The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

The Golden Isles of Georgia and the Okefenokee Swamp

February 25th to March 8th

Ride Director: Marita Moberg
Ride Co-Director: Dennis Moberg
Report by: Ida Nystrom

'Oh, the places you'll go!” With all due respect to Dr. Seuss, I can't imagine that the destinations he had in mind could have been any better than those we visited on this ride. In just a week and a half, I was able to check off four places on my travel bucket list.

#1 – Savannah is one of America's loveliest cities. Miraculously, Oglethorpe's original design of a city built around squares of flowers and greenery survives intact. Our base was a historic hotel located directly on Reynolds Square and an easy walk to historic Factor's Row for our first group dinner. Our first day's ride took us to Dunham Farms, a former plantation located amongst creeks, woods and tidal marshes. The net stop was in charming Darien, and again we had rooms with a river view. We were lucky enough to be there on a Taco Tuesday – dinner for a buck.

#2 – My second bucket list stop was the Okefenokee, just saying it sends shivers down my back. The park loop road makes for perfect cycling – alligators and pitcher plants. Luckily, for me anyway, no snakes. After a nice catered picnic, our entire group enjoyed an open boat ride through the swamp – more gaters, along with American Bitterns and other amazing critters.

#3 – Over the years I've heard much of Cumberland Island National Seashore. Combining my love of history and nature, it didn't disappoint. A forty-five minute water taxi deposited us on the island for the day. Cumberland Island was the former private preserve of the Carnegie family. All that's left of them now are the impressive ruins of their mansion, and the wild horses descended from the stock the family turned loose when they left. Walking trails wind through lush foliage and along miles of spectacular beachfront. The island is a prime nesting place for sea turtles.

#4 – In the late 19th century, the Jekyll Island Club was the former playground of millionaires. Today, the property is owned by the state. The historic district contains the original hotel plus several of the “cottages” once privately owned by the Club members. Our group of eighteen occupied Cherokee Cottage with room to spare. Good roads circle the island, making for pleasurable riding on our day off. During lunch on the seaside, we watched dolphins frolicking in the surf.

Should you go? The food (group dinners and on our own) was excellent, featuring fresh fish everywhere we stopped. Our hotels were exceptional. Happy hours were lots of fun with good food and drinks. The lazy pace of island life was intoxicating. The ride was well planned and scouted. But, if you decide to do this ride you should be comfortable riding on highways with lots of traffic. The geography of the area, the countless inlet creeks and rivers, also means that there are very few roads and almost no routing choices.