Savannah to Columbia to Home

September 29-30 - Oct 1

We left Savannah (Pooler really) headed towards Columbia where Ben would conduct an inspection on Monday morning.  The traffic was heavy on I-95 and the road not in the greatest of shape.  We just rolled along stopping in the small town of St. George for lunch.  We had past Walterboro because we were not hungry and there is not much else along this road.....  A search on Trip Advisor said try Sugs as the #1 place to eat in St. George.  Once you got off the interstate St. George was probably a nice little town.  Sugs was definitely the place to be after church on Sunday!  They were having a Sunday Buffet for $13 that included fried chicken, stewed turkey over rice, all kinds of veggies, mac and cheese, a big salad bar and several desserts.  All cooked by a black man who kept refilling the buffet - particularly the fried chicken!  The menu was limited due to the buffet but we just ate along with everyone else.  The place was packed and more folks came in as others left.   All good particularly the fried chicken. 

Back on the road we turned north on I-26 which would take us all the way home.  We reached our hotel in Columbia about 3 PM.  The Choice Hotel where Ben stays when inspecting at Rico is a Sleep Inn.  I had never stayed in a Sleep Inn before.  It was OK but everything seemed small.  Only 1 chair and minimal space to walk around the two queen size beds.  Everything was clean and fine it would be very small if you were staying very long!  We were not interested in a big meal so walked across the parking lot to a Shoney's and had a sandwich.  

Monday morning Ben left early for the 2 mile drive to conduct his inspection - the last in a series of inspections at this company over the past 6 months.  He was finished by 10 and was back to pick me up for the final drive home. 

We continued home on I-26 with only a stop for gas and a brief stop in Asheville for lunch.  Today as I finish load 6 of laundry and put away some of the camping gear I reflect on our first camping trip in almost 2 years.  We did fine - only thing forgotten was coffee cups. I did lose the butane for the Thermacell - found them when we got home. The old time mosquito coils worked well so we did  not need the more modern Thermacell.  We did not have to buy any groceries while gone - except for the shrimp and fish at Gay Seafood.  In fact when I purchased some drinks at the gas stop today I realized the only money I spent was for the toll road on Hilton Head!  We of course charged several meals but otherwise this was a fairly cheap vacation!

Would we go again - of course but during a slightly less warm season.  This fall seems to be unusual as we have been late Sept before and enjoyed much cooler temps.  

Savannah

September 28 Savannah

Woke up at 10:00 ! Can’t remember when I slept that late. Ben says he woke up at 9:30 so we must have both been tired out!   Missed the hotel breakfast so we walked across the parking lot and had a delicious brunch at Cracker Barrel.  Ben had French toast with blackberry sauce and ham.  Jane had eggs, apples, biscuits, and sausage.  Good breakfast.  Discussing how to spend the day – after yesterday driving in the traffic at Hilton Head – Ben did not want to go into downtown Savannah.  

We have been there several times and nothing really seemed to challenge us so we spent about 3 hours at the National Museum of the 8^th Air Force which was close to our hotel.  I Had never heard of the Mighty 8th but Ben of course knew it was the main air force in Europe during WW II.  It was remarkable well done for a private museum with no government funding.  Seems it was built in the 1990’s.  One of the gentlemen we met was 96 years old and had flown 24 successful bombing runs during the war.  After the 24^th he then parachuted into Germany to scout out the locations that still needed to be bombed.  He was using a walker but was getting around quite well.    The films were primarily actual WWII footage with added sound and lighting.  Learned a lot…

Each pin was a US Air Base in northern England

We had our briefing in a location just like those used in WW 2

Then when we got hungry we had an early dinner at Sawa-Hibachi. We had Shrimp Tempura which came with salad and soup.  It was very good – just a neighborhood restaurant about 2 miles from our hotel but the food was well done and hit the spot. 

We considered driving the 9 miles or so into Savannah for a seafood dinner of some sort – but the traffic really turned us off.  Good thing it was out last day at the beach as Ben’s sandals fell apart in the restaurant!  Back to the Merrells!

Hunting Island to Savannah

September 27, Hunting Island to Savannah

Another clear day at Hunting Island.  By 10 when we left the campsite, all the early morning clouds were gone.  Taking down camp was easy – we did have to give a little thought to what we needed to keep out in a bag for living in a hotel for a couple days.  The drive back to Beaufort was fine – more traffic at 10 AM than in late afternoon when we have been on the road the past couple days.  We turned south on Lady’s Island and headed to Port Royal.  We had visited there on an earlier trip to Hunting Island and recognized the long string of palm trees along the road heading to Parris Island.  An interesting place to visit. 

