Shellman’s Bluff - The Untold Story

I was recently reminded of this experience from reader R3. This was a doozy. All photos are complimentary of R3 as I certainly took no pictures of this stay. At the time, it was something I simply wanted to forget.

I was on a company trip to Savannah, Georgia at the time. A nice city on the river with many fine hotels and restaurants. I’ve spent many nights in Savannah and have always enjoyed my stays there.

On this particular occasion one of the engineers I worked with over the years, R3, convinced me to venture outside my comfort zone and spend the night in a hotel down in his area, off the beaten path in an unincorporated community known as Shellman Bluff. He had painted the picture of the lovely rivers that flowed through the area, including his own waterfront home he had recently purchased.

I was somewhat reluctant at first to leave the comforts of Savannah for the unknown, but I took the chance. I will recall to you the stay as best I remember as this was a couple decades ago. I’m sure R3 will later correct my flawed recollection.

Shellman Bluff motel was the only one in the area so it greatly narrowed my choices. There was no online reservation system so a call to the hotel (owner/ manager?) sufficed to secure my nightly stay. I knew I was in trouble from the start when I was told there was no receptionist at the hotel but the key to my room would be left at a nearby business.

It was an hour or so drive south of Savannah through some lovely landscape until we reached the area. R3 toured me of his amazing property on the waterfront, complete with a separate in-law quarters. The place needed some work but it was the location itself that was worth a million dollars.

Anyway, I divert. Before I went to my hotel we visited an area eatery (the only one?) that was very rustic and quaint. I was actually quite excited to see the locals of this off beat area. They did not disappoint.

Well, this was a restaurant in the sense they served food, but really it was simply a bar hangout for locals. My memory is a bit hazy of all the patrons who frequented this place, but I recalled one in particular. It was a female that was bellied up to the bar, and she was toasted. I remember she was quite colorful but she was more than 3 sheets to the wind.

R3 later explained to me she was an anesthesiologist that lived in the area. I think she even had a surgery to attend the next morning. All I could think is, thank God I wasn’t the patient.

Anyway we ate our meal there, shrimp I think. Then it was off to find this mysterious (to me not R3), motel. Now, I don’t normally stay in motels, especially on the company dime, but it was all that was available.

Well, this was the motel. As poorly as it looked outside, it was much worse inside. I didn’t take pictures of it, as it was not a moment I wanted to capture on camera. But it was bad. Just a bed, no TV or any amenities at all. Not even an alarm clock! And I had a morning flight the next day I had to arise for. Now this is pre-cell phone era (at least for me) so I had no means to awake. Not even a phone in the room,

The only thing I could rely upon to wake up was my disgustful fear of all the cockroaches in the room. I think I slept with an eye open all night.

I really was not sure how the motel did any business at all. That night I was the only business, as all the other rooms were empty.

No checkout the next morning as I just left the key in the room and departed. I think I left the money with the neighboring business. No receipt, then I was stuck with having to prove the stay on my expense report. I don’t recall how that went but if I had to eat the $50 stay, no big deal.

But I will give credit where it is due. The view outside the hotel was great. It was very peaceful there on the bluff overlooking the water. The place really did have amazing potential!

Anyway, I endured my stay there all the time ruing my lost comfort of Savannah. But that was in the moment. In retrospect I wouldn’t change a thing. It gave me a memory that lasted forever compared to another of many lost nights in Savannah.

I can always count on R3 to provide something out of the ordinary. He would be a better adventure traveler than me! Maybe this was the one that began my lure for adventure travel?

The Nyishi Invaders of Arunanchal Pradesh, India

The great land grab. Sounds like something from the Old West when pioneers claimed their stakes. But this one was done more stealthily.

In this area of remote India it’s a little different. The area borders Myanmar and China and these borders are quite porous. There are foot trails that lead to both nations with no real enforcement of entry. Border control is quite impossible in this area.

I was surprised to see on one of my visits here a huge wooded area suddenly cleared and these nomadic campsites set up. It happened in just a few months. The Nyishi tribe had just taken over this government land and claimed it as their own.

Such a strange thing! How can they get away with this?

Well, there is a government presence in this area but it is rather minimal. In addition, the government forces are often targeted here by terrorist forces. In a matter of self preservation the government seems to maintain a low profile and prefer to not engage in conflict unless required.

