2 Jun - Tybee Lighthouse, Fort Screven, Fort Pulaski, Cockspur Island Lighthouse, Dead Truck!

 

This morning we drove about 45 minutes to Tybee Island to see the Tybee Lighthouse, Fort Screven which is right across the street, Fort Pulaski which is on the way back and Cockspur Island Lighthouse which is near Fort Pulaski.

The Tybee Lighthouse was first constructed in 1773 and was the third lighthouse on Tybee Island.  The Confederates burned it in 1861 and it was rebuilt in 1867 after the war.  The bottom 60 ft of this structure are original and the remainder is from the reconstruction in 1867.  

First stop was the Tybee Lighthouse which opened at 0900 hrs.  We arrived about 0850 hrs and the parking lot was already busy.  We made our way into the gift shop where you buy admission wristbands and it was lined up outside.

Doreen was able to get her lighthouse passport stamped there and she bought a tee shirt also.  

From there we made our way around the grounds which is very well preserved.  Usually there is a keepers quarters and an oil house but there were first and second assistant keeper's quarters, a garage and a kitchen building.  

Keeper's garage - 1936 (now the gift shop)

Summer Kitchen - 1812

Head Keeper's Cottage - 1881

Fuel Storage Building - 1890

First Assistant Keeper's Cottage - 1885

Second Assistant Keeper's Cottage - 1861

Doreen in front of the 145 ft tall Tybee Lighthouse

178 steps to the top!

A view of Fort Screven

A view of the lighthouse grounds and buildings

Heading back down

By the time we finished up at the lighthouse there was a waiting line to climb extending clear out the door, in the heat and humidity of the morning.  We are glad we got here early and got our morning climb in before the crowds gathered!

After the climb we walked across the street and visited Fort Screven along with Battery Garland and Battery Brumby.  This served as part of America's Coastal Defense system.  There were huge cannons mounted there and smoke-less powder stored in the magazines below.  In 1962 a Tybee history museum was created there.  

A view of the lighthouse across the street

The rounded area is where the gun was mounted

We then headed back towards Savannah but part way back we turned and entered the Fort Pulaski National Monument. 

Across the bridge we parked and walked towards the visitor center, but it was still closed due to COVID, so it turned into basically a self-guided tour. 

The bridge crossing the demilune

The fort surrounded by water

Inside the walls of the fort

Cannons protected the fort

The trail to the Cockspur Island Lighthouse was closed due to construction, but we were able to see and photograph it from the top of the fort.  This lighthouse is now cared for by the National Park Service.

This is what the lighthouse looks like up close

This is our picture from the fort.  

The temperature and humidity were building with storms moving in, so we decided the head back into town.  As we headed towards the truck I hit the remote start and did not hear it activate, so when we got to the truck I tried to start it normally and all we heard was clicks!  I knew right away it was my batteries.  Diesel trucks have two heavy duty batteries and these were originals (2013) so they were living on borrowed time.  Luckily there was another guy parked fairly close to us and I had jumper cables, so with a quick jump we were started and on our way.  I had planned to go to the local Chrysler Jeep RAM dealer for an il change this afternoon anyway, so Doreen called and they worked my in.  

I dropped Doreen off at the campground and I headed to the dealership.  I was there for several hours but they verified the batteries indeed had some bad cells so they replaced them and did my oil change, plus they checked every over real well.  All is good!  As I waited there, Doreen texted pictures of the downpour at the campground.  She also sent this video of a good sized gator cruising the shoreline just out from our RV!

She also spotted one swimming across the lake.  

Tonight we ate at the lakeside restaurant.  Doreen ordered a Peach Sangria cocktail and I had a margarita. 

We started with gator bites for an appetizer (how fitting, huh?!) and they were delicious!  We both had wraps for dinner.

Tomorrow we travel to Hilton Head Island (rain predicted for all day) to visit Doreen's aunt Willie.