Mary, Patty and Nathan arrived by 4pm. Nathan was full of energy (as usual) and was good fun for Dan and us. Although the horses and turkey were not so sure about this energized, crazy, silly young man.
After a long drive and checking into our hotel in Chattanooga, we went to a nearby park to walk off the car-lag and kinks from sitting 9 hours.
I thought this collection of gourd bird houses was interesting.
We had a nice walk, even though Britney was not cooperative for picture taking. During dinner we got a good laugh at Joe when the lid of the pepper shaker came off and the contents of the whole container spilled out on his cottage cheese. The poor guy.
Britney and I enjoyed a beautiful sunset while walking after dinner.
We were back in the car Saturday for eight more hours of sitting.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVFHOUkMGjMxmoigoNIql1AN8kN_ZgcMtQPj218gyO64t2mT8GR9dPZ1Qwo85k-mQrrw6vOMJsKXB3Yv-Y3ypzPCGUyre6xJfPeWqE7ie2iK09fcb0U9G1Il1f1JGjlKp3yXRihboc8k/s200/4e9457c5f23dff5ddf34db34b657dd46.jpg)
Finally reaching the island at 4pm, we were ready to vacation! Yahoo!
"A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in". Robert Orben
The two car loads from Iowa had arrived earlier than us, and already had the groceries bought and unpacked.
The beach is one of the few natural, uncommercialized, family-oriented and uncrowded beaches left along the South Carolina coast.
Nathan and I wanted to explore the island on the bikes, but with very low tires, first rode them to the rental place to get air (since our tire pump was in Illinois). Nathan, on Dan's bike, later had a blow out, rupturing inner tube & rubber tire. So biking did not last long.
The water felt warm so people spent hours in the surf... swimming, boogie boarding, and body surfing.
Courtney was not so sure about joining the swimmers.
Joe got a new tire for the bike and two more were rented, so biking was again enjoyed. Joe made a trip to the airport in Charleston to get Dan and Valencia.
Tuesday we hit the beach early. It was sunny, not very windy and hot.
Patty
The water felt great.
Lauren and Shelby on the boogie boards.
Valencia coming out of the surf.
Nathan, who has been making short, six second silly videos, needed a sand castle, so we got right on that project.
Nice pedicure Teresa.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Courtney, who was badly sunburned, stayed in and knitted.
Mary and Patty.
In the afternoon, there was time spent reading, relaxing and sitting in the shade or air conditioned house.
During one bike outing, I spotted this turtle near the golf course, making its way to a different pond.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZa4QdH7WUNcovkoj-Nbzw4X9c7_WQn_ftWq6xblESfuk3Mh5VExhCiJrKteddAmG6dUmuU3klNyRY_gFvZSBPP-maRwFdSjhnUWOwrDpy_5WOHAu6x6PRaAKzkWyNZanulaGG7FjA8jc/s320/b+boat+1.jpg)
Wednesday's Heat index was 110. The Iowa clan and Dan and Valencia went to Charleston.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBaDLkcXR83f-qA3o42v95U2LSR3aC6e6U5pQSz5QhjOar6YQz0V6W-iYOx2kD5g4iMaNuE7EpX7ssed5Fppg9rMmBLg-VjXWm4sUnAYg80OqkO4xXmuFJaxrB_fgoBfDulbb6y2fAwY/s200/b+boat2.jpg)
They ate lunch at Bubba Gumb's and then the young adults went for a crazy and wild banana boat ride.
We other four went two miles down the road to The State Park Interpretative Center and Nature Trail.
Above, in a fish tank, a flounder can barely be seen. They change colors to match their environment. To the right, the tame squirrels wait at the door for a possible handout. Below, goofy hikers, not cooperating but making fun of the photographer.
A look at Indian Shell Mound, an important archeological site at least 4,000 years old.
The trail was an ideal place to view Low country forest up close. Look at the vines on the tree behind Britney.
We all got dressed up to go out to dinner.
Dan and Valencia right.
Tracy and Teresa left.
We went to the Waterfront Restaurant... that was actually inland and had no view of the water, but the food was great.
Illinoi's Villhauers and Valencia.
Below left, Joe and his three sisters, right- Volk's and Shelby
The whole gang.
Steve Hatfield, the husband of my teacher friend Sarah, who works at Glacier National Park during the summer, came to join us. He was nice enough to take our group photo.
Below, Joe and I are enjoying a drink at the bar with Steve.
We had a bit of a wait before getting seated.
Leaving with their doggie bags to go home, the girls treated these feral cats (5 total) to some left overs.
Friday we were up early and on the road before 7am. We dropped Dan and Valencia off at the airport in Savanna by 9am. Courtney, Joe and I proceeded to Tennessee. We left Britney behind due to lack of room in the vehicle. She wanted to stay at the beach anyway, since she didn't need to be home for work Monday morning.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaT9mz4fzyY1YcvL1jK6eR9ujk9_fnRYzSKlE6ubqzA2R3dj0Xhgytgp6IdFhtcW0l5xZyvEsv6qjf4WMLxZofe9yId2oLDiu5V1qZc4DcrHIv-w2nAi5LlVDMHzkj1pOaQkxI8llA4pA/s200/ar12817065519075.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4M7la4991JFcdmwq-0QBPbACmcIOJ7bYU4pRS2SE5Ye__SrNm7Nm_N9mJaBjrHqYNlGGCtFCvaOdLU64jK0V2NvLCvJigktI-rHxXthSw187X3Ip288nFotgPYCzII_L67p4fVpNNge8/s200/hr1445127-21.jpg)
I woke at 2am Sunday and went down to the hotel lobby after trying to get to sleep for 45 minutes. Selling Roni and moving are on my mind. Wanting to be productive with my time, I decided to work on this Blog. I had two cups of tea and enjoyed an early continental breakfast. Now to pack up and hit the final leg of our road home.
No comments:
Post a Comment