Last day couldn't have been more perfect

 Started the morning with devotions on the porch. The birds were chirping and I saw my first Robin of  spring.

This is where we stayed for two nights. I love old houses, I just wouldn't want to pay for their upkeep. Yowzer, what a bill that would be and constantly so. Even though it was very well kept I saw many places that needed attention.

After devotions we had the most, and I mean the most delicious breakfast. Not because the other places only served carbs such as bagels, cereal and the like, but because it was absolutely the best.  First they served a fruit smoothie, devine,  Eggs served how you want them, sausage or  bacon, grits or potatoes. and toast of your choice. Coffee with heavy cream, did I miss that? A great way to begin a day of adventure.

                                         A gate house on one of the plantations. Built 1765

Some of the grounds on the plantation. It was so beautiful.

                                              These Cypress Trees literally live in the water! 

After breakfast we explored Edenton

This is the oldest Georgian style courthouse in the country. Still holds court to this day about once a month.

Canons by the waters edge served to defend this area.

Looking down from the courthouse to the water.

                                             Evan sitting in the judges seat in the courthouse

                                                    Time for a stop and a cup of coffee. I stopped in a store that had all kinds of things. I saw a framed piece of artwork that I had a love/hate feeling about, but for some reason I couldn't leave it in the store. It will add to my certainly eclectic collection of artwork, but I'm not at all sure where I will put it. I guarantee it will be a conversation piece that will have people exclaiming, "What the heck and you paid good money for this?"

                    We were blessed to get a personal tour of several buildings. One was the lighthouse.

                             We were able to climb all the way to the cupola over looking the bay.

Today is 78 degrees. I'm writing this sitting on the porch. An ever so slight breeze kisses my face as I sit here. It's lovely! We leave tomorrow for home. We say goodbye to the south hoping to visit again sometime. At the beginning of this trip we really did not know where we were going to end up staying. We asked the Lord to guide our plans and where we should stay. He was indeed faithful as a travel guide. We road our bikes everywhere and He protected us each step of the way. I'll bet we rode 30 or so miles on our bikes and about 12-15 hours in the saddle. We went down every side street and Main street in each town. I didn't know before we left it was going to be such a biking vacation, but it was and I do not regret any mile we took. The weather was perfect each day and we saw such wonderful things.

Since we had such a big breakfast we skipped lunch and will enjoy dinner somewhere here in town. So this ends my last post of our trip.

ALASKA will be my next one, but perhaps not quite as regular. Can't imagine why!

Love you all,

💟💟💟

Day 6 and a 6 hour drive from Charleston SC to Edenton, NC for 2 days

It was a long drive day today, but what makes it worth it is that we will be here for two nights and only 5 hours from home rather then 10 from Charleston.

Our room at the Inner Banks B&B 

Edenton, NC

A lovely room in a house with wrap round porches and big comfy rockers.
 

Lots of light which makes the room sunny and bright.

Our room is up these stairs and to the right. Beautiful house in a very sweet town.

An 1886 lighthouse that once stood sentry at the mouth of the Roanoke River. It was restored and relocated in Edenton Bay. It is a favorite for tourists. We were able to peer through all the windows. If you notice the little building off to the left? Well it wasn't for storage, it was the outhouse and what passed through the body fell straight into the water. Look out below!!!

The view from the lighthouse as it stands today.

Evan and I took a quick spin down the main street of Edenton. Can't wait to walk the sidewalks and poke into all the little shops along Main Street tomorrow.

We ate a simple, but delicious dinner at The Waterman's Grill and looked down at the street below.

Enjoying our evening in the room and pretending we actually live here. Back to reality soon enough. However, my reality is pretty darn sweet!

Love all my peeps!!!

💖💖💖

OXOXOX

Moving on up...the coast to Isle of Palms

 A carriage ride through downtown Charleston was a great way to say goodbye to a city we really enjoyed. At breakfast another couple staying at our hotel asked if we had taken a carriage ride yet. We had not and told them we hadn't. They asked us if we could use 2 carriage rides through the city before we left. We were thrilled to receive them and after we had our breakfast we packed up our belongings and walked to the place where we were to pick up the carriage.  

