Finally a blue sky for our last day!

Thursday, June 22

OMG!  Blue Sky!!

Our last day here, and finally it is not raining or threatening to do so!  In fact, we had sunshine and a blue sky, which admittedly would come and go, but it was dry!  I felt starved for exercise, as well as sunshine, and after some housekeeping chores and putting the still wet shoes out in the sun to dry, set out for a good walk, with Clem along ...... at least for a while!  

Still wet from yesterday!

Wow!  Blue sky!

   

We debated visiting one of the plantations, but realized we should have started earlier, so decided to save it for next time.  We opted instead for another lunch out at The Glass Onion, which was on the list of recommended restaurants,  and down the road a bit.  Sort of a casual, farm to table, with menus posted daily on the chalkboard, but perhaps that day uninspired?  After much deliberation, Clem opted for a fried chicken Po boy, and I settled upon the fried green tomato appetizer..which was more than generous, but realized I could have had a salad, which I had not noticed.  A side order of corn bread was pretty tasteless, and I left it uneaten.  Guess it would not be my choice!

I decided it would be a good day to seek out The Angel Tree, a 400 year old Live Oak which proved absolutely amazing, and well worth seeking out!  Unfortunately, we arrived at the same time as a mini bus full of onlookers! After seeing the tree and visiting the small gift shop, they had all left, and I could have gotten photos with fewer people, but at least they give good perspective.

A woman in the shop was making sweet grass baskets, like those we had seen in Charleston.  They are quite lovely, and I am very tempted, but they are very expensive, and I am not sure I want to spend that much for a basket.  I can appreciate the workmanship, and asked how long to make one, to which she said about a day, for one with a price tag of $150.  I guess I should charge more for my painted things!!


Since there was a nearby grocery store we filled the larders while we had the opportunity, as we head out tomorrow.  Our evening stroll around the campground turned up two neighbors from Florida, two giant Rotweilers, several other dogs, and a motherless  baby cow!  We walked to the office for some travel suggestions, and I got more info about the poor little thing, worrying that it was not being cared for as well as it could be, but it turned out he is being bottle fed.  We were fortunate enough to come across that procedure on the walk back to the coach, and chatted with his caretaker, and I felt much better about it!  Such a pretty little creature, with silky black coat, white head, and lovely pink nose....so cute!    

                         

There is still much to see here, we love the charm that is  Charleston,  and Oak Plantation campground is very nice, and we decided we would definitely return.....in a cooler and drier month!

Walking tour of Charleston

Wednesday, June 21

I had booked a city walking tour, Charleston Footprints with 8th generation Charlestonian  Michael Trouche, for this morning, and wondered if we should cancel, given the  forecast, plus the Tropical Storm approaching the gulf coast.  But it was cloudy but dry, so we drove in and met our guide and the rest of the group to begin our exploration of the historic district.    We were enjoying his stories and the sights in the historic district, but about an hour into the 2 hour tour, and it started raining.  And it rained harder and harder!  Streets quickly filled, and our feet were soon soaked, as it became impossible to miss the puddles!   He ducked us under porticos and onto porches where possible, and altered his route, but we pushed on.  I have to say he was very good, very knowledgeable and entertaining, even changing his itinerary, to allow us a bit of shelter, and it was as enjoyable as it could be in our sodden state!   But we were soaked, and pretty miserable! 

Entrepreneurial little girls selling drinks in spite of the rain.  

The market, now, and then!

Old slave market

Of course, it stopped raining just as we finished!  We headed for some lunch, but found the talk of the town  spot called Husk had  an hour wait, so we found Elie’s table around the corner.  I asked the hostess if she had room for two soggy patrons, and she happily seated us right away.  At the recommendation of our waiter, we chose crab cakes, and I had a mushroom and swiss omelet, both of which were very good.  

Husk

Poogan's Porch

Being sated, and  having dried out a bit.....except for our feet.......  we decided to go to the  Nathaniel Russell house for a tour of what is recognized as  one of America's most important Neoclassical houses and a National Historic Landmark.  Built in the early 1800's at a cost of $80,000, it is a beautiful large home, with ornate details which reflected the family's wealth.   Russell made his fortune in the slave trade, but little was made of that on the tour! I was surprised to learn that the majority of the slaves that came into the country, did so through the port of Charleston, once the richest city in the country, and the fifth largest.  All the beautiful old homes are testament to the wealth that was once here.  The home had beautiful gardens, and huge magnolia trees.  Gardening was a favorite pastime of the ladies, and there are many lovely gardens tucked away and sometimes visible through gates throughout the area.  Our docent informed us that most of the plants were non native, brought in from other countries, and often at a cost of more than the residence! 

Beautiful staircase in Nathaniel Russel House....but this silly woman would not stand still so I could get a shot without her in it!

 

Gorgeous trim work throughout.

Still soggy feet!

 It was now around 4pm, and I  thought a treat was in order....feet STILL soaked.....and had read that the best ice cream could be found at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream shop  on King Street.  Clem was not up for the walk, so we drove, found a parking spot, amazingly, and enjoyed the interestingly flavored  ice cream (salted peanut butter with chocolate chunks and Brambleberry Crisp)  as well as  the neat old buildings with interesting architecture which housed the shops there. 







