THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTNING - VERY VERY ... PEACEFUL

After a busy week of wrapping gifts and decorating all sorts of things around the house, we decided to get out and stretch our legs on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon.  Now, I was born and raised in South Carolina and didn't move away until I was 15.  I understand winter in the south.  I had done it for a long time growing up and I am on my third year back in the warmth. However, being able to go for a bike ride on December 6th with a t-shirt on and not even getting slightly cool is a truly remarkable thing.  I wouldn't trade that for scraping snow off my windows again!  The Savannah summer and I may not have the same great relationship, but that's something to worry about later.
Wes had recently gone on a longer ride on his own and in his attempt to not overlap anything too much he ended up in Thunderbolt.  It's right before the islands start on the way out to Tybee Island.  We decided to head out there.  Wes was especially excited to see what kind of pictures we could come up with since the scenery is pretty amazing.

 After Thunderbolt, we headed over to Bonaventure Cemetery.  We have been by a few times before but you can never get through everything and it really is a pretty place.  Every time we go I always swing by this one gravestone that just draws me in.  The statue is super detailed but also really creepy.  Look at her eyes!  

Of course we got hungry and bailed on taking pictures at Bonaventure to swing over to Coaches Corner for a late lunch before getting ready for the Savannah Bicycle Campaign Christmas party.  There was even a bike themed tree!

A WINTER WONDERLAND IN SAVANNAH

We were really excited to hear that the Savannah Holiday Lighting Parade was going on.  Wes and I realized that neither one of us had been to a proper parade in Savannah.  With the amount of road closures I have been a part of due to parades, I'm surprised that I haven't ever gone to at least one.  It was on Saturday night running from River Street up to Broughton so we grabbed the bikes and looked for a good spot.  I'm glad we decided to watch it on Broughton.  They have put up all of these amazing string lights over the street and Christmas trees everywhere.  Truly a winter wonderland in the south.

I took tons of pictures, mostly of Savannah's take on Christmas which is only mildly hilarious.  All of these jeeps covered in lights and presents and mud (these guys are affectionately called the Lowcountry Mud Rats); Tybee's chapter of the wonderful Parrot Heads; Armored vehicles topped with Christmas trees and a jolly chorus of children hanging out of the back. It really was a great sight to see.

We really had a great time seeing everything a Savannah parade has to offer.  There was a great turnout and everyone was in a festive mood.  I've got to say, a night like that really is a great way to get into the holiday spirit.  I'm so sorry I have taken so long to make a post; I've been busy getting ready for the holidays and I've been extremely busy being lazy lately so that could have something to do with it as well.  Anyway, hope you enjoy!