DAYS -3 and -2 (pre trip)-ARRIVALS IN SAVANNAH-

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 7th  MOA Day -3

Sunday September 6, most of those driving from the US and Canada arrived in Savannah at the Hampton Inn Historic District.  Sadly I didn't take many photos of all this day's activity. 

We can't say enough wonderful things about the people at this hotel.  All were very friendly and helpful including Mary the group sales person, Linda the concierge, Melinda the manager, and all the wonderful valet's who watched so carefully over our Morgans, and became great promoters of the cars as people walked by asking questions about the  Morgans. Our rooms and beds were also very nice. 

Hotel Lobby- very inviting

Hotel Sitting Room

Michael arrived first at the hotel, having separated himself from our California group on Day 10 (post hopefully to be written soon). 

Michael arriving in Savannah (photo from Michael)

Then Ken and Pat, and Ken and Marion arrived from Canada, Philip and I arrived from California, Marj and Bart arrived from Tucson AZ. 

Ellen Jo and Jim from California were staying with friends outside Savannah,

 so didn't arrive until Monday. 

Steve arrived via airplane from San Francisco, without wife Susan who had come down with food poisoning the day before.   Michael's wife Patsy arrived on the same airplane as Steve, so Michael picked them both up at the airport.

Michael's photo of Patsy arriving.

Monday was the arrival day of most of the foreign MOA group via airplane. Today this included 10 New Zealanders, 7 British, and 3 French. Philip and my day was spent picking people up in our truck and transporting them to the hotel. I think we made 4 or 5 trips to the airport that day greeting tired people. Fiona's friend Raj from Florida, whom I met in the lobby at our hotel picked up Fiona and was kind enough to also transport Keith and Joan all from UK to our hotel. 

Savannah International Airport

Sadly, Colin and Callie from UK were not able to fly in as scheduled, as Callie's father had taken ill and was hospitalized.

John and Gail also arrived having driven in from Denver. 

Tuesday, Stan and Jen of Australia, arrived via rented Mustang Morgan from Norfolk. 

Wednesday, Martine arrived via airplane from France.

While we had hoped to take Steve to lunch for his birthday this day, it just didn't work out. 

I found the local supermarket on this holiday, and we had cupcakes in the hotel breakfast area.

Steve's Birthday Cupcake Celebration

People scattered for dinner, and we went with Michael,  Patsy and Steve to Corleone's Trattoria for a wonderful meal (Patsy has that photo)

Barry, Nigel, Ellen, Janet, Jim, Gene

We finally retired to a very comfortable bed, very tired from a long day. 

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 8th- MOA Day -2

Our first 0800  "Driver's Meeting" was held in the ballroom of the hotel, 
where we sold additional regalia and discussed "the trip".

GRANT, HELEN and KEN

FINDING REGALIA

WHAT'S IN THIS PACKET?

The primary task for this day was to pick up the shipped Morgans at the warehouse.  Unfortunately the 2nd UK container with Fiona's and the French Morgans had not received all its "signoffs" from US Customs to be picked up and transported from the port to the warehouse yet, despite all our "pushing" all last week to be sure they would be available on September 8th.

However, the 5 Kiwi cars, as well as 3 British cars were ready for pickup at 9 AM. Colin and Callie's Morgan was also ready, but they had yet to arrived in the US.

The Morgans started without any problems, and once the container numbers had been retrieved from UK, and identification provided, the Morgans were back on the road after several weeks in ports and on the high seas. 

I had arranged with the President of the Oglethorpe Driving Club, Jim,  to lead us a tour to brush out the cobwebs from the cars, as well as identify any issues the cars may have.  Just as we were ready to leave the hotel, the rain came pouring down in buckets. 

We waited a few minutes until it stopped then headed off to follow his Mercedes to our lunch stop at the Driftaway Restaurant. 

uickly became lost with the traffic signals, but did manage to meet up at the restaurant and had a great meal.

DRIFTWOOD RESTAURANT

FIONA, RAJ, Mrs. RAJ, and THIERRY

CAT FIX FOR US

TONY AND JIM

OUR AERO

NIGEL, JOAN, FIONA AND KEITH

With Jim in the lead, we then headed to Tybee Island, where we stopped at the lighthouse. Unfortunately Jim had a work emergency, so had to leave us there to find our way back to the hotel.

HEADING TO TYBEE

TYBEE ISLAND

A few of us went to dinner that evening at Wasabi's, a fairly decent Japanese restaurant, 

while others went to The Grey, a restaurant in the old Greyhound bus station. 

OUR SASHIMI