We however continued on south and turned back to the sea when we hit the parkway to Hilton Head.  We know many folks who love to visit Hilton Head and thought we should see what it had to offer.  Some years ago we had driven there and did not remember anything we particularly liked but thought we should give it another chance.  For starters there is a 4 lane divided highway that soon turns into a 6 lane divided highway…with lots of traffic.  Strike 1 

There must be one of every car dealership in the country if not 2 or 3 along this highway.  Also every chain restaurant and store you have ever heard of – and a Tanger Outlet Mall and then a Tanger Outlet Mall 2.  Never seen that.  We must have passed at least 10 golf courses – there were more we quit counting.  We kept driving and finally reached a street that was near the ocean – resorts built so closely together you could just barely make out the ocean was there.  A few restaurants and some very nice homes but no public access to the ocean for the 5 miles or so we stayed on this road.  It ended where you could pay to access the main Sea Island (not sure I have name right) Resort and Harbor Town where the lighthouse is located.  $8 to drive through more of the same to see the harbor seemed a bit much so we turned around. Strike 2

We thought we would find somewhere to eat lunch and put a sub shop in Waze – was supposed to be close - but we ended up on a bypass headed off the island -  well after nearly an hour and a half driving around and seeing little besides traffic, shopping centers, golf courses, condos, hotels, and resorts – we had had enough. So, when we came to a Chick-Filet we stopped and ate!  We were back in Bluffton and again saw the miles and miles of car sale lots, shopping malls, private resorts, golf courses etc.   I am sure if you knew where to go and how to get there Hilton Head is lovely.  We did not know where to go and there was no visitor center or we missed it.  Sites to see on Trip Advisor were mainly churches or resorts.  Strike 3  Anyway - we gave Hilton Head a try.

Headed on down I-95 and found our hotel in Pooler which is on the interstate about 8 miles inland from Savannah.  A cool room and a little rest was just what we needed!   The #1 restaurant in Pooler was Pie Society – it had really great reviews and sounded quite interesting and different.  A British place that baked all their own pies – savory and sweet to eat in or take home to bake.  Everything baked fresh each day.  Also all sorts of British teas etc to buy.  We have had plenty of seafood so thought we would give it a try.  It was close too and Ben was not wanting to drive too far….  It was sort of like a deli – but with interesting British décor – Monty Python on one wall and Winston Churchill on another! 

You ordered and then took your food to eat at nearby tables.  Ben had Beef and Potato Pie (they were out of Beef and Kidney) and Jane had Chicken and Veggie Pie.  Both were pretty good the filling was full of meat and veggies but the crust was quite heavy.  It was fresh and tasted fine just couldn’t eat all the heavy crust.  Then we got coconut and peach pie to go and took it back to the hotel. It was definitely a change of pace!  Nice to take a good shower and certainly fell asleep quickly. 

Hunting Island Day 4

Thursday September 26 Hunting Island Day 4

Woke up to an overcast day.  Cooler temperatures for sure but they did not last long as by 10 the cloud cover was gone.  Finished my book after cooking pancakes for breakfast.  Our activities for the morning were Ben wanted to go swimming and Jane wanted to try again to post the blog.  We have enough internet in campsite as we are within sight of the store where the internet is located.  Not enough internet to post the blog.  The other problem is the bright light causing trouble with seeing the screen.  Ben made it to the ocean and had a brief swim – very cold he reports. A wave knocked him down and he had trouble getting up but finally made it back to shore!  

I spent an hour trying to post the blog and finally gave up.  Have the photos and the written text but just can’t manage to get it posted.  Today was as hot and muggy as yesterday so we did not do much exploring or beach activities in the afternoon - the heat and humidity really take it out of you! We did plan ahead and brought lots of good books on our kindles so enjoy being close enough to see the ocean through the trees and escape into the cool when needed.  Relaxing if not exciting!

Tonight we headed to the Foolish Frog for dinner - it is in Frogmore a small community about 8 miles back from the shore. Jane had shrimp and Ben had crab cakes - both very good.  

When we got back to camp we walked on the beach a while.  Interesting how different it is high tide from low tide.  The surf is probably only 50 yards from the road at high tide - and maybe 100 or more yards further out at low tide.      

Another quiet night.

