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All around Charleston, SC (Part 2)
Watching the sunrise over the intercoastal or any water is awe aspiring as one welcomes the dawn of a new day. Mitch was able to capture the rising sun one morning, and we share it with you. Especially for those who are not morning people.
Patriot Point Naval & Maritime Museum, located in Mount Pleasant, SC, is home to an aircraft carrier and destroyer. I toured the aircraft carrier with Mitch, but it’s not my cup of tea. However, it’s not all about me! The facilities left me wondering what daily life on the aircraft would be like for our servicemen. I’m not too fond of cramped spaces, and the thought of sleeping in a fold-down cot is not appealing. When touring the kitchen, my thoughts wandered to the heat generated from the stoves and how they managed to provide meals for all those aboard. Stairways to the various levels were steep, and picturing the men scaling up them during drills left me with a daunting feeling.
When Mitch expressed a desire to visit the USS Lafety destroyer, I was done and told him to go ahead as I would wait for him at the visitor center. Mitch was excited to share his experience with me and relayed that this WWII ship was known as” The ship that would not die.” It earned its moniker because it was attacked by twenty-two Japanese aircraft despite being badly damaged by four bombs and six kamikaze crashes. We owe gratitude to all our servicemen keeping us safe and allowed us our freedom.
We finally got to take a schooner sunset tour in Charleston Harbor. We wanted to do his in New England and Maine, but between the temperature and the wind, it was a bit too chilly for us. The Schooner Pride left the harbor, and it was a great evening to go out on the boat and enjoy the colors of the sunset.
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All around Charleston, SC (Part One)
We stayed at Buck Hall Recreation Campground, which only had nineteen sites. Once again, we enjoyed views of the intercoastal waterways. We were the only ones without a boat. Apparently, this is the place to be to get up at the crack of dawn, fish all day, and fillet your catch upon your return.
Charleston was one of the cities I was most eager to visit, and it did not disappoint. We used the app GPS MY CITY -where you can take your own walking tour. We find this more enjoyable as you dictate the length of time you want to spend at each highlight rather than being with a group that has a tight schedule. Charleston is very much like Savannah, GA. The colonial homes were astonishing. We toured the Nathaniel Russell home and were quite impressed. They restored the building to its original grandeur. The tour guide indicated the house was rat-infested, but it was a good thing. I would never associate rats as a good thing, but when they went into the rat nests, they found items such as pieces of wallpaper which aided the restorers in recreating the rooms to original colors and décor. Interesting, to say the least.
The cruise ships were docked in port the day we explored, and the covered market was quite congested. One good thing about living in a 5th wheel is you don’t have room to buy knick-knacks. The farmer’s market was in full swing in one of the town squares. Stalls of fresh produce, street dancers, and people having a good time made for a delightful way to spend a few hours. As a side note – don’t do a seven-day liquid fast when visiting a city filled with various restaurants and cafes. We didn’t plan accordingly, and we never got to enjoy the cuisine of Charleston.
This city offers many quaint shops, but if you want the other end of the spectrum, a visit to King Street is where you need to stroll. High-end, brand-name stores line each side of the street, offering those costly items that make you wonder why???
Mitch and I would like to revisit this town when we are NOT fasting.
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Falls Lake State Park – Wake Forest, NC
Traveling to the state of North Carolina was a pleasant experience. The beauty of this state is fantastic. One is surrounded by lush green color seen in the trees, bushes, and grass. It emits a feeling of bountiful nature. The campground is filled with greenery, and you feel one with nature. Our site wasn’t far from the lake. Notice how we always seem to get by a lake. Most of the time, it is deliberate, but occasionally we get lucky. The lake had a roped-off swimming area. The weekend was filled with children frolicking in the water till the sun went down. Sunday afternoon, the weekend warriors are gone, and the park empties. Monday was a great day to go kayaking as we had the lake all to ourselves.
We decided to ride our bikes on the Neuse Trail. The Neuse River Greenway Trail is 27.5 miles of paved trail with various features. It has scenic views of the Neuse River, and wooden boardwalk areas through wetlands, and is home to various wildlife. On our ride back, a deer was on the trail side and remained unfazed as it stood its ground and continued to eat. Most likely, bicyclists, rollerbladers, and walkers are common occurrences.
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Colonial Beach, Virginia
Harborview Campground
This campground was one of the best Thousand Trails we have stayed in on our journey. It has lots of trees and plenty of space between sites. They offered mini golf, a children’s playground, and a good-sized pool. Mitch was able to get in a few laps during this stay. The campground was well maintained and super clean.
Kayaking on the nearby Mattox Creek was relaxing. We saw several small wooden huts in the water and surmised it was most likely where boats pulled up and patiently waited for the ducks to fly across their line of sight. Easily camouflaged by the wood, ducks would never see the gun pointed at them as they flew by. (Poor ducks) We concluded it must not be duck season as each hut was vacant.
