November 9 to 12

NOVEMBER 9, Thursday, sunny,

Went to Charleston today and took a tour. What a beautiful city it is. Absolutely gorgious. I was really impressed with its cleanliness and friendly people. It is full of history and heritage buildings. They have a law here that any building over 75 years old cannot be altered without first seeking approval to preserve history. This is also where the civil war began from what we were told and read. Reading Charleston history, it's amazing there is any building standing. They have upgraded a lot of buildings against earthquake by an innovative screw bar through the walls.
After the tour, we walked King street and stopped in a local restaurant for a light lunch, and returned via Market street. Came home around 4 p.m. and had happy hour with new friends we met: Jim and Vicky from California and Rick and Brenda from Ontario. Very nice people and we exchanged personal cards.
After dinner, we went to Jim and Vicky's rig, a very nice and big (45 feet) Monaco motorhome, for a nightcap.


NOVEMBER 10, Friday, sunny

It's 9 a.m. and already warm....65* F It's supposed to go up to 80*F and it is humid to top it.
We went to the Magnolia plantation which was really nice and spent almost 3 hours there. I must have been impressed!!!!! Seriously, it was gorgious with lots to see and look at such as tall live oak trees with spanish moss, cypresses, magnolia, camellia, azalea, gardenias, etc.... What a combo of colours. WOW! Also very nice ponds and a beautiful river. Words are hard to express the tranquillity and beauty of the place. It was worth the visit.

After this, we went to Patriot Point where the Yortown Aircraft Carrier is located and open to the public for a fee. We didn't go on board but took pictures from the shore. We bought a hat for me and t-shirt for Val instead.
Came home via Hwy 17, went over the Patriot bridge and fought rush hour traffic for one hour. Stopped at a garage, fuelled and put air in the air bags. 8.69 gallons @ $2.359 (.76/L) + .75 cents for the air. Loaded the bikes and installed the new protective cover we got at Camping World.


NOVEMBER 11, Saturday, foggy in a.m.; sunny in p.m.

It was foggy early in the morning but cleared up and turned sunny by 10 a.m. We left at 10:30 after loading the rest of our stuff and saying good-bye to our new friends with promises to see each otehr somewhere in Florida. Hit Hwy 17 south then I-95 to Georgia. Arrived at the State line around 12:30, got some info on Georgia then had lunch. Very friendly people here too and willing to share every bit of info they can part with.
Left around 1:30 and drove to Woodbine, exit 7 where our new campsite is. King George RV Park is very nice and cost us $26 for 3 nights plus $3. for WI-FI. It is a balmy 81*F (25*C), sunny and humid but tolerable. Lots of no-seeums and mosquitoes. Went into town for bread, milk, beer and wine. Also filled the tank for 17.55 gallons @ $2.499

N 30*50' W 81*40' Altitute 70' Distance today: 322 Km (202 miles)


NOVEMBER 12, Sunday, sunny

We had a cold front come through overnight and the temperature dropped to 48*F with a high of only 70*F in the afternoon. Life is hard in this sunbelt country! (SMILE)
We got our mail yesterday so caught up to our bills and book-keeping; Val did a wash and I downloaded pictures. Also made reservation at a place call Layton on the Keys. It is $32/night but figured it was worth the expense when looking at the overall picture.
Went to Okefonokee swamp. As it was past 2:30 p.m. when we arrived, we got free admission. A really cool place and we saw our first live alligator although it was sickly looking, skinny and missing an eye. We went into the information centre and saw a film on the swamp which was very interesting the drove the "Swamp Island Drive". We stopped at a place whcih was a homestead that belonged to a certain Mr Chesser back in 1916. The place was just like the movies. Old, air space between the wall planking, tin roof but cleanly kept. Inside, we looked at the kitchen, bedroom and dining room/living room as it was in those days. In the back, there was a garden with sugar cane and a shed for it. We also were shown an actual sap catcher on a pine tree from which they made turpentine. WOW! The Chesser's had 7 children. Didn't see any gators or snakes but took lots of pictures.
Came home around 4:30 p.m. A good day!