Hunting Island Day 3

Wednesday September 25 Hunting Island Day 3

This morning it is muggy since there is not much breeze.  The shade here is great for breakfast and supper, but not so much middle of the day. After checking the weather until Thursday there is no rain in sight so we are not putting up the shade tent for the table.  It does give some shade but cuts off the breeze so just did not seem worth the effort. The Sprinter gives us shade until about 1:30 and that is when we make plans to go somewhere.  Plan for today is eat lunch at Shrimp Shack – go fishing in surf and walk on beach or build in sand. Then showers and head back towards the mainland for supper.  Jane has a break from cooking for the day.

 We have decided to head to Savannah for Friday and Saturday nights and stay in a hotel.  We remembered a good restaurant we had wanted to return to – but in checking back it was in 2010 so we will need to check recent reviews!  Should be enough of interest there to keep us busy for a couple days.  Maybe we will drive down the local roads instead of interstate- stopping in Hilton Head just to see what folks like so much about it.   It is now evening and all is confirmed for hotel in Savannah.  However Johnny Harris is no more – sold out and opened as a different BBQ place.  The old architecture was what we remembered - as well the good food.  They evidently sold out the old building for location location location and a shopping mall of some sort went up in its place.  Oh well – sometimes you really can’t go back! 

We drove across the bridge to Shrimp Shack.  It was much as described on Trip Advisor – pay cash, order at window and pick up your food to eat inside screened area or outside under the trees.  We were expecting this super fantastic shrimp burger from all the reviews.  Well it was lots of  chopped shrimp in a pattie on a bun.  Tasteless shrimp on a soggy bun.  We ordered the large one and split it and that was plenty for us.  The fries were fine – and the tea with ice was fantastic!  We will not however be going back for another shrimp burger. 

It was showing 96 on thermometers and no breeze at all.  We chose to take a siesta in the air conditioned sprinter instead of going to the beach…it was just too hot.  Ben actually took a nap and Jane read a book.   Later in the afternoon we took showers and headed back to Lady’s Island to Dockside for dinner.  Parking Lot was full but we were seated right away. We both had scallops – Ben scallops picatta and Jane lightly breaded and fried.  They were some of the best tender sweet scallops either of us remembers.  It was a struggle but Jane managed to eat all 12 of the scallops.  The fries were great but did not eat many since the scallops were better! Nice service and great views of the marina too.

Drove back to camp and watched a Spencer for Hire movie.  Today was definitely a do nothing day!  From the photos it looks like all we did today was eat!

Hunting Island Day 2

Tuesday September 24  Hunting Island Day 2

Clear blue skies, ocean in the distance through the pine trees – temperature in the 70’s with a nice breeze.  Coffee in our new Hunting Island mugs and a nice breakfast.  We have been leaving the air conditioner on at night as it gets warm and sticky – the humidity. 

We headed over to the beach for a while – tide out small waves lapping.  Ben had seen a lot of shells mostly broken yesterday but nothing but plain sand today.  Maybe 20 people up and down the beach.  Not too much soft sand to make it through to get to the hard packed down sand.  We brought our chairs and enjoyed watching all the activity and the soft waves.  

Ben on beach above - turtle nest below

Then back to camp for lunch.  Ben confirmed he is expected in Columbia SC on Monday am for an inspection so we began checking out where to stay Friday and Saturday night.  No room at the inn here so we will begin looking for where to go unless there is a cancellation.  Keep checking back they told me. 

Lunch was the shrimp I steamed yesterday – some crackers and a little kidney bean salad.  Ben began setting up all his crabbing and fishing gear and we headed south to the end of the island for him to fish.  I chose to stay in the van under a palm tree and read my book!  He fished for about an hour and caught and released a couple fish.   I walked down with him to collect his crab trap.   History on crab trap is we had one that had been about the Harris family for some years….lost several years ago maybe here Ben does not remember….so he ordered a new one on amazon – from china - $4 delivered!  So he had a low cost trap baited with chicken necks near the dock. 

When Ben pulled the crab trap up ..up..up. In the blink of an eye I took the photo and the crab trap was gone…to join others in the bottom of the sea.  So we packed up and headed back to camp.

Luckily I had bought flounder to broil for dinner since we were empty handed from the fishing.  Ben however had enjoyed his hour and half fishing!  Showers felt good and then Jane cooked the flounder, some hush puppies from Fisherman’s Dock at home (from the freezer) and a veggie.  We also ate the last of the steamed shrimp. 

