and fun. As we headed north at Modoc on Hwy 23, we noticed, at first we didn’t see much as far as yard sales but the countryside was gorgeous with picturesque farms with barns and beautiful homes along the way. We did enjoy one stop at a home with a large front yard where two ladies and a gentlemen were sitting out joking and enjoying their day.

When we got to the Edgefield town limits, there were many yard sales to stop and check out. We stopped at ate at Chef Bob’s Cafe (http://bobssouthernsuppers.webs.com/menu) just off the square and had a lovely meal prepared by him. It was delicious. if you are going through Edgefield, stop and try his fabulous food. He will not let you leave hungry as he he brings out freshly cooked food right to your table. Then we stopped to see out friend, Martha at Carolina Moon Distillery which offers a wide variety of whiskeys, vodka, rums, and moonshine, and picked up a bottle of their best whiskey we had ordered earlier this year. After a nice chat, we headed back north on Hwy 23. Edgefield is a nice town with great people. While in Chef Bob’s, I noticed a quote from one of it residents from another time, J. Strom Thurmond, that I loved and had to take a picture of it to share.

South Carolina’s rural back roads have stunning sites to see with small churches, farms, and farm animals to see along the tree lined roads. We passed many peach farms with the peaches ripe and ready to be picked. There were many stands to buy fresh peaches and who wouldn’t want a fresh peach from a local orchard. Delicious.

Participating towns for this yard sale are Modoc, Edgefield, Ward, Monetta, Ridge Spring, Monetta, and Batesburg-Leesville. We really enjoyed the towns of Edgefield, Ward, and Ridge Spring which has the most yard sales. There were some in the other towns but not like those towns. They represented well. This is a one of a kind experience to drive and with stop and go shopping. We met some nice people along the way and really enjoyed this trip.

We stopped at one yard sale that was nothing but gorgeous flowers in the town of Ward. We bought quite a few and I can’t wait to plant them. She sold them for a good a price so stop and visit her if you are looking for beautiful plants. Our other find was a large cement bird bath that will look great in our yard for $30. Joe was able to find the rooster he has been wanting for so long so we were happy and it was a successful day. One man was selling beautiful reconditioned iron skillets that were lovely. There was lots of crafts to see and enjoy. There also was a lot of antiques and old trucks and tractors for sale that would look great on a farm. This was a fun day and a great way to check out these charming small towns in South Carolina and see some beautiful southern homes.

This yard sale is only today and tomorrow (May 31 and June 1, 2019) so if you want to check them out, do it tomorrow. They start shutting down between 3 and 4. Follow them to see what the dates will be next year. It is usually the first Friday and Saturday in June. Check them out at: https://www.Peachtree23.com.

Lotts Island RV Park – A Military Campground on Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia

“I have an immoderate passion for water; for the sea, though so vast, so restless, so beyond one’s comprehension; for rivers beautiful, yet fugitive and elusive; but especially for marshes, teeming with all that mysterious life of the creatures that haunt them. A marsh is a whole world with a life of its own, with its own permanent denizens, its passing visitors, its voices, its sounds, its own strange mystery.”

Guy de Maupassant

Location is everything with this campground. Hunter Army Airfield is located along the intra-coastal waterway just outside of Savannah. The campground is located just inside the Rio gate and is quiet and secluded. There are beautiful moss covered trees that offer shade and shelter. There are 16 RV sites with/30,50A/S/C for $22 a night. There is also overflow camping that seems to have no limit to the amount of campers/tents allowed and will cost either $6 a night for a tent or if you plan on sleeping in a van like us, it cost $12 a night. I’m not sure how they figured out that pricing. There is a fourteen day limit here. This campground is for active duty military, National Guard, Reservist, 100% DAV. DoD Civilians at Fort Stewart and Hunter AAF. The campground is open all year.

When we pulled in we tried to find the office but found there was none. I called the number and first got no answer but kept trying. When we finally got them on the phone, we were told to find a spot and put the money in the drop box. We first went to the RV site and drove around. Then we headed out of that area and turned left where we saw a sign saying overflow and a cemetery sign. We pulled back there and found one other camper back there and we picked a spot with a great view and set up our chairs. We got a space in the shade, near a spigot, put our chairs out and enjoyed a glass of wine or two while sitting out that night watching the dark roll in.

We camped in the spring when it was still cool outside and it was lovely. The views are beautiful of the marshes. I can imagine in the summer time the heat and bugs may drive you inside but we picked a great time to camp. There was only running water at our site and no electricity but that worked for us. There was no internet or bathhouse there either; only a porta potty. I must admit I was disappointed in that but since we were only staying a night, it worked out okay.