Since we had ridden our bikes all over the city the last two days we saw most of where he took us, however he brought so much color to the city with all the history he told us. 

After we finished the ride we headed to Starbuck's for a coffee and drove up to IOP (isle of Palms)

We spent  few hours on the beach soaking up the warm sunshine and walking the beach.

first short stop was Sullivan Beach. Just stayed for a few minutes and drove to IOP

Evan enjoying a walk on the beach. So crowded as you can see.

After we checked into our room we showered and went to dinner at Carson and Cait's best friends house in Mount Pleasant. Lauren and Ben and their three children were such a joy to visit. We talked, walked the neighborhood, had dinner and talked some more. Goodness, we loved being with them. We came back to the hotel and will leave tomorrow morning for the next part of our adventure. I will tell you all about that tomorrow. One thing I will say is that her place has been in Martha Stewart's  magazine. Pretty darn excited to stay there. 

Love you all,

OXOX

Fort Sumpter and a full day riding our bikes around Charleston

After a scrumptious breakfast at the hotel we hopped on our mode of transportation (bikes) and road to the ferry landing. The coffee was yummy!

The ferry deposited us at the fort where we had 1 hour to explore. The fort is not that big so it was sufficient time. We spent most of our time talking with a volunteer guide on the forts history. As it turns out he was a retired medical biologist and had some thoughts on the virus we are all experiencing. He was quite interesting to talk with during our visit.

Cannons petrified where they stood telling a great story of battle and struggle. 

inside the battery

Looking towards Charleston

Since we were the first tour of the day we were able to witness the raising of the American flag. The ranger said, "every morning this flag goes up in the morning and comes down in the evening." he went on to say, "The flag is raised rapidly to symbolize the rapid rise the United Stated in the community of nations and is lowered very slowly to represent all the lives that were lost defending our country." It was quite sobering.

When returning to the landing we went past a tug boat guiding the barge into the harbor. When I learned what the barge was carrying it made me think of the tug being God and the barge being me. The barge was caring sludge dredged from the harbor. It made me think of the barge being me and the tug being God. If the tug boat was not attached to the barge it would sink as it traveled from all the sludge inside. I thank God that he attaches himself to me so I do not sink with all the sludge (sin) in me. He not only carries me, he relieves me of the weight of my sin with his forgiveness. 

After we arrived back on land we road our bikes to a very recommended deli for lunch. We ordered the Citadel Sandwich which is the local favorite. It was delicious. Evan and I split the lunch and were so glad we did. The sandwich was huge! 

This is a picture of the Spanish Moss clinging to the trees. In the graveyard it made for a rather eerie scene

There are some houses in Charleston by the water that are 30,000 sq. ft. As we road by we stopped and talked to one of the workers. He was cleaning the marble on the outside of the building. Actually he was the butler. This isn't the house but it does show how deep they are. The lots are long and narrow, so they build to fit the lot. The Butler's wife came out, she was the chef. We had the most delightful and informative conversation with them. They told us all about their life as full time man/maid-servants. It was like talking to a real life Downton Abbey couple who serve at the beacon call of their "masters".

At the moment it's 4:45 almost time for a glass of wine and hors d'oeuvres. Such a civilized way to live. Only thing is, I have to walk all the way down stairs to get it, and carry my own plate. Such is life when one is poor. NOT!!!

I am rich. So stinking rich.

Love you all to the moon and back!

💔💔💔

On to Charleston, and you know what they say about location location location

The Kings Courtyard Inn Charleston, SC

Outside the hotel

 Before we left Georgetown and knowing we were going to a rather uppity hotel Evan  told me we couldn't drag in all the luggage we brought. He did not want to look like the hobos we really are. Humph,  We arrived in Charleston eager to see this hotel. It's in a great place where we could just park our car and bike everywhere. We must have ridden several hours this afternoon and yes, unfortunately but kinda expected, I fell off my bike but only once. People came to my aid even a policeman. The good news is that I didn't hurt myself except a bit of pride. And since I hate that anyway, so good riddance. With a single tear in my eye, I brushed myself off and off we went. Hopefully that should be the only fall for this trip. Lord willing! 