We had two interesting conversations with neighbors – one couple from Minnesota that had been on many of the same journeys we had in past – the stickers on the Sprinter often encourage conversations. We enjoyed swapping stories.  Another couple were very interested in the Sprinter – wife wanted something she could drive instead of the huge RV they have. 

Again to bed in cool air-conditioned temperatures for a TV show from Ben’s hard drive and some reading.

Hunting Island Day 1

Monday September 23 Day One Hunting Island

Breakfast went fine until we realized what we had forgotten – the coffee cups!  Since we usually leave home drinking a cup of coffee it is not on the checklist!!  We had left about 10:30 for our drive to Durham so had already had all our coffee.  We have lots of paper coffee cups that I use for cooking eggs in the microwave so they worked for coffee! I can see a new Hunting Island Coffee mug or two in our purchases today.

Today will be a restful day – go to the beach. Check on how to permanently set up camp – this site is a great location but poorly configured for power, table, etc.  There is a huge 2 foot stump right where we would want to have the table.  Not sure we will put up table tent as weather is perfect and we have good shade.   We can change sites but all those available are poor locations – long way from bathhouses and the beach….so we think we will just make this site work. 

Ben walked to the beach for a quick peak and came back to say tide was way out…will go back later.  With nothing that had to be done we did nothing until we ate a bite of lunch and got ready to head out to explore a little.  We were anxious to see how much damage to the island as a whole.  We drove to the south end of the island – the pier is permanently closed and they do not allow fishing around it. This damage is from several years ago and has not ever been repaired.  We drove on several of the back park roads and observed many locations where trees were down – some recent but many from several years ago.  At the South Beach location it was now high tide and there was no beach at all.  About 10 feet from the parking lot was tide.

South Beach - near high tide and there is no beach

Ben found several places he wants to be try fishing tomorrow.  We saved the lighthouse area for another day.  We drove across the bridge to Harbor Island and Gay Fish Company – bought shrimp and flounder as well as some bait.  We also checked out the open time for the Shrimp Shack.  This is a small restaurant across the highway from Gay Fish Co. – owned by them I understand.  It serves only lunch time and I was unsure of the hours.  We have never been to the Shrimp Shack but understand the Shrimp burger is very special. We plan to make it there for lunch one day this week.   They are building a new bridge between Harbor Island and Hunting Island. It is a 2 lane draw bridge that I am sure is a traffic tie up on weekends.  I see no signs of widening the road though so not sure what their long term plan is.

We made it back to camp, took care of a few camp tasks.  I lost the bug spray and needed to find it – done it had fallen in the trash.  Our dinner tonight was excellent – shrimp scampi – rice and corn…it was lick the plate good.  I also steamed shrimp to have for lunch tomorrow.  We also bought flounder that I will cook tomorrow night.  Then we will be going out one or two nights. 

As I sat here typing this blog entry, I heard rustling and saw a young deer eating grass right beside the picnic table! 

The temperature is wonderful – high 80’s but very comfortable in the shade with a breeze from the ocean.   

Away - Family, Reunion and to the Beach

September 20,21 and 22, 2019

Kingsport to Durham to Hunting Island

We left Kingsport and headed up I 81 and then turned east and south to Durham for a short visit with son Jeff and his family.  Lots of catching up, good food, and a movie filled Friday evening.  On Saturday we headed to the NC State Golf Club in Raleigh for the annual reunion of Ben's college friends.  A good time was had by all those in attendance, We missed several folks not there for health reasons.  The crew has certainly all gained lots of gray hair!  

H2 Friends for over 50 years - l to r Bowie Gray, Stanley Smith, Gene Hendrickson, Tom O'Bryant, Ben Harris, and seated Buck Pickard

 We headed back to Durham for more visiting - it is amazing how our little grandson has become a teenager - does not seem possible.  Also seems impossible but no photos were taken - grandmother falling down on the job!

Sunday am we left Jeff’s in Durham about 9:15 and headed east and south to Hunting Island.  The trip was primarily on Interstates 40 and 95 until we reached the exit to Beaufort SC.  We listened to the remaining half of a Stone Barrington mystery and had a quick taco lunch at The Sombrero Restaurant at South of the Border.  South of the Border is about as I remembered it from several years ago – a tourist trap that has past its prime.  Forty years ago it was an in place – not so much now.  The restaurant was in good repair and had nice furnishings and tile work – so someone cares for it – the food was OK. Nothing special but it was not bad.

