South Carolina

October 6th, Monday: Charleston is a beautiful city. We travelled a short distance to the ferry terminal and boarded the National Park Service operated foot ferry to Fort Sumter. As it turns out Fort Sumter is on an island all by itself. The closest land approach to the island is from James Island and that is where General Beauregard launched began his bombardment in April, 1861 (from Fort Johnson). The opening shots of the Civil War. Done because the 85 troops (13 were musicians) were soon to be reinforced by another 800. The general decided it would be best to combat the 85 instead of 885. The fort was surrendered some three days later as a fire started by a "hot" round (a cannonball that had been heated in a fire before being fired at the target). The intent of such a round was to start a fire and at Fort Sumter the Officer's Quarters were set ablaze. Unfortunately, this building was next to the fort's magazine. The commander decided that he didn't have the manpower to combat both the Confederates and the fire and thus surrendered. But, with the assault on Sumter, the country was at war. This trip has been amazing. And, it continues to be. Tomorrow should be a travel day. Heading south to Georgia. Thanks to all of you who have kept in touch with telephone calls and E-Mail. I wish the kids could have been more prompt with their replies, but Audrey and Hannah are busy doing math as I write this. October 5th, Sunday: Leaving Myrtle Beach and the rumble of Harley V-Twins (45 degrees, not 60 or 90 degrees as in the Italians (if you know me, you'll understand)) we headed further south to Charleston, SC. Which as are so many things in this trip is turning out to be yet another pleasant and in many ways, unexpected surprise. What a beautiful town. Architecturally beautiful. Naturally beautiful as it is nestled in the estuaries of the Cooper, Wando, and Ashley rivers. Now, we feel as if we are truly in the south. Spanish Moss drapes the trees. Palm trees line elegant neighborhoods (the closest city that we have in the Northwest is Victoria, BC). As we were driving down Highway 17 we passed numerous little towns and villages, all with Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and AME churches whose parking lots were crowded. Our campground for today (as is any that Con selects) is a winner. James Island County Park. Where they are putting out Christmas lights already for their November 14th opening of the Season. They have miles of lights out already as you drive through the winding roads of the park, but we were told that the lights that are out are nothing, representing only 20% of the lights. Wow. We ran into a couple from Snoqualmie, Washington that were Montana State alumnists. So, they had a spirited conversation with Con who reminded them, "Go Griz!" They responded with an equally enthusiastic, "Go Bobcats!" Smiles and good wishes were all around as they parted. Following homework, the days main event was a tour of Patriots Point, where we Boarded CV-10 the USS Yorktown. There were 26 aircraft aboard her including a WWII era Wildcat, Hellcat, Corsair, Dauntless, Stearman and B-25 Mitchell, along with an F-14, F-18, etc. Best of all were the Capsule of Friendship 7 (John Glenn's Mercury flight), and Apollo 8 which was the first flight to the moon. I remember watching the Christmas Eve broadcast when the crew read the story of creation from the book of Genesis. The Yorktown picked up both spacecraft following re-entry. We were able to tour the ship, visit the Congressional Medal of Honor Museum, and then went aboard the USS Laffey (Destroyer), the USS Clamagore (WWII Submarine), and the Coast Guard Cutter USS Ingham. There was also a Vietnam Support Base exhibit, but we ran out of time. Tonight, Cocoa is relaxing after three days of retrieving balls in the ocean. The girls are enjoying R&R watching their favorite cartoon, "The Pink Panther" (which has never done much for me). I'm hopeful that the program will have a segment of my personal favorite, "Foghorn Leghorn". Audrey told me that the program will also include my favorite cartoon but I am beginning to believe that her telling me this was merely a ploy of hers to get to watch "her" cartoon. We are camped on James Island. Tomorrow, we hope to visit another historically important American site situated on this very island, Fort Sumter; which is where Confederate troops fired on the Union Fort in April of 1861 beginning the Second Revolutionary War. Quote of the Day, as usual, provided by Audrey: "This is good, but the best iced tea in the world is in North Carolina." October 4th, Saturday: We've done a lot on this trip. Seen many wondrous places. Made new friends. Spent time with loved ones. A lot has been crammed into the two months. Two months? Sounds like a long time, but it hasn't been. Weeks are flying by. Move on. There are new things to see. New experiences to share. But, every now and then we are blessed with days like today. A dog chasing a ball tossed into the ocean and acting as if nothing could be better in the world. Two girls making sand castles adorned with seashells. Their father utterly content with the fact that they are still little girls and all is good in the world. Adolescence for the girls is nearing. But, for now they are simply little girls marvelling at their creation of sand and shell; And exalting in each others friendship. Big sis takes the little one by the hand and explains how to dive into the waves. With a one, two, three they disappear beneath the waves. On the other side, a hug of thanks for fear has been replaced by joy. Mom smiling and giggling as she sits in her chair on the beach and beholds the spectacle. 75 degrees, and a gentle breeze blowing in from the ocean. Must we move on? Can't we just enjoy the perfection of the day? October 3rd, Friday: We're still at Myrtle Beach and will stay here through Sunday morning. Why? Well, we learned today that NASA has scrubbed the October launch of Atlantis. Her payload will be off loaded and placed onto another shuttle to be launched in November. Too late for us. Very disappointing for Audrey, Hannah and me. (Con could take it or leave it) Now, if I had known the stupid shuttle wasn't going to go, I would have spent more time at Uncle Lester's and more time with Cousin Jim. That is what is very, very, very disappointing to me. I had arranged this trip so I could be at Cape Canaveral for the launch. . . . Which is no more. We just got back from a trip to the local "Ripley's" Aquarium. A very touristy thing to do, but fun. Audrey and Hannah especially liked petting the Sting Rays. Speaking of Sting Rays, the mother lode of today was spent on the beach, which is about sixty feet east of LaFawnduh just on the other side of the road. Audrey supervised as Hannah and I snorkelled for hours. Chasing Sting Rays. Not to worry, we couldn't catch them. Also today had an Osprey that was fishing just off the beach and hordes of pelicans. Neat for those of us who rarely see those giant birds. Speaking of hordes. There is a Harley bike thing here in town and the roads are full of them as well as the air rumbling as if they bikes should instead be WWII radial engines. I don't get it. As an example of the offerings for that particular crowd is a "topless bike wash" being offered by the local strip club. I was bummed by the scrubbing of the launch so I asked Con if I could go home to get my bike. She said, "No!" So, I asked if I could go to the local Harley shop and buy one. Again, she said, "No!" So, I asked if I could go to the local Schwinn shop and buy a bike. Since it would need washing also. She said, "No." So, I'm writing this blog instead. No Shuttle launch. No topless bike wash. It's been that kind of a day. But honestly, the surf is making that wonderful surf sound. The air is warm but there is a pleasant ocean breeze. The stars are out. The moon is a crescent low in the southern sky. Cocoa is laying at my feet after a game of fetch on the sandy beach in the pitch dark night. Audrey and Hannah are laughing. Con is content. Pretty good even without a Shuttle launch. Quote of the day, again from Audrey: "Where are the Cardinals?" October 2nd, Thursday: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is where LaFawnduh is parked tonight. In Pirate Land Family Camping Resort. The kids are besides themselves as there are three swimming pools (all working), a putt putt golf, an arcade, and a lazy river (as at Silverwood Amusement Park). But, the kicker is the ocean is just on the other side of the road from LaFawnduh. We already went to the beach and played chuck-it with the Cocoa. H and A couldn't resist and somehow their feet got wet in the surf. They both yelled, "It's warm!"