Right down the road from where we camped was a fishing pier that looks out over the Forrest River. What a great spot for crabbing as well as fishing. There was also a screened in building near the fishing pier with lots of tables that it looked like you could rent for functions. When we were there, they were having some kind of military event. Also in the back of that area nestled in the live oaks were some other screened rooms that would be great during mosquito season for picnicking. We sat at an outside picnic table with our pizza and enjoyed the scenery. This was a lovely picnic area right near the boat ramp and boat docking area that was well shaded by the beautiful live oaks. There are also grills there and a playground.

Hunter Army Airfield offers a nice Commissary, Exchange, Shoppete, and Golf. They also offer rental of grills, a campers, and a variety of boats with inboard/outboard motors. We had a very nice stay and will be back as I said before, location is everything and we love Savannah. They only need to do a little to improve this for all military and veterans to enjoy even more. Putting out additional fire rings at the camp sites would be nice as well as a bath house. I still would recommend this site because it is such an easy ride to get to downtown Savannah and you can’t beat the price. We loved it but we are not picky people. It is roughing it a bit. Come see for yourself.

To make reservations, call 912-315-9554 and know they are closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays and are open Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 1100-1700 and Saturday and Sunday 0700 to 1500.

Bonaventure Cemetery, Thunderbolt, Georgia

“Bonaventure to me is one of the most impressive assemblages of animal and plant creatures I ever met.”

John Muir

Bonaventure Cemetery is one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world. Joe and I strolled the winding roads in the shade of the live oaks draped with Spanish moss looking at some of the masterpieces that were placed on loved ones graves. The branches of the oaks stretched over the roads and seemed to reach towards each other as if they were trying to hold hands. There is nature all around us and the song birds were singing happily while we strolled by. It was like a symphony of bird calls serenading us as we gazed at the all the lovely statues and memorials.

This cemetery has grown to 160 acres that are full of beauty and history. This is one of Savannah’s attractions and is only three miles from downtown Savannah. In the spring, when the azaleas bloom it adds a newly defined display of color that is spectacular. The cemetery was established in 1846 and is located on the Wilmington River on a scenic bluff. We stopped when we got near the river and sat on a bench facing the river and sat quietly taking in the beauty of this spot. Bonaventure means good fortune in Italian and it is just that for the ones who are buried here. You couldn’t ask for a better resting place. Along with the live oaks there are gorgeous Magnolia trees gracing the property and adding shade. The oldest part of the cemetery was designed like a Victorian park but the later design was set up in a way to place more graves but is still beautiful.

John Muir, an environmentalist/naturalist known as “John of the Mountains” and “Father of the National Parks”, stopped at this cemetery while walking his Thousand Mile Walk to Florida and the Gulf. He started his journey in Indianapolis and walked all the way to the Gulf of New Mexico near Tampa. He stayed in the cemetery for six days in October in 1867 while waiting for his money that was delayed to arrive. He wrote a chapter called, “Camping in the Tombs” from his book “A Thousand Mile Walk” all about his stay in the Bonaventure Cemetery. John Muir stated, “The rippling of living waters, the song of birds, the joyous confidence of flowers, the calm, undisturbable grandeur of the oaks, mark this place of graves as one of the Lords most favored abodes of life and light.”

There are many notable people that are buried there but it seems more that anything people are drawn to the grave of six year old, Gracie Watson who died in April 1889 of pneumonia. Her parents so loved her they hired a sculptor, John Walz to do a full size replica of her. People are drawn to her grave and put toys and flowers out for her. It is said that on occasion you can hear a little girls laughter while at her grave site and some people have observed if something is taken that was left for her, you can hear a little girl crying. She is still well loved as you can tell by the crowds that visit her every day.

The book “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” by John Berndt made this cemetery even more famous by using the “Bird Girl” statue on its cover. The “Bird Girl” was in the cemetery for fifty years before she got noticed. In 1997, she attracted such huge crowds, they moved her to the Telfair Museum in Savannah.

Walking around we found soldiers who were buried from the Spanish American War, Civil War, and other wars. Just by chance we drove by a grave site of a family we have known for years, the Buchanan’s and stopped to pay our respect.

This cemetery feels more like a park in most places. It is peaceful even with the crowds roaming just as we were. It is worth stopping in and walking or driving through to see the beauty of this place. We only saw a portion of it but plan on revisiting at a later date. The cemetery is open from 8 to 5 and tours are sometimes given in the cemetery by the Bonaventure Historical Society for free. Check online for their schedule if you are interested in a tour. Check out more information on this stunning cemetery. Www.bonaventurehistorical.org.

#MostBeautifulCemeteryInTheWorld #SavannahCemeteries #InterestingPlacesToSeeSavannah

Memorial Day 2019, Augusta, Georgia

“Everything that we hold precious in this country was made possible by Americans who gave their all. And because of them, our nation is stronger, safer, and will always a shining beacon of freedom for the rest of the world.”