The Nyishi tribe is quite an aggressive tribe and not one the government forces seem willing to engage. So they just sit quietly and allow this to happen! Quite unbelievable to me.

This area of India gets little attention from the India government. The people here are seen as a mixed breed of nationalities and not true India people. As a result, poverty is abundant here as little government resources are expended.

This province in particular is prone to terrorism. My first visit here was filled with deep anxiety, especially at night. But after making a half dozen or more trips here I felt quite comfortable. The terrorists were not targeting the few Westerners that venture this way, but only the government.

Although I had encounters with the government here, it was favorable. I posted on one encounter in the past. I actually feel rather sorry for the few who are unlucky to get a post here. They are responsible for maintaining the peace, yet they are a frequent target of the people who live here.

The insurgence is a result of the area residents wanting to separate from India and have their own government. Since they get little resources from the current government, that is understandable.

This conflict is exacerbated by the Chinese government as they believe they have claims to the area as well (like they do all regions in the area). If they can destabilize the government in the area, they will do it.

Regardless, it is amazing to me that a tribe can just enter the region, cut down so many trees (a scarcer resource here), and just take it over. I guess you can get away with it when you got a bad boy reputation. Sounds like the streets of New York in times past,

Wakulla Springs

Just south of Tallahassee near Crawfordville, Florida you will find this amazing biodiverse piece of old Florida. The park is called Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park and it is a relatively recent one having been established in 1986. But this has been a protected sanctuary by landowners for 90 years.

There is a lodge on the property but most come for the day adventures of swimming, picnicking, and the amazing 45 minute boat tour into the natural habitat of the Springs. The focus of this post will be the boat tour.

The price is only $8 per adult and $5 for kids under 12. Taxes are included in the price making this a great value. A total of 30 people are allowed on each boat. This is a guided tour with the boat captain acting as the guide.

My granddaughter and I seated in row 1:

The tour starts with a trip through the old growth of Florida along the river banks. Many Cypress trees as well as old Spanish moss clinging to Oaks. Some of these trees date back 2,000 years! This is unspoiled Florida that few really experience. There’s more than just Disney and Miami Beach here. Those guys are newcomers.

Not really a common sight in June, are the manatees that swim up here from the Gulf. These are rare creatures that survive in both the salt waters of the ocean and the cool, clear fresh waters of the Springs.

Manatees look more like baby whales in the water. But they are actually related to the elephant. Although they look like a big fat blob in the water, they are actually almost complete muscle. They are the only creatures on these waters the alligators don’t mess with. They’re just too big for them.

Which brings us to the king of the Springs. The alligator is ubiquitous in the park. There are thousands of them. Although there is a very crowded swimming hole in the Springs, the alligators never seem to bother the swimmers. The swimming area is roped off by a floating rope, but nothing prevents entry of these predators. They just prefer to stay away from people and feed on turtles.

Alligators mostly rest in the sun during the day to warm their cold blood. They do this to absorb the energy on the “radiator “ on their back to warm their blood for night activities. That is when they are active hunters.

There is a prominent Osprey nest in the middle of the bout tour of the springs. Osprey nests are located in the highest position with unobstructed view of its prey.

They don’t have to worry about the eagle taking their spot. Eagles, as predatory as they are, fear these kings of the sky.

The enhinger birds are known also as the “snake bird” because of how their long necks look when they swim in the water. You will often see them perched on a log or stump with their wings out as they try to dry them.

For old movie buffs, these next two scenes could look familiar. This was the shooting location for the old Tarzan movies. Remember when Tarzan would swing from vine to vine?

It’s also the location of the shooting of the creature from the Black Lagoon from the 1950s. Although this movie would seem quite comical to watch today, at its time, it was a true horror movie.

It was also a scene from Airport 77. That was shot on location here. But I can’t say I saw that movie.

At the end of the boat tour, you come back to the beach area of the state park. There is an elevated platform at the beach where many of the teens like to gather and jump off. They wait for the boat to come by and then often you can see them jumping en masse.

This particular day they didn’t put on much of a show for whatever reason.

it is a fantastic cruise and better than any ride I’ve ever had in Disney. If you’re into nature and natural settings, you wouldn’t want to miss this one. Especially for the exceptional low price.