Day 26
It rained all around us again

The terrain still rolled today and everyone is about ready to see the flat approach to the sea tomorrow.  The lumber industry is big in this area as it has been ever since we left Arkansas.  We've passed several paper mills along the way and we see logging trucks even when we are out in the country.  We are still seeing a lot of cotton fields albeit hard to recognize this time of year, and we are seeing more pecan orchards, peanut farms, and small towns as we get closer to Savannah.  Many of these areas were large plantations in the late 1800s, but now many of them have been parceled out to smaller farm lots and some are used as pasture for horses and cattle.  

Today we provided the group with a real southern treat...RC Cola and Moon Pies.  You just can't say you've experienced the south if you've never had an RC Cola and a Moon Pie.  Some think the real defining moment of a southern experience is when you eat grits, but no...it's RC Cola and Moon Pies.  I'm not sure the Brits were too fond of the treat, but they politely partook.  James is still looking for the perfect tea, but I told him if he didn't like southern sweet tea, he was out of luck.

We had our second SAG stop (lunch) at a farm house about 2 miles out of Glenwood GA.  The farm is owned by Dick and Susan Sohn who were kind enough to allow us to set up right in the middle of their property and by their house.  On our first trip through a few years ago, Susan gave Barbara an overview of the history of their homestead.  She explained her farm used to be an old cotton plantation and the house was the master's home.  On the plantation, they had 38 "Little Houses" that housed the tenant farmers.  To each "Little House" had a team of mules and a wagon to farm the plantation.  When the cotton season was in full swing, all the 38 wagons would be in a line to the gin.  The master paid all the tenants in "chits" to use in the plantation commissary.  The tenants bought all they needed, or at least all they could get, from the commissary which was the building we used for our lunch.  Sounds like a tough life to me.  This year, the Sohn's were not home when we were there.  I hate we missed them and hope they are well and maybe we'll see them next time through.

Tomorrow we do our final ride to the sea...we need to stay focused one more day.  Tonight we had our last Rap to cover the last day's logistics and talk about the final meal together.  I think we've gotten everyone on the same sheet of music as far as what's going on tomorrow.  There's a festival going on there so it will be a zoo even without us being there.  But whatever we encounter tomorrow, I think we're up to the task to complete the ride with aplomb.  Tonight we're tired, we're ready to finish...I hope Savannah is ready for us...see you tomorrow.

PS:  To people following the site and who will be meeting the riders at the beach.  The riders will be gathering at Fort Pulaski before making the final assault to the beach.  We ask that friends and family refrain from stopping there to meet the riders.  There's not much room there and too big a crowd may cause problems with the entrance to the Fort.  Please drive on through and wait for them at the pier at the end of Tybee Island.  The pier is almost at the end of the road...to the left.  Pray for one more safe day and we'll celebrate their achievement tomorrow evening.