​BRAVE THE RED FRIDAY.  We all know what that means!  Everyone donned themselves with our very red, BRAVE THE RED T-shirts produced by Nine Line, a veteran owned and operated company. 

​The Sons of the American Revolution gave us a lesson on the history and development of the Flag. 

​They had the attention of everyone in their seats.  Who knew?!
 
First stop out and about today was Byrd’s Cookie Factory.

​After suiting up for the tour, we were approved to enter the facilities, but NOT take photos.  Sorry.

​Once we toured the factory, we visited their cookie bar for samples.

​Byrd’s cookies are famous for their very small round cookies, sold by the pound – in all kinds of exotic flavors, like key lime or pink lemonade  - which you will find in stores, gift shops and even on airplanes. 

​What an interesting gift shop!  After bagging up all our purchases, we were on our way to lunch at Corleone’s. 

​Their chandeliers were most interesting. 

​Now it’s time to walk off those Byrd’s cookies and lunch.  So downtown we went to shop and take a carriage ride.

​Our ride around town took us past many of the sites we have already seen.  I think our driver was a bit frustrated hoping to tell us about places to go and things to see and we had already done them!  RiVoli Rallies is the BEST!  One of the most notable places we saw was Debi’s Restaurant, the diner where Jenny worked in “Forest Gump.” 

​We finished our day at River Street for shopping and a dinner cruise.

Dinner consisted of prime rib, fish pork, shrimp and grits, squash, vegetable medley, salad and I’m sure I missed some things.  After dinner there was dancing

and ​DESSERT

And out on the deck, there is Kay and Linda shenanigans going on.

​While dancing was going on INSIDE the ship on the dance floor, Krazy Kay was giving dance lessons OUTSIDE on the deck.

​Once Krazy Kay found out she was entertaining everyone INSIDE the ship, she took a bow.

​She certainly was born to entertain!
 
To top the evening off were fireworks. 

​There is nothing better than a night topped off with fireworks!

​Yes, more coffee and doughnuts. 
 
Now for some ridiculous fun in downtown Savannah.

​The Prohibition Museum was first on the list for the day.  The museum displays the history of prohibition in America from 1907-1933.  The big breweries survived by making brand new products with little modification to their factory machinery.  Budweiser produced frozen egg products, Pabst made cheese, Coors manufactured malted milk, Yuengling made ice cream…..  WHO KNEW!?
 

​The Prohibition also made Walgreen’s what it is today.  The company began with a single drugstore in 1901 and grew to 20 stores in Chicago in 1919.  By the end of Prohibition, there were over 500 stores nationwide.  Why?  Because they filled more prescriptions for medicinal liquor than any other outlet. 

​Prohibition also brought in the bootlegging industry, which brought in the mafia.

​The wax figures were so lifelike but one of the displays had a REAL LIVE PERSON who came alive when you got up close and personal with him!

​What fun to watch the reactions of everyone as they discover he WAS NOT a wax figure.  Kay about jumped out of her shoes.  HAHA we got her again.

​One gentlemen gave us the history of prohibition and how the people felt about it.

​But wait, the photos on the wall told us how the people felt about it!  Note the lady in the oval frame and the portrait of the man to the right.  THEY WERE TALKING TO EACH OTHER AND MOVING THEIR HEAD AND HANDS!  SPOOKY!

​As we browsed through the museum, there were plenty of photo ops.

​The two-way mirror was lots of fun to catch everyone trying to do the “Charleston.”

​In order to enter the speakeasy, you had to be “approved.”

​The speakeasy had a HUGE bar, but it was too much for Kay so early in the day.

​But NOT too early for a nice lunch!  So on our way to the Olde Pink House. 

​One of the waiters gave us a history of the building.  He’s from Savannah and has worked at the Olde Pink House since he was old enough to work.  And YES, this mansion is said to be haunted.

​If you are ever in Savannah for an anniversary or a special occasion, make sure you make a dinner reservation for the wine cellar room.

​How cozy would that be!
 
So now the need to walk off our lunch at Forsyth Park. 

