For those of you interested Only in TRAVEL, I (Jack) wrote the blog between MARCH 2010 and October 2010 during our travels west. We saw the most beautiful places and had the best time in our big truck and little trailer. See Blog Archive below.

Mar 24, 2017

Schooner Day

We went over Cooper River Creek late this morning and had lunch at Vickery's on Shem Creek. The weather was perfect and we enjoyed eating outside on the deck. We've had a full day.






We went for a walk on the dock afterward. I was so happy to be walking along the creek where the boats were with the marshes on the other side. When I was a kid, I practically lived on the creeks on the south shore of Long Island. Unlike Shem Creek, there were shanty shacks and one had to be careful not to fall through the dilapidated docks. I crabbed and when tide was low, I went clamming. I never lost my love of the water which I think is why I've never liked Atlanta. I don't like being land locked. Ten minutes into the walk I could barely move. I think I'm going to try a chiropractor when I get home. Anyway, the scenery was of some comfort.


Cooper River Bridge


Shem Creek


We knocked around for a while as we didn't have to be ready to board the schooner until 2:45. Susan hit some shops and I relaxed in the car. I think relax should be my middle name at this point. We went back to the dock and boarded on time. We had a wonderful two hour sail--saw lots of birds and dolphins. Two were enjoying some hanky panky.
Cooper River Bridge

Aboard the Schooner


USS Yorktown

Sails Up!

Fancy Shem Creek--Ahhh...the good life

The City as We Return to Dock

Ocean Liner Sailed from the Dock as we Watched
After we docked, we went for dinner on the water, again. Susan had spoken to one of her friends who she knew from her Charleston days and invited her for dinner. I wanted to be home early enough to dump and line up so that I just had to back an inch to hitch up. That plan was gone with the wind. Susan was going to leave very early in the morning, but she said she'd stay to help. She's a piece of work. I told her if she'd just guide me in the dark back to the hitch, I could do the rest in the morning. She's clueless. LOL I couldn't see a thing except her waving a flashlight and decided to call it quits before a disaster occurred.

She's going all the way home to Atlanta, tomorrow. I decided upon my arrival here that I was only going halfway home. It will be a lot easier for me. I won't unhitch. Bed time...hate to think how fast morning will be here.

Mar 22, 2017

Great Day in Charleston

Judy seemed a bit better, today. She got some relief from pain and her blood pressure is down. Not perfect, but better. Thank you for your kind wishes.

The weather was perfect. Clear, 70s, and no bugs! Today we went on our first tour. Though Susan went to school here, she had never been on a bus tour. We went to lunch, first, then headed over to Meeting Street. Our tour was supposed to be at 1:30, but we were early so we got on the 12:30 tour. I took most of the pictures through the bus window so they are far from perfect. There isn't one without a sign, a person, a wire, or a reflection but the architecture here just fascinates me. We really enjoyed our guide and hearing the history of the places we've walked by so often.

On the way out of James Island County Park, we passed the remote controlled sailboats that we've seen before and I was able to take a long (across the lake) shot of the dog park where Lizzie and Jack spent many a wonderful afternoon. This is a well used park. Nice to see so many people enjoying the outdoors.

After the tour we headed over to Sullivan Island and I had lunch at Poe's while Susan had a glass of wine. From there, we went to a few shops and then on back to James Island with a stop at Walmart for a few things. I'll post pictures below. Tonight I have a new movie to watch. I had a great library to choose from, but left most of them at home to make room for everyone. I dread unpacking and then bringing everything that belongs in the trailer back in.

Tomorrow is the Harbor Tour. I'll be happy if it's half as good as today's. It's supposed to be chilly so I imagine it will be even chillier on the water. Then back up into the 70s on Thursday. Yeah!



They take their races seriously!


On the weekends there are dozens of dogs. Jack once chased a ball that a young guy threw as far as he could throw it saying it was no good any more. Of course Jack didn't know that so as he was becoming a dot in the water as I was taking my shoes off to go in after him. He found the ball and turned around and came back. Probably would have mortified him if I did swim out!
Can't even describe how beautiful the weather was.

