Jekyll Island, GA
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Clear, 72°
“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” ~Mae West
Charleston was another beautiful city and it was sad to not spend more time there but that is always another reason to return for another visit later. Driving southward toward Savannah it was decided not to go to one of my favorite places to eat lunch in the area on Tybee Island called “The Crab Shack”. Their low-country boil is one of the best and the ambiance is great with outdoor seating on a wharf/dock like setting right on the water which makes for a great meal. But I still wanted fresh seafood so I knew driving down I95 just before Brunswick was a place. As the exit came into view the restaurant came into view and it was closed, probably only doing dinner this time of year so we kept on driving knowing there would be something else traveling life’s highways and sure enough there was a sign saying fresh seafood several exits further down the highway.
The sign said turn left and driving a little way down that road a couple miles off the interstate another sign said turn right just before the Darien bridge. I could tell they had clearly marked the way to this fresh seafood. Until I got to the bridge, turn left or right? No clear signage here and either side could possibly house a restaurant on the water as there were boats in both directions. I turned left drove a short way and realized I had picked the wrong direction. Not easy to find a place to turn the RV around. With a little effort I was headed back to the intersection, crossed it and just down the road was a sign to turn in to “Skipper’s Fish Camp and Oyster Bar”. Found a place to park out of everyone’s way and the wood-beamed building came into view with the main dining inside on the left with a small patio for outdoor eating and up the stairs on the right was a bar with elevated covered deck looking out over the water.
The staff was friendly and I knew this was going to be a great meal even before seeing the menu. One thing about the Southern eating experience in these small towns with fresh seafood, the locale on the water, possibly a bridge within view and boats all around it makes for great dining. As expected, it was a great meal of fried shrimp and blackened shrimp and grits - a great southern delicacy. There were five other groups of people eating and catching bits and pieces of the conversations was interesting observing people’s demeanor. One lady from Philadelphia was loud and snooty as she complained about almost everything. Where to sit, her drink, the breeze, no breeze, her water not having enough ice; the food she did not say anything about. She was the only distraction from a really great meal.
It was a few miles going a different direction back to the road leading to Jekyll Island and the campground. You turn just before going over one of the big suspension bridges on the road leading across the water to the Island.
Here is a little Southern history about Jekyll Island, which is located off the southeast coast of Georgia. Located just across the water from its nearby neighbor St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island boasts over eight miles of white sandy beaches and an amazing degree of privacy and protected natural habitat.
It is one of the Sea Islands and one of the Golden Isles of Georgia barrier islands. The island is owned by the State of Georgia and run by a self-sustaining, self-governing body and maintains a strict conservation clause which limits future development to preserve wildlife and protect the scenic beauty that is home to a variety of animal species and magnificent Southern Oak trees with Spanish moss draping from their branches. Sixty five percent of Jekyll Island will always remain natural and wild, ensuring that this unique getaway will continue for generations to come. A popular tourist destination, the island has beaches frequented by vacationers.
Jekyll Island is renowned for its landmark Historic District, termed the "Millionaire's Village" long ago, with its 240-acre site containing 33 historic structures, including the Jekyll Island Club Hotel and surrounding cottages that were once home to some of America's most wealthy and prominent citizens, including the Crane family, the Pulitzers, Morgan’s, Vanderbilt’s, Rockefellers, and Goodyear clan to name but a few. These privileged few used Jekyll Island as a hunting and golf retreat, spending lazy summers here and building these historic homes that have been lovingly restored to their former glory. Guided tours of the Landmark Historic District are available.
There are many bike trails, beaches and sandbars to walk, and Summer Waves - a water park, are among the active attractions. The historic district features numerous impressive and ambitious buildings from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The island is also full of wildlife, consisting of many different mammals, reptiles, and birds living and breeding in the island's inland marshes.
Little known facts about Jekyll Island: several historic moments took place on the island, including the first meeting of the Federal Reserve and the first transcontinental telephone call.