We were stopped by a couple of ladies who asked us where we got our bikes as they were probably wanting to rent some. I was very close to giving her mine, but it would have been a long walk back to the hotel. She said it has been 10 years since she has ridden one and Evan thought to encourage her by telling her I was 70 years old. Good grief. I'm not ready to sit in a rocking chair and knit socks just yet. Falling off a bike is way more fun!

First trip on bikes was Rainbow Row. The cutest and oldest cluster of row homes that are intact in the United States. Each house is a different color hence the name Rainbow Row. So cute!!!

The cobblestone roads in some places made riding our bikes a tad bit bumpy. But, they sure were pretty. 

This was one of my favorite places. Pineapple Fountain with the backdrop of Cooper River in Waterfront Park. So pretty and on such a beautiful day.

Wrapping up the day with wine and cheese. Two glasses of wine for the win.

Cheers to a good day.

Cheers to a very good man. A man who cares for me, who looks out for me and cherishes me just as I am. I do love him. We grew up together and have been married almost 44 years. We are enjoying this season of our lives.

This is what $200 gets you per night. What is great is the location. We can walk or ride our bikes everywhere we want. Tomorrow we are riding our bikes to where we will pick up the ferry to Ft. Sumter. Looking forward to that very much. 

I bid you all a good day. I love you all who read this and are sharing this journey with us. OXOX

Georgetown, bikes and brilliant sunshine

 Georgetown has the most beautiful tree lined streets ever! I'm not sure what they are called, but they must stay somewhat green all year. It's lovely riding through a canopy of trees like this on our bikes. Today was gorgeous out. slightly breezy and a bit chilly under the shade. However when the sun has its full effect on you it is toasty warm.

After a hot breakfast at the hotel, Evan and I headed down the coast a bit to McClellanville which is half- way between Georgetown and Charleston. In route we noticed a Historical park called Hampton Plantation. we made a mental note to stop by on the way back. McClellanville is a tight knit community with lovely homes and one place to eat. Small but quaint. Stopped a lady on our way out taking a walk and got the whole lowdown on the town. Her husband was a third or fourth generation resident. So enjoyed our chat with her.  Now on to the plantation.

I always thought cotton was the cash crop down here only to find out around here it was RICE. And a huge crop made plantation owners very wealthy. It must be because all the wet boggy areas. This particular plantation was the "home" of 350 slaves. They worked seven days a week, doing extremely difficult work in the hot sun, making their "masters" rich. Evan and I tried to immerse ourselves in what it must have been like to work under such conditions. We could not imagine how difficult it truly was. I respect their work ethic even if it was forced. Man, they worked hard. And I complain? 

This tree was actually planted by George Washington in 1791. It would take at least 6 people hand in hand to to completely circle this massive tree.

Spanish Moss hangs from most trees                                  Me sitting on the porch of Hampton Mansion

A beautiful Camellia in bloom made me think of all my beautiful granddaughters

Clinging Spanish moss

It's hard to believe this does not kill the tree. This tree will bloom and be beautiful as the spring progresses.

 

Winyah Bay and the waterway going up through Georgetown. All of those million $$ boats must travel up through there and into the inner-coastal waterway many docking in Georgetown.

As I write this we are looking for a place to stay in downtown Charleston. Gettin' sticker shocked big time, but we are going to pull the trigger and pretend we live the rich life. For two nights I will turn a blind eye to the cost and try to enjoy every minute of this place. It's called the King's Courtyard. What swayed me was the wine, cheese and hors d'oeuvres they serve at 5pm to guests. And a sip of sherry at 9. Ain't that hoity toity. But to be honest the other places in the area were totally outrageous. I have great respect for increments of $100 bills. So The King's Courtyard is our choice. Opulent, but not totally outrageous. The wine will help with the cost especially when I get to drink Evan's glass! Maybe I should break my rule and eat at Taco Bell tonight! Ya think???