Savannah Rock 'N Roll Excursion, Pt. 2

It was the perfect day for a race; cooler temperatures and the sun was just beginning to come out as everyone started to line up in their corrals. This picture was obviously shot VERY early in the race, as I am not even sweating yet.



Flash forward to me coming across the finish line, and it's definitely a different story. My goal was 1:45; I was pretty much on target, but by mile 9, I knew I was losing ground. Still, by the time I saw the finish line, I knew I could still earn a personal best score if I picked up the pace a bit, which is exactly what I did.



I finished at 1:48:37, shaving 2 minutes off my previous record. It was a good day!



Now that the race/training was over, it was time to stuff my face. I was sick of dieting!



Clary's Cafe is a local favorite, located on the corner of Jones Street and Abercorn Street, and just a few blocks from The Hamilton-Turner Inn (my feet were very grateful). The decor includes a stained glass window of The Bird Girl, originally located in Bonaventure Cemetery and made famous by the photo of her on the cover of John Berendt's book, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil."



Nothing but delicious comfort food here, including this tasty tomato bisque soup.



Chicken salad on a croissant with a side of fries...what a delicious victory meal!



Surprisingly enough, there was a fair amount of walking after lunch. I felt like I needed to work my meal off, so I stopped by to visit The Old Sorrel-Weed House in Madison Square.



It is a beautiful historic old home that is in a sad state of disrepair.



"Restored" by a misguided owner who ran short of money, it is an odd mix of poorly chosen modern light fixtures, cracked walls, and other questionable choices that have put this home in danger. No Southern Home would be complete without a painting of Robert E. Lee above the mantle.



This wretched light fixture hurts so bad.





This gorgeous sideboard also needs some TLC, apparent when one takes a closer look.



Moving on to dinner, it was time to head to Reynolds Square, passing the historic Lucas Theater along the way.



A statue of John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, holds court over the square.



Wesley was the minister of a newly formed Savannah parish, but jeopardized his position when he let his feelings get in the way. Wesley became involved with Sophia Hopkey, but ended the relationship on the advice of a Moravian minister. Hopkey felt scorned, saying that Wesley had promised to marry her. So, she found another hubby. Wesley subsequently refused Hopkey and her hubby communion, causing them to file suit against Wesley. Wesley stood trial and faced the accusations made by Hopkey. The proceedings ended in a mistrial, but Wesley's rep was still ruined. He returned to England a beaten man. Just one of the many fascinating people that Savannah claims as its own.



The Pink House, one of my very favorite Savannah Restaurants.



It derived its name because the red color of the bricks bled through the light colored stucco coating, giving it a pink tint.



It also has a reputation of being haunted. The bar in the basement is supposedly one of the hot spots at this place.



Whatever the story is, I can assure you that the food is delicious, starting off with this BLT salad: bacon, lettuce, and fried green tomato.



And finally, the entree I'd been craving since my last trip to Savannah two years ago: The Infamous Fried Pork Chop, served with more fried green tomatoes (at my request, as I'm not a fan of collard greens) and mac and cheese.



After dinner, it was time to schlep it on over to Club One, where the awning looks as if someone took a magic marker to it.



If you've seen the movie version of "Midnight In The Garden of Good Evil," I am so sorry. It doesn't begin to do justice to Berendt's story. However, it does have one glimmer of fun with the appearance of The Lady Chablis, the southern drag queen that plays herself.



Fortunately, she happened to be in town, and I was able to catch her entertaining show at Club One.



I can assure you that she is just about one of the only reasons to go to Club One. The rest of the show was pretty nasty.



A few shots of the Hamilton-Turner before I crashed for the night. My pillow was calling to me!



Love the real gas lamps; just like being on Main Street U.S.A.!



See more Savannah photos on my Savannah web pages.

Savannah Rock 'N Roll Excursion, Pt. 1

I definitely subscribe to the "kill two birds (or more) with one stone" figurative saying, and have enjoyed combining racing with travel. My most recent excursion was doing the Rock 'N' Roll Half Marathon (my first) while visiting one of my very favorite cities, Savannah, Georgia. There was something very comforting about flying over this wondrous historic city, knowing that I'd be enjoying its park-like city squares momentarily.

Whenever I go, I always stay at the Hamilton-Turner Inn, located in one of Savannah's most picturesque squares, Lafayette.



For you Faux-D© fans, here's a shot of The Hamilton-Turner Inn:



and a regular one for those of you who might suffer from motion sickness! Built in 1873, it is one of the most beautiful homes in the area. The couple who own it, Gay and Jim Dunlop, make guests feel as if they are family.



Each room is named after a famous Savannah-ian; this time, I stayed in the Isaiah Davenport room.



In 1956, threatened by the wrecking ball, Davenport's home was saved by a group of concerned citizens who were tired of the city's history being paved over by parking lots. It was this salvation that spearheaded the pride that resulted in Savannah's restoration as well.



Back to the Inn...here are a few photos of the Davenport Room:



The Dunlops did an amazing job of restoring the Hamilton-Turner, giving it every modern amenity without sacrificing the home's historic charm.



I loved the private entrance, which opened up onto the square.



After getting situated, I made my way to River Street, where a little tugboat transported the runners across the River to check-in for the race.





Set-up like a carnival, the expo was quite lively. I got my bib number and souvenir t-shirt and exited as quickly as possible. I wanted to explore Savannah with my new camera, since they had yet to meet each other!



Where better to try out my camera than St. John's Cathedral, also located on Lafayette Square.



More Faux-D©:



Although somewhat imposing on the outside, the Cathedral is very serene (yet ornate) on the inside.









Before I knew it, twas time for a little carb-loading as the next morning's race was quickly approaching. Thanks to the recommendation of my cab driver, I headed a few blocks down Abercorn Street and tried Leoci's Trattoria for the first time.



What a gem this place was! I'd never heard of it before, although it had been here for quite awhile.



A delicious beet salad:



and of course the required pasta for a little carb loading. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal here, and felt 100% ready for a fantastic race the next day!



More to come tomorrow!

See more Savannah photos on my Savannah web pages.