Travel Journal – January 25, 2016

It’s been beautiful weather here in Arizona the past few days. Seems like it’s getting back to normal. I’ve gone out a few times for dinner and shopping with members of my family. Saturday night two of my grandchildren spent the night, which is always full of fun. Before you know it I will be once again be pulling the Coach, leaving the RV Park where I’ve been since October. Then we will be on the road again, leaving some of my family for a few months as I travel west, then north.

The beginning of the new year has not disappointed. I feel so busy though, I don’t know how I ever had time to work? It’s now been five months since I was in Savannah and visited Fort Jackson where the cannons once again came to life with a roar.

Travel Journal – August 15, 2015

Reflection: Visiting Fort Jackson

Old Fort Jackson

The weather has been warm and humid here in South Carolina-Georgia. No surprise for this time of year and today is no exception. After breakfast and my morning ritual with Jagger, I say goodbye to Jagger and once again drive into Savannah. This time however, I pass through the city and work my way down to the Savannah river. My destination was Fort Jackson.

The Oldest Brick Structure

Fort Jackson is the oldest brick structure on the East Coast. Built in 1808 and was used shortly after completion in the “War of 1812”. The fort was built over an earthen battery that was used during the American Revolutionary War. After the “War of 1812” the fort was re-fortified and used during the Civil War, where the Confederate Army protected Savannah. From 1884 to 1905, Fort Jackson was known as Fort Oglethorpe. The U.S. military didn’t use it that much during that time. Our guide told us during WWI there were long guns installed here, but I haven’t seen that anywhere else. In 1924 the fort was sold to the city of Savannah to be developed into a museum and park. That work was not completed until 1970 and is now owned by the State of Georgia.

Entering Old Fort Jackson from the land side you enter crossing a wooden bridge over a moat that encircles the fort, even on the river side. Immediately on entering I was amazed at the brick work. Our guide told us the bricks were made by slaves using a special recipe that has been lost and cannot be duplicated. The structure we were also told was also built by the slaves. They did some amazing work, still standing after the wars that scarred this once state of the art fort.

The Cannon Erupts

At the end of our guides’ presentation he prepared the cannon to be fired showing us the process that was used several hundred years ago. Once the cannon was readied he instructed us to cover our ears and open our mouth slightly to prevent a rupture of the eardrum by the pressure wave created by the explosion.

When the cannon fired you could definitely feel it. Pretty impressive. Afterwards I enjoyed a leisurely walk around the grounds, listening to the ghosts, trying to comprehend what once transpired here. Both the good and the violent history of this impressive fort.

Until next time, Safe Travels…Gary

More Photos: Old Fort Jackson