​And visit the French Gothic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, built in 1873.  The workmanship on the stations of the cross is amazing. 

​The cathedral was almost entirely destroyed by fire in 1898.  Only the outside walls and the two spires survived the fire.  It survived and today the interior of the Cathedral is one of the most impressive interiors of any building in Savannah.

​What a spiritual experience. 
 
Hungry?  Did anyone say they were hungry?  Well, almost.  Time to shop along the river before dinner and for some it was cocktail time.

​The River House Restaurant dinner was mahi mahi, chicken, or a few other choices, which I can't remember.  Why?  BECAUSE WE HAD SO MUCH FOOD!  Overtime we turned around we were eating!  Did I mention all the food is included in the price of our rallies?  We felt like we were on a cruise ship.

​No, we did not finish our day with dinner.  No, no, no, no.  The Hearse Ghost Tour was next on the list. 
 
Everyone scrambled for their hearse of choice

​for some Krazy Ridiculous fun.

​Did we get spooked?  HECK YES!

​No doughnuts today! No, no, no.  Today we had muffins!  All kinds!
 
Today we started at the Richardson Owens Thomas House, designed by a 24 year old English architect. 

​We had a slight delay as the fire alarm went off for no good reason.  SO we had to wait until the firemen gave us clearance to enter.

​It is amazing what RiVoli Rallies does to a person.  Check out Pat in the window….  She said it wasn’t her, that it was a ghost!

​Getting back to our tour.  This home is one of the finest examples of high-style architecture in Savannah, with its sophisticated plumbing and cast iron balcony. 

The owners of this property, Richardson and Owens, both served as guardians to freed persons of color.  Richardson lost his new home in the financial panic of 1819.  The property reverted to the bank and rented by Mary Maxwell, who ran it as a boardinghouse.  In 1830, Owens purchased the house and it remained in their family for 121 years, until the property was left to the Telfair Museum of Art. ​ 
 
Onto the Wormsloe Plantation, the 1.5 mile oak avenue is one of the most photographed lane/driveway. 

​The Noble Jones’ 1.5 story, 5 room tabby and wood house (ruins pictured below) was constructed between 1739 and 1745.  It was surrounded on 3 sides by a courtyard protected by 8 ft. high tabby walls.  Tabby is a local mixture of sand, oyster shells, lime and fresh water.  The walls provided adequate protection against muskets.

​Noble Jones leased this 500 acre piece of property.  He used indentured servant labor when there was a ban on slavery.  When the Trustees revoked the ban on slavery in 1749, Jones used slave labor in order to make Wormsloe profitable. Jones initially planted several types of crops, including corn, rice, various fruits and vegetables, and possibly indigo.  The Georgia Trustees encouraged the production of silk, so Jones planted mulberry trees and tried unsuccessfully to produce silk at Wormsloe.  Wormsloe never proved profitable. 
 
All of this touring made us hungry, AGAIN, so off to the Mansion on Drayton for lunch.  700 Drayton at The Mansion on Forsyth Park is a unique setting of distinct worldly charm with the warmth and comfort of Historic Savannah. The signature restaurant features eight separate dining rooms.

​Afterwards, we wandered around until we were ready to go home.

​Once back to the campground, we opened our auction to find that almost everyone took on Kay’s challenge while we were at Keller’s Flea Market.

What fun!  UNTIL Bill won an auctioned item, a pregnancy test.

​WHAT???!!!
 
After our catered dinner of pork, meatballs, oxtail, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, broccoli casserole, YEP ALL OF THAT AND PROBABLY MORE, Pat entertained us while Ron and Bill ran all the leftover food to the mission.  Nothing goes to waste at RiVoli Rallies.  The Savannah Mission LOVES us. 
 

​Pat had everyone in stitches.  She certainly missed her calling!
 
The entertainment for the evening was David Pendleton, ventriloquist. 

He was amazing!  He has been in the business of making people laugh his whole life.

​He has performed in many countries and on four continents, as well as across most of our 50 United States.  David has worked in every venue known, and he strives to make each event a personal experience.  He certainly did for us.  RiVoli Rallies has done it again.