Savannah Humane Society

After visiting Oatland Island Wildlife Center, we decided to visit animals in need of help. We headed over to the Savannah Humane Society.

This well-kept facility is completely sustained by private funds. If you can't adopt a pet, at least shop in their Thrift Store.

We found several resident felines looking for a home.
There has to be at least one you can't resist...

These professional runway models posed picture-perfect to prove they are ready for your love and affection.

Even odd looking cats deserve a good home.

Me...me...

Another coverboy...

Hurry up...I'm sleepy.

Boo!

Who are you?

Let me out of here!

For cats and kittens just like these, visit your nearest shelter or humane society.

As Bob Barker says, "Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered."

The solution to the ever-increasing pet population in both shelters worldwide and the wild is to spay and neuter. Remember...animals don't have control over this...PEOPLE do.

3 to 4 million cats and dogs are euthanized every year in animal shelters worldwide due to the negligence of humans who refuse to spay and neuter their pets. Do the right thing...

View a few of the cats at the Savannah Humane Society in the second half of this video.
For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/may/savannah-ga-day-1/ pictures 91-117.

To be continued...

Oatland Island Wildlife Center of Savannah

Today, our neverending quest to see animals found us at Oatland Island Wildlife Center of Savannah.

Doug attempts to locate wildlife at the Wetlands Observation Pier.

Oatland Island's buildings date from the early 1900's and were, in order, a retirement home, then a public health service hospital, then a laboratory for research by the Center for Disease Control. The CDC left the facility in the early 1970's and the Oatland Island Education Center was born shortly thereafter.

Did you know that the temperature of the alligator eggs inside this nest mound will determine whether the baby alligators are male or female? 91 degrees or higher results in males. 85 degrees or cooler will result in females. Temperatures in between result in a mixture!

Oatland Island Wildlife Center is essentially a hiking zoo. Hiking trails, often looking like the one pictured below, end at the next animal exhibit.

This walkway through the marshlands is plagued with homeless bums.

This bobcat would love to have a bum for breakfast.

This bald eagle was somewhat confused when we recorded his call and played it back for him.

Marlon reminisces about his time in the egg.

That turkey won't stop trying to touch my feathers!

Got an itch? This fence will have to do!

Chatfield was so skinny when we first found him at the state park. Now look at him.

Do you have any tasty shoelaces I might eat?

The grounds have 2 cabins which date to the 1830's and are the setting of many of the Center's special events.

This cool lookout tower was not in the proper condition to climb. Hope they renovate it in the future.

Check out Marlon's video of Oatland Island Wildlife Center of Savannah below.

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/may/savannah-ga-day-1/ pictures 1-90.

To be continued...

Thomas' RV Park, Hardeeville, South Carolina

Next we headed up toward Savannah, Georgia.

Marlon was a little concerned about all the eighteen-wheelers passing on the highway. They often pass within inches, making for a nail-biting ride for everybody.

See Sammy bite her nails.

South Carolina welcomes us to the The Palmetto State.

Just a few miles over the South Carolina border, we find Thomas' RV Park in Hardeeville, South Carolina. They had plenty of wide open sites, good for satellite access.

They also had sites with trees for those so inclined.

We've seen a few of these in the last several months...the new Smart Cars. Great concept...where do you put the groceries?

For a few more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/may/thomas-rv-parks-and/ .

To be continued...

Amelia Island, Florida Finale

We finished our day on Amelia Island by first driving through Fort Clinch State Park to see the camping area of the park.

Then we went to see Amelia Island's Historic American Beach.

American Beach was founded in the early 1930s by Abraham Lincoln Lewis as a weekend getaway and vacation spot for the African-American community of Jacksonville, Florida. During this period, beaches were still racially segregated.

Following the passage of The Civil Rights Act in 1964 beaches were open to all races and American Beach saw its popularity diminish in favor of beaches closer to home.

This was the sight of Evans' Rendezvous. This nightclub, which operated at American Beach from about 1948 to 1980, welcomed artists such as Cab Calloway and Louis Armstrong. Fund-raising efforts are ongoing to raise the money to restore the building.

These sand dunes are actually located a few blocks from the water in a residential neighborhood.
Driving on American Beach looks like fun...but don't attempt it unless you have four-wheel drive!

For a few more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/may/amelia-island/ pictures 166-184.

To be continued...

Pt. 3-Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, Amelia Island

Back at the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, it was time for the Blessing of the Fleet and Best Decorated Shrimp Boat Contest.

1st place for Best Decorated Shrimp Boat went to the Miss Cheryl Ann.

2nd place went to the Island Girl.

One of the festival participants offered to pose with Marlon for a quick picture.

We wonder how much wet water would cost...

Oh, the nostalgia of the Volkswagen Bus. It is always neat to see one again. In Australia and Brazil, this vehicle is referred to as a "kombi".

Thus, the opening line of the 1980's #1 song "Down Under" by Men at Work, makes a little more sense to me now-"Traveling in a fried-out Kombi, On a hippie trail, head full of zombie."

At least now I know what a Kombi is, even if I don't understand the rest...

The Tabby House, built in 1885, is located at 27 S. 7th in the Fernandina Beach Historic District and is one of many buildings in the area on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

As you can see below, the exterior consists of crushed oyster shell and poured Portland cement.

Greetings from a pirate long dead.

This house, built in 1856, was a small cottage until Dr. W.T. Waas decided to make it into a not-so-small cottage at the end of the 19th century.

There were two stages for live entertainment at the festival featuring many different music styles.

The Fernandina Beach Post Office was built in 1912.

Florida House is Florida's oldest hotel, currently operating as a bed and breakfast inn.

Before we left the Shrimp Festival for the day, we picked up some Scooby snacks.

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/may/amelia-island/ pictures 135-165.

To be continued...