Charleston

I keep myself on my same week day routine of going to bed and waking regardless of whether school is in session or not.  The idea of a struggle to wake and get out the door lacks a sense of...delight.  I don't know what it is, post vacation melt down or the notion that my return to work date is fast approaching ( a slight depressing feeling), but I have been burning the midnight oil and sleeping in.  I came upon this fabulous blog yesterday that documents a young grad student and his friends travels in a refurbished school bus.  Instead of reading the book I had downloaded onto my NOOK, I read Hank Bought A Bus from start to finish.  I was excited  to see his bus rested at the same campground we did seven years ago when we took our month long trip out west.  Just like we did from our old pop-up camp; Hank's eyes peered from his bus at Devil's Tower.  I wonder if he partook in the viewing of Close Encounters of the Third Kind--shown from the back of the barn?  There is nothing like it--watching the movie, seeing Devil's Tower flash on the screen, and realizing nature's great natural monument stands before you.   

 

Now back to mine and King Ralph's trip south.

 

 

iPhone Notes

 

LOVE this city, Charleston, and all the islands! 

 

   

We arrived to beautiful summer weather. After we set up camp at James Island County Park, we set out to ride our bikes on the four plus miles of paved trails.

We stopped at the fishing pier where the crab fishing was in bloom in the marsh.

The next day we enjoyed Patriots Point 

and Fort Sumter.

 

Loved both, but felt jipped at the fort with the time restriction.  I'm a sign reader, soaking up every bit of history.  This led to not getting around to see the museum.  Damn!

We scraped the idea of cooking, consulted Urban Spoon, settling on a local pizza pub: Paisano's Pizza Grill. When they forgot to drop our wings they offered us a $5 coupon for a future visit, when we explained we were from STL and the likelihood of our return was slim...they gave us each a free drink.  Not necessary, but graciously accepted their generosity. Also, I will be recreating Mom's Spinach Salad in my own kitchen. Yum-yum!

We ended the day with another bike ride around the park.

Tuesday we enjoyed Kiawah Island Beachwalkers Park.  

It is so fun to see everyone riding bikes down the beach. The low tide offered plentiful space for bikers and sun grabbers alike. After six hours of sunning, reading 

(and crying while reading the final chapters of The Fault In Our Stars) and sipping beach cocktail...the tide moved us back farther and farther till we decided to call it a day. We ended our day with another bike ride and resting in our lounge chairs camp side.

Our final day in Charleston was spent touring the Boone Hall Plantation

and the downtown area--were we enjoyed a narrated carriage ride (with a screaming toddler and an e-cigarette puffing father, errrrhhhh!). 

We then walked the city streets exploring,

 toured The Exchange Building  

and feasted at the Charleston Crab House. 

 I'm certain I slipped into a food coma from the hush puppies, she crab soup, and low country crab cakes. 

Thursday morning we said good-bye to our favorite stop and the beautiful James Island campground

James Island County Park Campground Report Card
Campground - A+
Check-in station/Camp Store - A (friendly staff, plenty of snacks, cold drinks, books, etc.) 
Site - A (be careful when booking to be sure you aren't getting a site that shares site space, there are several double sites, great if you are camping with friends)
Comfort Station - A (clean, plenty of showers and flush toilets)
Wifi - free and accessible from our campsite with excellent connection.  We tried to stream Netflix and were unsuccessful.
Activities - A (bike trails, peddle boat/kayak rental on the lake, small water park w/ discount tickets at the camp store, a sprinkler park, themed activity weeks for the kids, fishing, climbing wall, zipline, etc.)
I WOULD return to this park in a heart beat!!!