Charleston, SC What a great walkable city!

March 23, 2015 - Charleston, SC - We were pointed to the James Island County Park Campground by my uncle Ward and his friend Warren.  What a great spot, 6 miles from downtown Charleston!  Plenty to do here to experience southern culture and the rich history of this city and region.

First you arrive via the Ravenel Bridge, with a main span of 1,546 feet it is the 3rd largest cable-stayed bridge in the Western Hemisphere.

We visited the Middleton Place Plantation. An idyllic spot, but we recognized continuously, throughout the duration of our visit, that it was created through the institution of slavery and the slave labor force that died (and survived) for it.  We were fortunate to participate in an hour long, guided interpretation, of the slavery question and life on the plantation.  Good discussion!  The Middleton plantation claims to be the first “formal garden” in the US (think Versailles).  Geometrically laid out gardens, boxwood hedges and trees.  Watch out for the alligators in the Mill pond.  The plantation made it’s money with the commodity rice crop, enabled, of course, through the institution of slavery and the labor which it drove.

Watch out for the gators!

Great guide on the "beyond the fields" slavery interpretive tour.

Creeping things hanging around the Spanish Moss.

And STAY ON THE PATH!

On a rainy Sunday we caught the noon tour of Fort Sumter, the site of the start of the Civil War.

 It is only accessible by boat, 30 minute ride out through Charleston Harbor, an hour at the fort then back.  A great tour, and wonderful depictions of the history and knowledgeable guides.

The" Spirit of the Low Country"

The fort itself.
It was fun watching the Dolphins play in the harbor on the ride.

Myrtle Beach - Beach, boardwalk and SkyWheel!

March 18, 2015 - Shallotte, NC - Spent yesterday (Happy St. Patty's Day!) down in Myrtle Beach.  81 deg beach weather, what a treat!  Walked the beach, boardwalk and rode the SkyWheel, nice way to get an "overview" of the city.

Outer Banks and Barrier Islands are a "Most Excellent Adventure!"

March 16, 2015 - Shallotte, NC - We traveled today from Newport, NC that was central to a great stretch of coastline here including Beaufort, Morehead City, and the Crystal Coast including Emerald Isle and other spots. 

Had our first batch of rainy weather in Beaufort, but managed to salvage the day with a visit to a great Maritime Museum.  A  “must see” for visitors to the Beaufort area!  Very well presented displays of the maritime history of the area.  From Blackbeard and his pirates, aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, to the Civil War.  To the development and evolution of local working vessels like the Sharpie, to modern recreational sport fishing, this intimate museum is a real treat!  Displays and presentations are accessible to all ages and an hour or two spent here is well worth the visit!

The next day proved much better weather wise, and we had a great trip out to Fort Macon. 

We were tipped off to Fort Macon by locals volunteering at the nearby Maritime Museum across the  bay in Beaufort.  This is a “must see” for the area, very well maintained historic fort with history from the Civil War through WWII.  Excellent, up close and personal, displays of fort life and depictions of the fort over its history from design through construction and use over almost 200 years.  Beautifully kept grounds, and access to the beach that the Fort was meant to protect. Lovely spot for a picnic too!

Finished up our tour of the Crystal Coast with a stop in Emerald Isle at the Bogue Inlet Pier. 

We relaxed with a long walk on the beach beside the pier.  This is a “multi-use” area, so mind the jeeps, trucks and cars motoring on the spacious beach.  It is fun to watch the surfers on either side of the pier, and mind the fishing lines from both the pier and shore fishermen.  Plenty of young folks, families, and couple strolling the beautiful beach.

And again, can't get away from the obligatory sunset shots, this one from the pier at our campground!

Cape Hatteras, Kitty Hawk, Wright Brothers - Quiet in the Off-Season

March 12, 2015 - Rodanthe, NC - Outer Banks, - Had a great meal last night at Good Winds here, bacon wrapped scallops and fish and chips.  Easy run down to the Outer Banks from Virginia Beach yesterday, flat country roads.   The day before we had a nice visit down to the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge near Sandbridge, VA south of VB.  Saw : Cormorants, Turkey Vulture, Snow, Canada and Blue Geese, Tundra Swan, Mallard, Canvasback, Pintail and Northern Shoveller Ducks, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Coots, Gulls, Terns, Mourning Doves, Flicker, BlueJay, Crow, Starling,  Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Common Grackle, Carolina Wren and Yellow Rumped Warbler!  Not bad!

Back Bay Wildlife Refuge - Dunes Trail

On the way to our campground (KOA in Rodanthe) stopped at the Outer Banks Info stop in Kitty Hawk which is host to the Century of Flight Memorial.

6 miles down the road is the Wright Brothers National Monument, finished in 1932 to commemorate the first manned flight at Kill Devil Hills:

Pretty impressive, and a nice spot for lunch, although what's all the fuss about 892 feet and 59 seconds in the air?

Finished up the day walking the endless beach and dunes.

What to do in Virginia Beach?

March 9, 2015 - Virginia Beach, VA
So while you are watching (and HEARING!) the fighter jets from Naval Air Station Oceana, what can you do in VA Beach?  How about walking the 3 mile long boardwalk?

Pretty deserted in the off-season, with 90% of shops shutdown, but quite a lot of construction, maintenance, repair work being done on the resort hotels along the beach.  Beautiful wide sand beach and Naval ships cruising by on a new deployment.

Be sure to stop at the Military Aviation Monument at 25th Street on the boardwalk.  An excellent review of the history, accomplishments, mission, and equipment of Naval Aviation.  Fascinating and seemingly comprehensive, I was fascinated.

How about a 26 foot tall statue of Neptune!  Stop at 31st street on the boardwalk.

We decided to finish the day with a workout on the exercise stations around the park at Mount Trashmore.  Yup, Mount Trashmore, a wonderful urban park built on the town's old landfill!

We Found Spring! It's in Virginia Beach, VA!

March 8, 2015 - Virginia Beach, VA

We left this morning, 7:30 AM (Daylight savings time switch last night) from  North Wales, PA and thanked Sandy and Dave Mraz for their hospitality (and all the delightful meals, salmon, ribs, belgian waffles, yum!).  Saw flocks of thousands of Snow Geese in Delaware and Maryland. 

Parked with the Big Rigs at the rest areas.

Were excited by the color of the water at the 20 mile long Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel!

After leaving  MA in 1 deg weather, warmed up to 40 in PA on Saturday, and we’re now in Virginia Beach in 65 Degree weather!  Took  us two days to chase Spring, and I think we found it!


Here at the VA Beach KOA!

Underway! When is 27 Degrees a Warm Day? Today!

March 7, 2015 - North Wales, PA

First Day was a Long Day, trying to chase spring by heading south.
Traveled from Greenfield, MA to our friends Sandy and Dave's house in North Wales, PA


Greenfield, MA to North Wales, PA



We left 1 degree weather:

And got up to a high of 27 degrees in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Balmy!  Will explore greater Philadelphia today!