Ben wanted tacos

We arrived in Beaufort and made our way out to Hunting Island.  Only thing I noticed different from last time we were here was a new WalMart Shopping Center the last thing before you leave St. Helena Island for the 15 or so miles of not much till you reach the barrier islands – just the way we like it!

Hunting Island Campground was in better shape than I was expecting.  Before the Hurricane that almost destroyed it several years ago the camp store/office was in the middle of an about 250 site campground.  Now the camp store/office is about 100 yards from the beach – half the campground is gone.  It is very obvious how many trees are gone.  We always camped on the loops that are gone – I remembered the area where the main campground is now as very wooded.  From where I am sitting typing this – I can see 8-10 huge stumps and that is only 3 campsites.  We are on the second row from the main road and can see the waves breaking beyond the camp store.   The bath house is not far – one campsite away but it is a berm not a site so we have no really close neighbors. Getting the sprinter set up is going OK.  We have not been camping in nearly 2 years so it is taking a bit longer than it did 2 years ago!

Had planned a hot roast beef sandwich for dinner and all went well – nothing forgotten.  The TV and computer system worked and Ben was able to find us a session of As Time Goes By from his hard drive of shows….some reading and out like a light for some very good sleeping.

View towards ocean - this area no longer active campsites

Mount Mitchell and Asheville NC

On a beautiful Memorial Day we set off early for a trip to the North Carolina Mountains.  We realized neither of us had ever been to Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the Appalachian Mountains and also the highest peak in eastern mainland North America.  For some reason I had thought Mount Washington in New England was higher but no it is about 400 feet lower than Mount Mitchell which is 6,684 ft.

We left about 8:30 after Jane had time to review her garden.  Swapped the tomatoes and beans this year with the beans on the south garden and the tomatoes on the north garden...we will see how it goes!

We headed towards Asheville.  The views were beautiful and it looked like it was going to be a great day!

WAZE sent us right into downtown Asheville where we got off I 40 at Charlotte Avenue and almost immediately were on Town Mountain Road - a VERY curvy 13 miles of 2 lane mountain road that would lead to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Deep woods with very nice homes built anywhere that a house could fit or hang on the mountain.  Jane was holding on tightly and barely took two photos - The Sprinter and Ben love mountain roads - Jane not so much.  Sorry no photos of the huge homes and condos in that 13 miles - but a quick real estate search told us the homes ranged from $600,000 to $3.5 million.

After the 13 miles of VERY curvy road we hit the Blue Ridge Parkway and were on a normal curvy road with tunnels and some rhododendron still blooming. The rhododendron were probably at their peak here 2 weeks ago. The sun was shining and the views were beautiful.

Soon we reached Mount Mitchell State Park which can be reached only on a spur road from the Parkway.  We entered clouds and the views were not as clear but still striking.  There was a restaurant but we did not visit it.  We did visit the visitor center, a small museum, and a gift shop at the parking lot about 900 feet from the observation tower.  There was a student from Appy state giving a short talk on bears and other wildlife.  We walked about halfway to the observation tower - the wind was blowing, the sun gone, and it was about 55 degrees,  The incline was steep and without hats or warm jackets - we chickened out!  Since we were in a cloud there would have been little to see at the peak.

There were many wildflowers blooming.  The most striking were the bluets and a type of yellow ragwort that bloomed at high altitudes - they were like a carpet along the roadway.  This photo certainly does not do justice.  The gray part on the photo is a carpet of bluets.

From Mount Mitchell we retraced our steps back towards Asheville and continued on the Parkway south instead of turning off on the Town Mountain Road.  We crossed I 40 and several other Asheville highways and got off at US 25 or Hendersonville Road about 2 miles north of the Tupelo Honey - our lunch spot.  We knew Asheville was in the mountains - but it is literally in the mountains.  Except for a glimpse of the highways when we crossed over - we would not have known we were so close to the urban sprawl of the city.  Little or no traffic and we were from one side of the city to the other in less than 20 minutes.

We had a gift certificate from Jeff and Robin for Tupelo Honey and had been looking for a good day to cash it in!  Today was the day!  Jane had a Cobb Salad with added fried chicken and Ben had the special fried chicken with a potato casserole and some soup.  We brought home a very rich chocolate caramel cake.  Thanks Jeff and Robin!

For the return home WAZE took us back on the Parkway to I-640 and then it was a straight shot home.  Certainly a different trip in and around Asheville where we usually get lost at least once!
Home about 4:00 after a nice day trip.