Georgia: Savannah

After over a year in the states I finally broke down and got a car. I really wish I could have afforded one earlier it has given me so much freedom. Anyway for my first big trip on my own I met up with Andy in Savannah. Savannah, GA is about 350 miles from Durham, about a 6 hour drive and about the same for Andy from Tallahassee, FL, so it was fate.

Driving 6 hours is weird on your own is strange at first. I stopped a lot, even if it was just to get out of the car to strech my legs. I was surprised that I didn't feel too tired during it. I guess cold air-con, caffeine, loud music, and bad singing is enough to keep anyone awake. Also I was really excited to see Andy, I could talk British!!!

Here are some snaps from Savannah.

It has a great 'old town', with lots of squares.


It was bloody hot but lots of nice shade.


It was nice to see 'old things' in Savannah. Instead of that nasty 10 year old strip mall.


It was great just wandering around putting the world to right soaking up the atmosphere.


It felt like the proper 'south' down here


I just loved this graffiti on the building site for a new group of shops


I just liked this shot.

Meeting Andy was well worth the drive. It is really strange meeting an old friend in a completely different part of the world. It was great catching up, talking crap about how the US and the UK are different etc. It almost felt like we had not left Sheffield, but then again it felt like so long ago, so many things had changed. Thankfully somethings hadn't. We still got tea, drank beer in the day and forced the Americans to watch the EURO cup while we had lunch. Although drinking cocktails in a gazebo by a pool in shorts before dinner is a new one for us. we actually went to a 'British pub' called Churchill's for dinner. It tasted like home, a twinge of homesickness, but in a good way. Then a traditional British night of carnage ensued. A not so traditional pancake breakfast and off back to Durham in the morning. The weekend was so much fun and I really can't do it justice on the blog, but I do recommend Savannah. It's such a pretty place, great food and great bars, still working on the Tea tho.

Duke marine lab, Beaufort, NC

Ok I know it's been a while, but I am back. Firstly I am really sorry, I don't have an excuse. I am just lazy. The good news is, I did take a lot of photos. So enjoy all the updates I will try and roll of ASAP.

A few months ago we had a departmental retreat (in the form of a mini conference) to the Duke marine lab in Beaufort, NC. It was cool to get out of the lab and out of Durham and see some more coastal NC. It hit me how rich Duke actually is on this trip. We passed the UNC marine lab on the way, a 'warehouse' in moorehead city. Duke owns an island!

Here are some of my Lab group, front row left to right, Debby, Yee and Tao and Jeff and I on the back. As you can see we were doing a lot of work...

Here is the actual island and the view of Beaufort. The island to the left has wild horses on it. Behind that are the outer banks and the Atlantic. Tough life, aye?

Here is some of my department. Being the geeky engineers that we are we sat inside all day.

This is my boss playing a crazy game of pool. He was the only Professor that chatted to people other than professors and had a laugh with us. We had just finished working on my presentation that I had to give in the morning. My first real presentation. It went pretty good actually.

Here is a subtle picture of fat people on the beach.


We also visited a civil war fort, it was great. I just loved this sign.

It was a pretty cool design. Not your big ol' castle type thing.

A great view of the Atlantic too

I don't know quite why they had a cannon pointed at the wall, well it was a civil war after all...

Tough times back then

Ah NC beaches. We did work I promise.