Pulling into the campground we were met with by a young girl who started the check in process - which was quite different from other campgrounds. Being given a card and told to proceed to the next group of people was a little uncommon. What we didn’t know was the Southern Vintage Trailer Show was happening this weekend on Jekyll Island - its third year at this campground. They will open the show on Saturday to the public and money raised will go to a local charity. They pretty much commandeered most of the campground by setting up about 100 trailers that represented various eras spanning from the 1940s to the 1970s. We were lucky to get a spot and were pleasantly surprised to find them here as they will hold four days of events with only one being open to the public.
It was great spending the evening and morning walking around talking with those who had remodeled (many from the wheels up) their trailer back to the specific time they were manufactured. The group has been traveling around for eight years, visiting various regional locations. And over time, the membership has grown exponentially with more and more trailers getting into the act.
The Miss Daisy trailer from Highpoint, North Carolina is a 1968 Shasta trailer that Jody and Joanna had refurbished in a yellow and white theme complete with awning and lights.
A man after my own heart, John and his wife Shirley sported an Island themed rig complete with Flamingos, lighted Palm Trees, and Karaoke boom box for night time shenanigans. John was a hoot from South Carolina and seemed to know everyone as people kept stopping by to say hello, talk, or invite him and his wife over for dinner and drinks. His trailer was across the street from the RV which seemed a little out of place, even though it has been completely remodeled and is a 2000 model, almost vintage I guess.
There was a 1969 Frolic trailer complete with a Jymsha tiki bar outside and a 1967 Scotty Highlander from Brooks, Georgia that Sam and Ann Smith proudly showed at this year’s bash. They called their trailer the “Sadie Rose”.
A nice couple from McMinnville, Tennessee, Richard and Alene Petigo had a 1962 Shasta Travel Mate trailer. She is a teacher and said these gatherings are like family with everyone getting together several times a year.
There was a 1958 Century belonging to the Rouses from Greenwood, South Carolina a green and white vintage model.
A couple from Georgetown, Kentucky had their 1972 “Fam Lee Liner” an orange and white trailer.
The trailer next to the RV was totally decked out, a themed trailer, “The Long, Long Trailer” starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. It was a 1953 New Moon trailer from Charleston, South Carolina. Joe and Sharon Hardy had restored it to the “original” yellow and chrome color and had it decked out with window flower boxes. Only three left in existence, one “modernized” and the other barely had the frame left. It was Sharon’s dream to rebuild this back to the original style. She even had the movie poster on the front and in the morning when she was outside preparing breakfast, she was dressed in the 50s style, complete with apron – the perfect hostess.
All in all it was a great surprise to find this going on while on the way to visit my mama and it was fun to spend time with all these great people who love these vintage trailers. It seemed everyone was happy being in a simpler time during these rallies.
My brother Ron called just as we were pulling out of the campground and in typical Southern style, gave me his recommendation for a lunch stop on St. Simons Island not far away and an easy stop on the way to mama. He suggested Southern Soul Barbecue on the island which he stops by anytime he is in the area. Arriving during the busy lunch hour I could see the outside tables were packed with people laughing, talking, and eating.
Looking at the place, it is a converted gas station right at a main intersection with sparse parking and I’m thinking why would he send me to a place with little to no parking and I am in a 30 foot RV? I turned in just past the place into another business and made my way toward the back where a big delivery truck was parked and thought, “Ok, I can pull in next to him.” As I started to position to pull in, there was a large sign prohibiting parking. So, I pulled past this spot and figured I would have to drive a block or so away to find a place to park the beast. As I pull around from the back, a guy is getting into a car that parked right next to the side of the building. I waited a few seconds and my parking spot magically opened before me and I was able to park in the best parking spot for the place.
The food, featured in Guy Fieri’s show Diner’s, Drive-in’s and Dives on the Food Network lived up to the hype. Good Southern barbecue made just right with the side fixins’. Whether it was a pulled pork sandwich, brisket, or plate everything was excellently prepared and you could see the smokehouse next door going so the smells added to the eating enjoyment. Thanks, to my brother Ron, for the lunch tip as it did not disappoint.
From there it was about an hour’s drive to mama’s house and she was eagerly awaiting the arrival saying she had been looking out her window every few minutes since lunch time. Gotta love her every day!
Traveling Life’s Highways from Jacksonville Beach, until the next one!
*Vintage trailer and other photos will be displayed on the Traveling Life’s Highways Facebook page.