Brunch in Brunswick

Sea oats on the dunes at Jekyll Island looking toward the Atlantic Ocean and
the Cumberland Island National Seashore in the far distance on the right

I sing for joy at what your hands have done.

Psalm 92:4

Beloved and I enjoy the freedom of retirement so we can take day trips in the car. We did that a lot before he was retired, but had to restrict ourselves to Saturdays or Sunday afternoons (when it wasn't football season). 

Such ventures usually don't cost much more than gas in the Ford and lunch, so it's a relatively inexpensive pastime. There is also the added benefit of one-on-one time with each other, talking about all manner of topics, and some solitude. For us, these adventures help to build and maintain a healthy relationship with each other.

expansion bridge across the Brunswick Intracoastal Waterway into the town of Brunswick, Georgia

We recently drove north for about 90 miles to Brunswick, Georgia and then that afternoon across a bridge to Jekyll Island. 

driving the bridge, heading north

My regular readers already know these huge bridges fascinate me. Their artistic shapes, great height and size both delight and frighten me (just a little). To my amazement, Jacksonville isn't the only city around here with showy bridges.

features inside the restored Old City Hall

Our first stop in Brunswick's historical Old Town was the former city hall, which has been replaced with a newer building a few blocks over. This building is now more of a visitor's center, and a good place to stop when one has had a lot of coffee (if you know what I mean). 

the newer city hall in Brunswick, Georgia

We thought we would pick up a printed guide and take the walking tour of the historic area. The paper we got, but the walk was more hurried than planned due to a deceptively cold, windy day in spite of brilliant sunshine.

two of the beautiful squares of Brunswick
(directly across the street from each other)

"James Edward Oglethorpe was a British soldier, Member of Parliament, and philanthropist, as well as the founder of the colony of Georgia." (Wikipedia) He designed the streets of Brunswick, creating 14 beautiful park squares with huge overhanging trees, brick walks and benches. It is like something out of a delightful movie.

informational sign about Oglethorpe's design

We did sit briefly on one of the benches, but as I said, the cold wind was whipping around us, so we hurried on to find shelter, walking so briskly past the many historic old houses that I didn't take a picture of a one!

Street scene in Brunswick's historic district

We found a truly local, one-of-a-kind lunch room that advertised breakfast, but we quickly learned that just minutes after 11 am the breakfast menu is pulled. Beloved had to settle for a sandwich instead of pancakes, but I got the very last of the grits!

lunch at Hungry Hannah's on Gloucester Street

While walking back to our car (parking was free, by the way), we stopped into an antique/gift place that was wonderful. It sold "one of a kind antiques and extraordinary stuff." (their words) 

you can see what the wild wind did to my hair!

My purchase was not so extraordinary. I am currently reading a book by Eugenia Price, part of a series called St. Simons Trilogy that takes place in this very part of old Georgia. One of the books in the series is not at my public library, so Beloved found it at this shop and bought it. 

ferns and Spanish Moss growing on a branch of a Live Oak tree

As we walked back to our car, I marveled at the cooperation of plants to grow together on the gigantic Live Oak trees that are just about everywhere here in the deep South. This picture is one of many examples of that. 

The abundance of trees, ferns, palms, grasses and flowers (yes, in early February) is such a contrast to the high-desert climate of our former home in Colorado. 

My time has run out for writing today, so I will tell you about our afternoon spent on Jekyll Island another time.