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My brother Jeffrey, a pasty white land-lubber from the middle of the middle-est state in America, was visiting us during his birthday. As a present, we took him out kayaking. “What is this?”, he shrieked, voice full of terror.

“That’s the ocean, Jeffrey. It’s just water.”

Our brother-in-law Joe had come up from Jacksonville to partake in the fun, and we all arrived early at North Island Surf & Kayak, on the interior border of Tybee Island. The usual proprietor was out-of-town, and his parents were down from Augusta to manage the place. They were a super-friendly couple, fully possessed of that southern tendency to chat openly with complete strangers. It still takes me off-guard to suddenly be swapping stories about my childhood or their dog who’d been poisoned by malicious neighbors, with someone I’ve just met.

The four of us spent the whole day out on the water — split between paddling up the Lazaretto Creek which flows inland, and then into the ocean. Joe and I managed to spot dolphins, one of which surfaced just ten feet from my kayak. Although Jeffrey and Juergen weren’t so lucky, we all had an awesome time. Being outdoors on a perfect, warm fall morning, exercising muscles that haven’t been used in probably 10 years… it was a great way to spend the day.

The kayaks cost us $40 apiece to rent for an entire day, which seems perfectly fair. They were of good quality — despite being total newbies to the sport, none of us were ever in danger of capsizing. And the North Island shop is perfectly situated; you can choose to go upstream, paddle over to Fort Pulaski, or just along the coast of Tybee. They also do day-long guided tours.

North Island Surf & Kayak
Across the Lazaretto Creek Bridge on Tybee Island
Location on our Map
912-786-4000

$75 Off at BedandBreakfast.com

READ: The Insider’s Guide To Roller Derby

Last night, we went to the Roller Derby match between Savannah’s own Derby Devils, and the Cape Fear Roller Girls. I had only been familiar with the sport from the 80s program RollerGames (Saturday afternoons, right after American Gladiator!) And Juergen had never seen it at all.

The sport practiced by the Derby Devils has absolutely nothing to do with the WWF-like circus I so fondly remembered. These chicks play for real! I was shocked by the brutality of it … a couple hits would have made Lawrence Taylor piss his pants. And watching one of the more lithe girls bob and weave her way to the front of the pack, just dodging the massive hip of one of the opposing blockers, was heart-pounding.

It was the last match of the season, and the Supergoose Arena was packed. It’s awesome the way Savannah gets behind their Derby Devils. There were two hours of tailgating in the parking lot, and much of the audience came equipped with signs to cheer on their favorite players — players with stage names like Fear Abby and Sexecutioner Jr.

Unfortunately for the home crowd, the Roller Girls of Cape Fear were the superior (and much larger, much more terrifying) team. But the final score was secondary to the fun which everyone was having. And my misgivings about the sport of Roller Derby’s authenticity have vanished — these girls are serious athletes.

Savannah Derby Devils Website
Location of Supergoose Arena

- Savannah Tours