We passed the  Charleston college and dorm buildings  on the way, so that area is great for the students to walk to and enjoy, and I am sure the shops may have been interesting, but Clem was having none of it! 

Socks drying on entry bar of coach!

 We headed back to the coach, anxious to dry our feet, which were now chilled to the bone despite the warm temps outside, and change into some really dry clothing and relax for the evening.  Tomorrow is another day! 

Exploring Charleston on our own the first day

Tuesday, June 20

First choice for exploration was into Charleston,  about 1/2 hour away, despite threat of rain, to see what is supposedly the number one attraction, at least according to trip advisor.  Waterfront Park is a nice park along the James River, good for strolling or running, or just relaxing, with a good view of the harbor,  park bench swings, and some peaceful seating areas and the Pineapple Fountain in a square, apparently the most photographed site in the city.  Not what I would call a number one attraction, but very pleasant. Little girls were running and screaming in the fountain, and  a whole bunch of young fisherman were casting their lines along the pier.  One in particular caught my eye, and I snapped a few photos.  When he caught me, I asked, and was given an education on not only the fish, but his new sunglasses that his dad bought him that allowed him to see underwater.  Very cute! 

I apparently wasn't intrigued enough to get a better photo!  Had I known of its significance, I may have! 

 Next stop,  City Market, a national historic site,  once a meat and vegetable market, now full of fairly non descript vendors.  At least part of it was air conditioned, which was a welcome respite from the seriously oppressive humidity! 

We walked by some historic homes, and an unusual church, but I was so uncomfortable, I suggested a sit down lunch someplace for a cool break.  Poogan’s Porch, which my canasta friend Kathy had recommended, was nearby, so we  sat inside, thank you very much, and had a nice relaxing lunch of shrimp and grits and fried chicken for Clem of course!  

 

Pimento Cheese fritters to start lunch. 

Poogan's Porch

 Feeling tired, and with the rain starting, we decided to call it a day, and headed back to coach, and the rest of the day it poured down rain!  At least the humidity broke a bit when it stopped, and we took another stroll around the campground, enjoying the cooler air.  We managed to remember the series Genius on TV  and watched the season finale before heading to bed with the kitties! 

A quiet evening after a hot rainy day!

A different beginning.

June 19, 2017 departure          

Having moved into a new house this year, where streets are narrow and turns are tight, we came up with the idea of setting the coach up at Jonathan Dickenson park, where we left it for three days, cleaning and loading and getting ready to hit the road.  Turned out to be a great decision, as we were able to sort and reorganize in addition, and I didn't feel like I had to clean at the end of the driving day!  It also gave us the opportunity to get an earlier start, after staying overnight on Sunday.

Our early start had some serious interruptions, right from the get go, however!  First, our neighbor for these three days decided,  AFTER we started the engine, pulled out,  hooked up the car, and were ready to go, that  it was a great time to ask about our towing mechanism!  I was sitting in the drivers seat, waiting for Clem to give me the signal that the car was in neutral and we were ready, and  thinking what the heck is taking him so long,  when I  look in the side mirror to see them standing back there gabbing!  I had a notion to give a blast on the air horn, but hey....we are on vacation!  So I checked email on my phone, and he soon came around and gave me the sign.

However, we were  barely on the road an hour, when we hit a full stop, all lanes closed for an accident!  A sign said we could take alternate route at exit whatever, but by the time we inched our way there, it finally opened up, and we were able to go through, albeit slowly.  And then we get an engine light!!!  WHAT??  The entire coach has supposedly been serviced and ready to go, what could this be?

Well, I guess they did NOT check the coolant,  and it was low and setting off signals.  Which was the first warning.  I knew from experience when I suddenly had no  power that the next step is the engine just cuts out! 36,000 pounds coasting along with no power, and no power steering!  I have no option but to ease it off the road, and bring it to a stop.   Again from experience, I know if I let it sit a minute,  I could start it again, which I had to do twice before getting safely to a rest area.  At least this time I knew what was happening, and it didn't scare me, like it did when it happened in the mountains out west!  We were going up one of those inclines that slows the big trucks, and us, and all of a sudden, my foot on the pedal meant nothing!   I remember Clem saying then, why are you stopping?   I  assured him it was not my idea!  The engine just cut out, and going up hill, it was  scary!

Anyway, we stopped, had lunch at a nice picnic shelter, let the engine cool, then put in the coolant, with the very specialized equipment we learned to carry for such an occasion......an old liquid soap bottle!  Whoever designed the reservoir for coolant in this thing had to have a great sense of humor!  The top has about an inch clearance from the body, and is impossible to tip anything into.   So one must squirt it in! Once they figure out how to get the cap off that is!

Why did we stop?  Oh well....good chance to stretch!

We set out again, and though we hit some serious rain, I was feeling good, well rested (again...maybe the more relaxed departure), and decided to go for the goal.  We arrived at our camp site around 7:30 PM, after having left at 8:30 AM. Still feeling good, and enjoyed a nice stroll around the wooded campground after setting up and before calling it a night.  Looking forward to exploring Charleston for the next couple of days.