Wednesday, May 27
Kilkenny – Savannah
27 nm – 4.5 hours underway
We left Kilkenny expecting a pretty day on the water. What we didn’t expect was just how empty it would feel.
For nearly 80 miles, the ICW stretched out in front of us with almost nothing along the shoreline – no houses, no docks, no signs of development. Just marshes, winding rivers, and wildlife to break the silence. It was a nice break from timing bridges, dodging traffic and no real decisions besides following Bob’s tracks – other than Hell’s Gate. Hell’s Gate is a brief pass that is notorious as one of the shallowest and most treacherous stretches around the ICW. Thankfully, we times the tides well and came through without an issue.
Hell’s Gate Crossing
By the time the outskirts of Savannah came into view, it felt like re-entering civilization. We traded the quiet of the marsh for the mayhem of the brick roads in Savannah.
First stop – PS Tavern – where we were treated like POS’s. It was during our stop there that Heather panicked at whether we had left some windows open that Wimbi might escape from. A quick Uber back to the boat confirmed that she was safe and had barely left her perch. After Heather’s nerves were calmed, it was back to Savannah for the evening.
Second first stop – The Rail Pub. Classic Savannah dive bar – drinks were cheap, vibe was unapologetically snarky while being welcoming. From there we made our way to Service Brewing – talk about a total contrast. Service Brewing is a veteran-founded, veteran-run brewery – clean and modern. The weather wasn’t exactly cooperating – so we bounced from awning to awning and made our way to the lobby of the JW Marriott.
This turned out to be one of the highlights of the evening. It’s not just a lobby – but practically a museum. Massive geodes, fossils and even dinosaur bones are woven into the space. It feels as if you’ve made your way into a natural history museum.
Following that, we settled into a cozy wine bar for a flight – bubbles for Heather (such a surprise) and a curated flight for Kevin – two whites, two reds – along with a great charcuterie board.
But what night would be complete without cheese fries – if you know Heather, you know. Poe’s Tavern fit the bill with crispy, hand cut fries, loaded with cheese and bacon. We ordered salads – but somehow those ended up in to go containers.
And tomorrow – we hope for state #3 – South Carolina.
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