I am having a great time sitting in my living room cheering for Team U.S.A. at the Rio Olympics. Twenty years ago I didn’t get to see much of the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta from my living room. Instead, I was volunteering with the Yachting events (now called Sailing events) near Savannah, Georgia.
Before the games began, we saw the Olympic Flame arrive in Savannah on the Schooner America. After torch bearers ran through Savannah they wound their way around Georgia to the Olympic Stadium in Atlanta. The world then watched as the final torch bearer Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic Cauldron.
1996 Olympic Flame arrives in Savannah aboard Schooner America
Two of our friends participated in the relay through Savannah. It was such a thrill to see the Olympic Torch relay in person.
1996 Olympic torch relay in Savannah
For the Olympic Yachting events, a Day Marina was constructed in the waters of Wassaw Sound near Savannah. To get there, we had to drive a few miles, ride on a bus, and ride a shuttle boat to the Day Marina along with other volunteers and athletes. For two weeks, Henry, our daughter, and I got up at the crack of dawn and put on our volunteer uniforms to help with the launch and recovery team of volunteers on the Day Marina.
Volunteers arriving by shuttle at the day marina
Tents were set up on the Day Marina to provide a home for the athletes during the long days on the water. The larger countries had their own tent and ramp to launch their boats while smaller countries shared a tent. I was assigned to work with Fiji, Guam, Jamaica, and Thailand who were sharing a tent between Team USA and Team New Zealand.
1996 Olympics Yachting Day Marina in Wassaw Sound near Savannah, Georgia
Our days were long and hot but it was worth it to be able to meet athletes and trainers from all over the world. I was even able to do a little pin trading and get a few autographs.
1996 Olympic Pins
There was a flurry of activity as each team prepared to launch their boats to go out to the race course. Things got busy again when the sailors returned after their event.
USA Atlanta Olympics Bronze Medal SolingUSA Olympic Bronze Medalist Courtney Becker Day returns to the Day Marina1996 Olympics Mistral Gold Medal winner from Greece
The races were too far away to watch from the Day Marina. One day we got to ride a boat out to the race course to see one of the events.
1996 Olympic 470 yachting race
Being an Olympic volunteer was a once in a lifetime experience. Meeting these amazing Olympians and watching them prepare for their events was something I will never forget. I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to do it.
Last summer as I was browsing through some blogs I stumbled upon a post on Winged Beauty Butterflies that mentioned Butterflies and Blooms in the Briar Patch, a butterfly habitat in Eatonton, Georgia. The next time we were visiting near there I stopped by the habitat and fell in love with it. I posted about my first visit to the habitat at Wandering in the Briar Patch.
My latest visit to the habitat was this past weekend in July, 2016. While I was wandering through the garden I had the pleasure of meeting Virginia Linch, the woman with the vision to create this magnificent butterfly habitat. Her enthusiasm was contagious as she gave me a tour and introduced me to many of the native Georgia nectar plants that I wasn’t familiar with. She also knew where to look for caterpillars and showed me some so tiny I would have never seen them if she hadn’t pointed them out.
The blooms were vibrant throughout the garden.
Mexican SunflowerBlooms in the Briar PatchBee on Black Eyed Susan
I could see swallowtails, monarchs and other butterflies landing on the blooms but none would stay around long enough for me to get a picture. A Viceroy landed on the ground in front of me and paid no attention to me at all.
Viceroy in the Briar Patch
This Gulf Fritillary wasn’t shy.
Gulf Fritillary
I would never have spotted this Giant Swallowtail caterpillar if Virginia hadn’t pointed it out to me.
Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar
You can see how small it is compared to Virginia’s hand.
Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar
There are benches for resting and even a new porch for sitting.
Porch sitting in the Briar Patch
Thank you Virginia for giving me a tour and for all of your hard work!
Wandering Dawgs 