Carolina on My Mind

On our way to Savannah we learned of Mrs. Wilkes’ Boarding House. We had budgeted enough money to do a tour or something touristy. Since Mrs. Wilkes’ came so highly recommended we decided that lunch would be what we splurged on. To find Mrs. Wilkes’ drive down James St. until you see the line of people. We waited in line and then were seated at a table with three other couples. The meal is served family style and costs $13 per person. Lunch consisted of, creamed corn, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, rutabaga, lima beans with black eyed peas, beets, cabbage, macaroni and cheese, biscuits, spinach, potato salad, okra and stewed tomatoes, two kinds of rice, fried chicken, sweet tea and banana pudding for desert. It was fantastic!





After lunch we walked all through the historic district and along the river. Savannah is a beautiful city.



Savannah City Hall.






Windows along the Riverwalk.

From there we headed for Charleston and a visit with my Godparents, Rick and Edith. Edith took Dan to the surfing beach on Folly Island and he returned with a huge grin on his face. The next morning we went out at high tide and caught some really fun waves. We were lucky enough to hit Charleston during their Spoleto Festival. The festival is a two-week arts extravaganza. We strolled through the craft and arts fairs and took in an evening, outside Pops and Bluegrass concert. Also we got the .25 cent city tour, Rick and Edith are some of the best tour guides around. They showed us the city, battery district and the beaches.

Rick and Edith loaned us their sea kayaks and we paddled from their dock all the way out to Fort Sumter. We are guessing that this was about and 7 mile paddle round trip. The fort was very interesting and well restored. On the return trip we were entertained by about nine porpoises who were playing where the river pours into the channel.


Fort Sumter.





A very special thanks to Edith and Dr. Louie Costa, for making arrangements to have my, still fat, cheek checked out. Dr. Costa is Rick and Edith’s neighbor and he just so happens to be a facial plastic surgeon. He agreed that I have a fat cheek, but assured me it will go away eventually and that I hadn’t managed to break anything. This was a relief for both Dan and I to learn and we are grateful to both Dr. Costa for squeezing us in and Edith for being a worrywart.


The dock at Rick and Edith's.

Mostly though during our stay we just hung out at their very comfortable house and enjoyed their company. Have I mentioned lately how great it is to have this chance to spend time with our friends and loved ones? We had a hard time leaving Charleston and have made a promise to return soon.

Saturday we hit the road again, this time for Charlotte, North Carolina and our friends Kevin and Leslie Mueller. Dan and Kevin grew up together and he is a good old rafting dirt bag of the finest quality. His lovely wife Leslie has managed to refine him a bit, much to her credit, but he’s still just the same dirt bag deep down. They gave us a bike tour through the city, culminating in a stroll through Charlotte’s weekend festival. However, unlike the subdued events we enjoyed in Charleston this was a rowdy NASCAR festival. The feathered hats of Charleston were replaced by Dale Earnhart Jr. ball caps, horse drawn carriages for souped up race cars, and praline pecans for funnel cakes. I love how vastly different our days can be.


Our campsite.


Hummingbird.

Sunday Kevin, Leslie and we headed for Ashville and some boating. Today (Monday) is Kevin’s birthday and Leslie got him a brand new whitewater kayak. Dan and Kevin were elated to be together and kayaking. They ran stretches on the French Broad and the Green. We found a great campsite right along side the French Broad- no small feat on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. We said goodbye to Kevin and Leslie and are now headed for the Pisgah Forest where we will pick up the Blue Ridge Parkway.


Downtown Charlotte.


Dan kayaking.


Kevin surfing.