Claudia Pemberton, Author

Years ago, Joe and I started the tradition of going to the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home, (aka Blue Goose) on 15th Street in downtown Augusta for there beautiful and moving Memorial Day Ceremony. This nursing home was dedicated in 1969 and is used by war veterans that served on active duty between January 31, 1955 and May 7, 1975. Today is a beautiful but hot day where the temperature will reach a hundred degrees by late afternoon but this morning is only a balmy 90 degrees. As we walk up to Blue Goose, we notice how beautiful and well taken care of the landscaping is with gorgeous flowers blooming brilliantly in the sun. We were guided through the lobby and greeted warmly by all the workers and volunteers we saw. They handed each of us a program, small American Flag, a poppy. and a peppermint.

Walking to our seats, we passed many veterans sitting in wheelchairs holding the American Flags and wearing their hats from whatever conflict they were in. We greeted each and everyone we passed, thanking them for their service. It is very moving seeing all these Veterans in different states of aging and illness.

Memorial Day is a Federal Holiday in the United States to honor and remember those who have died while serving in our Armed Forces and is observed the last Monday of May. This is a day to visit cemeteries to place flowers and flags near their tombstones and go to memorials in honor of those who have passed. At one time it was called “Decoration Day” since during the Civil War time the women would decorated the graves out of love of those who had served.

We always get there early so we can get a seat in the shade, so when we entered the Charles Esposito Courtyard it wasn’t crowded yet. First thing we noticed was the Army band wasn’t there as they had been before, but a small band was there to play. When we looked at the program we saw the band was from Augusta University and was their Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Wycliffe Gordon, a well known trombone player from this area. What a treat. We had gone to a Wycliffe Gordon concert before in Aiken and knew how talented he was. What a nice surprise for us. Then I realized one of the members of the band, Tyler Milford was a member of the band Josh, our son is in and see him near every week at our house for band practice. We were excited about that and seeing them preform.

When we sat down, Wycliffe Gordon came over since he had his instrument cases set on a bleacher near us and we spoke to him. We found he is not just a great musician but also a great guy. He went over and started the music. They were amazing.

Carlton Deese, the Executive Director of this home spoke first. He announced the Fort Gordon Joint Service Color Guard who carried in the flags and raise them to half staff. It was beautifully done. Then Julie Eveker, the Associate Director read the roll call of the names of those who died here over the past year who had lived at this home. God bless them.

Next was the twenty-one gun salute and "Taps". That is such a moving experience hearing the guns fire in harmony and then dead silence while "Taps" is being played. How many times before has that bugle call been played. How many times has the Twenty-one gun salute been preformed in the past as the highest honor a nation can render to one who has served. So sad to think of all those that gave their lives so we may be free. God bless each and every one of them. They are all heroes.

Mayor Hardie Davis gave a short but nice speech since he was under the weather. Then Colonel John S.Chu, the Commander of the 706th MI Group and NSA/CSS gave a good speech stating he wanted to keep it short as of the heat. He wanted everyone to know that Memorial Day honors those men and women who can not longer put on their uniform and have given their all.

Then the band played patriotic music including the medley of all the armed forces. Then everyone bowed their head in prayer. The ceremony ended with the band playing God Bless America and everyone singing. It was a beautiful memorial with a few tears shed by all. To this day, I can not hear the Navy song without tears thinking of my father or the Army song, fondly thinking of our time in the service.

Everyone of us has probably known someone who has died while serving our country. We have known many.  Please spend a few minutes thinking of them and sending them prayers on this Memorial Day.  What can you say about someone who is willing to give their life to protect you.   A simple thank you and prayers doesn't seem enough.     Every night, on our front porch, Joe plays "Taps" with a 1941 bugle that was given to him by a fellow veteran and our dear friend, Willie who has passed away. This bugle has been through a lot and is twisted, beaten up, and bent just like some of our veterans but still sounds beautiful and is cherished. When he finishes, he salutes and sends up prayers to all those we have lost.

Entrance to Magnolia Cemetery

Confederate Officer Graves

Union Soldiers graves

Confederate Soldiers graves

Confederate Soldier

When we left there, we headed to beautiful Magnolia Cemetery which was established in 1818 and is  also downtown Augusta to pay our respected to the Confederate graves and the few Union graves that are there. We met a very nice man from Evans who was an historian and was dress in a Confederate outfit. We were all there to pay our respects. It was a pleasure meeting him and learning a little bit about the cemetery.

Confederate Officers graves

In Flanders Fields

Poem by:  Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

MD (1872-1918)

Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, through poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

           #GeorgiaWarVeteranNursingHomeMemorialDay    # MemorialDayCeremoniesGeorgia

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