Susan and her new iPhone 7. Might as well carry around a computer. LOL
Now for some of what we saw on the tour--though I have hundreds of pictures I could bore you with. :)
This was Susan not too many years ago. Kids changing classes at MUSC. The campus is really all over the city for the med students--great place to go to school.


You can see the reflections, but the colors of the houses are so pretty. I always thought the huge mansions in the battery were the rainbow houses, but it turns out they are smaller homes on one of the city streets. They were on the other side of the bus so I couldn't get a picture.


These are some of the famous Sweet Sea Grass baskets "The blend of African and European developed into a unique culture called Gullah that exists today in Sea Islands along the southeastern coast and retains many West African traditions." History of Sweet Grass Basket Weaving


As you walk or ride through Charleston you see doors that actually do not go to the inside of the houses. They are for privacy for the porches. Single Houses



I thought this was one of the prettiest porches we saw, today.

One church is more beautiful that another, and many leave their doors open for visitors. The tour guide said that Sunday services are full. 

This is the entrance to the market which extends for blocks. Booths on both sides and in the middle. It seemed like a big garage sale to me, but a very popular place.

Mar 21, 2017

Rude People in a Beautiful City

My sister, Judy, is in the emergency room today. Her blood pressure sky rocketed. Her son called me from Portland. He had called my other nephew so details are sketchy except that she was giving them a hard time about staying. I spoke to her this morning, but I know she fibs to me about how much pain she has. He called me back to tell me that my niece, who is a nurse, was on her way to the hospital--I think to convince her to stay. I don't know why she is so stubborn. If they could relieve the awful pain she is in, she should take the chance to get a rest. I'll know more tonight. The kids are going to call me. I've been worried about her and not too far behind her with my back. I can't tell you how frustrated I am--to be in the walking city of Charleston and unable to walk around to take pictures--it's miserable. Susan drove me down to the city park and I took a few from the water, but there's so much more to see. :( Worry about Judy eclipses all, however.)

Susan and I were so looking forward to returning to the Brick House for a delicious dinner last night. The signs were out. There were a couple of cars in the parking lot. Except that it looked a little unkempt (which I chalked off to the leaves), we thought it was open. I opened the door to see two women to my left at tables working on computers and on my right were chairs turned upside down on the tables. One of the women jumped up and said, "We aren't open. We haven't been open for six months.

She got up and practically pushed me out the door saying, "You have to go, now." I had already turned to leave, excusing myself, and saying that we had remembered a great meal the last time we were here. She was having no politeness. The door slammed and click went the lock. Such a shame. They weren't the two young women who owned it--maybe they were new owners? Susan and I left, laughing. Susan said she should go back and kidnap the cat and save it from the witch. LOL This cat loved Susan--we stopped on the way in and the cat wanted some petting.


We took ourselves back to Mondo and I had a light meal and Susie Salad had her usual fair

Today, we went into Charleston. I was so looking forward to taking lots of pictures, but I just couldn't walk for more than a couple of excruciating blocks. I saw a shoe store and stopped and asked if they sold Sketchers thinking that might help. I had even taken the muscle relaxer I'm supposed to take at night just before I left, but it did no good. I'm so disgusted. I got two pair--buy one pair/the other pair was half price. Didn't do a thing.

We went to lunch at Magnolias where I met the second cranky person. I went to the ladies room. There was the outside door and then another inside door (I actually thought there would be more than one stall and thought that's what I'd find when I opened the second door as the room I was in just had a sink). Nope I pushed on the door, it opened and a woman was pulling up her pants. She screamed an obscenity at me and walked over and slammed the door hard enough to take the hinges off. I waited as she was blowing her nose and washing her hands and then, I'm sure, just standing there making me wait. I waited patiently. She finally came out and called me ignorant for not waiting outside. I don't think she realized that I WAS outside--she had not locked the door. After she spat out a few more nasty words I said to her, "It's too bad you're stupid and did not lock the door," which made her even angrier. After she left, I really wanted to punch her face. I'm sorry I didn't.