We took a two-hour drive to experience Shenandoah National Park. While there, we decided to go for a hike. Mary’s Rock was a hike off of the Appalachian Trail. This hike was a rough one for me. It continued to climb upward with no reprieve with flat areas or downward dips. It seemed it would go on forever. Up and up we went. At last, we made it to the crest overlooking the valley. It was beautiful, and not a soul was around. We enjoyed the serenity until some other hikers made it up and interrupted the quietness. As we descended, we passed a frail older woman with a hiking pole. Behind her was her grandson. We let them know they were almost there. Two thoughts then came into my head. The first was admiration for her tackling this hike, and I told Mitch, “I want to be like her when I get to that age.” The second thought was embarrassment. I was complaining about how steep this climb was, and this woman, maybe twenty years my senior, was making her way to the top. One enormous advantage of an all-uphill climb – it’s downhill until you reach the bottom. Yea!
Fredericksburg was a quaint town with lots of shops and restaurants. Lots of history of civil war battles for those interested in checking out sites where soldiers fought throughout Fredericksburg. Cannons are seen spotted on some of the roads we traveled. We enjoyed our time here even though we aren’t much of a civil war history buff.
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Frank Lloyd Wright Fallingwater Home & Surrounding Areas – Mill Run, PA
Our campsite for the week was Outflow Recreation Area in Confluence, PA. The sites were spacious, cozy, and a stone’s throw away from the dam. In the early morning, the mist on the river hovers over the water and emits an eerie glow. From the campground, one can hop on the Allegheny Highland Trail.
The trail runs from Pittsburg, PA, to Cumberland, Maryland, totaling 334 miles. Our ride was only 20 miles, but it took us among the beautiful tall forest trees, wooden bridges, and through a long, dark tunnel. It was a great morning to enjoy a bike ride.
We decided to travel over an hour to Mill Run, PA, to see the infamous Frank Lloyd Wright Fallingwater home. Upon arrival, we discovered all home tour tickets were sold out for the month. Much to our chagrin, we purchased the grounds ticket to tour the grounds and view the home. First stop – go to the visitor center to inquire about any no-shows. The universe smiled as we were booked on the next scheduled tour. We were ecstatic and, afterward, so glad we didn’t miss out on touring this wonderful home.
In 1935, the home was designed for the Kauffman family, who owned a department store in Pittsburg. It was a summer retreat to escape the city’s hustle and bustle and business demands. It was built in 18 months, and a year later, they added a guest house. The main house totaled 9,300 sq. ft with 4,400 sq. ft of outside terraces. Anywhere you are in the home, the calming music of the swiftly moving water cascading over the rocks can be heard. Imagine spending lazy summer days listening to the falling water surrounding acres of green, lush forestry with not another home in sight. The home’s natural air conditioning is provided by mother nature.
Everything in the home is original, right down to the two Picassos, Tiffany lamps, and other invaluable treasures throughout the house. The Kaufmann’s only son entrusted the home to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy in 1963 for the rest of the world to experience a one-of-a-kind home.
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Finger Lake Region – NY
Sned-Family Acres Campground – Ovid, NY
This campground is nestled in the beautiful Finger Lake Region of New York. Wide open spaces and all the amenities a family can look for. It was our home base while we visited several other places close by. This campground evoked a pleasant childhood memory. At night, the fireflies twinkled like lights on a Christmas tree. Living in Florida, this is a special treat.
We made a memorable trip to the east side of Canandaigua Lake to see one of our groomsmen. We hadn’t seen him since our wedding almost 40 years ago. His lakehouse was right on the water, and the urge to live on a lake intensified.
Taughannock Falls State Park
Not far from the campground was Taughannock Falls state park. It has 750 acres, and its picnic area is right on Cayuga Lake. (Mitchell’s old stomping ground) The falls can boast it is the highest waterfall in the Northeast, even higher than Niagara Falls. Unfortunately, due to the dry climate, the waterfall was not as robust as it cascaded down the cliff. Afterward, we had dinner at O’Malley’s. Mitch said it was the best ahi tuna wrap he ever had.
Watkin Glenn State Park
This is an absolute must-see in this area. There are over 800 steps weaving around the chasm created by glaciers eons ago. The waterfalls are plentiful, reminding us of how wonderful nature is.
The last weekend we were there, we visited the west side of Seneca Lake to visit with Mitch’s brother and sister who live in Rochester. We met at the visitors center, and lucky us, they had a farmers market going on that Saturday. We unanimously decided to visit two of the many wineries dotted along the east and west sides of Seneca lake. An excellent lunch with wine was had, along with laughs and reminiscing about their childhood growing up in this area. Mitch and I decided this area is one to return to and spend some time in – that’s how much we enjoyed the Finger Lakes.
