Lighthouse

This past week, we visited Tybee Island, just outside of Savannah, Georgia. Tybee is a barrier island, and there is a lot of history associated with it. From revolutionary war times, through the Civil War, and during World War I, the impact of the military was felt on the residents of the area. Even today, the Coast Guard has a significant presence.

Over time, several lighthouses have protected those at sea, the first of which eventually succumbed to being too close to the ocean. The last one, above, was built inland, and remains today as a part of the local museum. The site includes refurbished buildings that housed lighthouse keepers and their families. Nowadays, of course, lighthouses are not really necessary; technology keeps ships safely away from danger. But the public (including me!) still enjoys climbing to the top of these structures and looking out over the ocean and surrounding area.

One of the pleasures of retirement, and of traveling in particular, is the chance to meet new people and visit with interesting strangers. Their stories often demonstrate the very different experiences we have. One of the volunteer docents at the Tybee Island Lighthouse was a gentleman whose grandfather had been the lighthouse keeper. Jack wore a sunburn, a red polo shirt, and a big smile, and seemed pleased to tell us about his childhood at the lighthouse. How wonderful that he and his family were still a part of this community, and willing to share insights with tourists like us.

We also spent some time at nearby Fort Pulaski, which was built to protect the colonies from the Spanish who had settled in what is now Florida. The fort was taken over by the confederates, but they were forced to surrender after the Union army’s superior weapons crushed part of the fort’s walls.

We visited historic Savannah, and it was very pleasant. But my favorite part of the trip was hanging out on the beach. The coast of the Atlantic Ocean is very different from the Gulf Coast. Water temperatures are cooler, the winds are stronger, and the rip currents are dangerous. We walked along the water’s edge, and found some shells and just a few jellyfish. Seagulls and pipers skittered on the sand, and the waves pounding on the shore were soothing. And a visit to the ocean would not be complete without lots of sand everywhere! Which of course we took home as souvenirs.