So the city park was not too far, but far enough. There was no way I was going to get back to the parking deck. I told Susan to leave me to people watch while she did her thing. She stayed with me saying she was enjoying the weather and that she would get the car so I didn't have to try to make it back. Bless her was all I could think.

There wasn't much to see, but I took pictures of the little there was. I'll post them below. 
This is the Pineapple Fountain. I can't resist taking pictures of it whenever I come here. Heaven knows how many I must have.

Pleasant City Park overlooking the bay.

This is about the prettiest house I could see from where I waited for Susan. While waiting, I saw a bunch of dolphins pass by, but they were too far to photograph.

This little guy was taking a bath. I took a movie of him, too. Is he a crow? I tried to find his call on Chirp USA on my phone but didn't have any luck.

This guy stood still just for me so I could get a picture though he was far away. 

This was a Coast Guard Boat that was pulling in while I sat there. Again, it was far away.

This is the USS Yorktown across the harbor. I couldn't see if I was getting the whole ship, and as you see I didn't. Look how dwarfed the sailboats are next to her.

Please keep my sister in your healing thoughts. I'm crossing my fingers that they have convinced her to stay and get the BP under control and relieve her pain. I am so worried.


Mar 20, 2017

Charleston

Susan and I walked around some of the less famous streets in Charleston. I'd like to say my back was okay so I wouldn't say I was "Debbie Downer", but it was agony. Still the city is so very beautiful, I wanted to do as much as I could. I'm very worried about my sister so maybe tension has something to do with it although it's usually the second day after doing strenuous things that is worst. We'll see, tomorrow.

After showers, Susan went running, etc., and I cleaned up the trailer. I was trying to get my new drill to work--not having much success. I had a very simple one, but I misplaced the charger and I am not going to wind down the stabilizers--that's for sure, so I went to a Lowes which isn't far from here and bought another Black & Decker. I was sure I'd find the charger, today, but no luck after emptying everything I knew to empty. Did I tell you this, yesterday? LOL

We went for lunch at Kickin' Chicken--nothing to write home about except for the sweet potato fries. The traffic in Charleston is incredible and trying to find a parking space is next to impossible, but we did it the second time around the block-pure luck. I have so many pictures of the famous homes and churches in Charleston that I thought it might be nice to see other side streets. I'm hoping tomorrow will be a better day for walking when I can really enjoy. Plus our bus tour is on Wednesday and the Harbor Tour on Thursday. I don't remember taking many pictures of the cemeteries, but they are picturesque. Some of the monuments must have cost a fortune.

After walking, we stopped in a little restaurant called Low Country. Susan had a glass of wine and I had a coke. We met a charming young girl who was the bartender. In talking, she said her folks came from Long Island--small world. That's where I'm from.

We are back at the campground for a little while, then going to dinner at the Brick House. It was new the last time we were in Charleston. Two young women opened it and the meal was delicious. The decorated with things from Good Will and Second Hands stores--no two chairs or tables matched, and it looked so charming. I'm pretty sure I took pictures last time, but I'll try to get some tonight.

See the horse and carriages on most all the streets. I feel sorry for the horse which is why I chose a bus tour.



Churches right next to one another.

Almost seems like they squeeze cemeteries in

The side of the church that is rarely seen in pictures.

It's hard to believe the Hurricane Hugo killed so many trees when Charleston seems so lush. I have a book called "Before and After Charleston". It states that there were enough trees lost to rebuild the city of Philadelphia". I can't imagine how the calculated that, but I do remember Rich telling me about Charleston before and after. I have only been since Hugo.

Cute little house--I was going to say shotgun house, but I think they are only one story.

Sleeping porches are very prevalent in Charleston. The summers are very hot and humid so I can understand why. They add so much charm to the homes. 


I thought this headstone was interesting. The bird is a South African bird called the Sankofa Bird. It's looking back over it's shoulder because it is learning from the past to move forward.



This was an odd cemetery. Had monuments like this one that must have cost a fortune, yet the cemetery was not kept up well, at all.