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Sturbridge,Massachusetts
This campground had a small lake on its grounds. The kids swam, floated, dove into the lake, and had a blast. Not being a water person, I just admired it from a distance. There was even a coordinated golf cart parade for the Fourth of July.
Martha’s Vineyard, about two hours away, was a must on our list. A ferry ride is required to get to the island. We took our bikes to see as much of the island in a day. The ferry docks in Oak Bluff, the island’s most visited part and where the Gingerbread houses reside. Of course, stopping at East Chop Lighthouse is a must. I think my poor husband is exhausted from the many lighthouses I have dragged him to. Oak Bluff is also the home to the Flying Horses Carousel. It is the oldest operating one in America and was moved here in 1880 from NYC. We rode our bikes to the town of Edgartown. We were glad we brought our bikes as we zoomed past the cars at a standstill, trying to get around the island. It was a fun-filled day, and we enjoyed the ferry ride back.
Stockbridge is home to the Norman Rockwell Museum. This stop was not on our radar, but my brother-in-law encouraged us to visit if we had the opportunity. Glad we did. It was informative, and no one can deny the artistic genius of Norman Rockwell. My favorite was Thanksgiving, where family and a home-cooked meal were at the center of this portrait. Norman illustrated 363 covers of the Saturday Evening Post. The methodology he used to produce these drawings was enlightening. If you are ever in the vicinity, this is a must. On the way out, I spotted a sign for a nearby art show. The places that pop up are surprising when you don’t have a plan. The Butternut Ski Resort was a great venue to have an art show.
We ended the week by kayaking the Quinebaug River Water Trail. It was the first time this trip we could use the kayak. So glad the weather was beautiful.
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Salisbury, Maine
When we stay at an RV park, we often travel to the towns we wish to visit. We take the truck if the distance is far, but if we can, we enjoy riding our bikes to venture out. Rose Beach RV resort was very close to the beach. After speaking with some of the guests, a suggestion was a visit to Rockport.
Rockport, MA, is located at the tip of Cape Ann Peninsula. I loved visiting here—lots of quaint shops, restaurants, and home of the infamous Motif 1. We walked through the town, searching for this building. It sits at the Bradley Wharf, and its claim to fame is “the most often painted building in America.” We almost missed it.
On another day, we took a long bike ride leading us to the town of Amesbury. Amesbury is small, and the day we went, it was relatively quiet. They had a general store that offered an old-fashioned soda counter and various merchandise. They also housed a vintage post office complete with individual brass boxes. I haven’t seen one of those in a while.
From there, we rode to Newburyport. This town was busy! As we entered the town center, we saw people strolling the sidewalks, stopping at an array of shops, or sitting in the town center people watching. We decided to join them, enjoying our smoothies, and now we became one of the many others watching the people go by. My favorite store was a shop selling various goods from England, and I ended up purchasing various English jams to use when I assemble my charcuterie boards
It was a great day for a long bike ride!
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Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Pinehirst RV Resort is very close to the pier. One evening we went for a stroll on the beach. The pier is uneventful, but I did get a good picture from the shoreline. As luck would have it, at the park’s entrance was a place where we could purchase fresh whole lobsters. They even steamed them for you. Dinner was two bright red, soft shell lobsters with no fussing with boiling water. Absolutely delicious!
Portland was our day trip, and it was worth the drive. Its restaurants, shops, and harbor were a delight. We wanted to take a ride on the schooner, but once again, the winds were more than we wanted to tackle. I don’t think a schooner ride is on the agenda for this visit to the New England Coast. The array of fresh fish was so different than those caught in Florida. The fish market was tantalizing, but I didn’t have room in the freezer, so we had to pass. Lunch was fireside pizza along the boardwalk, and we had the most humorous waiter, which made the experience much more enjoyable.
The Eastern Promenade Trail paralleled the coastline and ended at a park overlooking the ocean. The park was a field of grass where blankets, children, and picnics were all around. Various types of food trucks were bustling, and YES, we had ice cream. It was a beautiful sunny day to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
I have fallen in love with the numerous lighthouses and was not disappointed. There were several in Portland, but we rode to Ft. William Park, where the lighthouse was in excellent condition. Good thing we now have digital cameras, or it would be a small fortune if I had to develop the film of all the pictures I have taken.
Kennebunkport was suggested to us as a town to visit. It was bumper-to-bumper traffic leading into this small town which was perplexing. At last, we could find a parking spot and walk into the town. People were everywhere! We soon realized the streets bustled with people celebrating Pride Week. They had a live band, an art show, and various entertainment to celebrate. We went into a few shops but quickly realized we didn’t want to hassle with the crowd. There was a lighthouse not far, so we hopped in the car and took off. Mitch is still miffed I didn’t take a picture of it. I didn’t think it was worthy. Hilariously, this lighthouse was in a little neighborhood and stood about 8 feet tall. Smallest lighthouse ever. On our way out, I noticed a private residence whose yard sculptures were picture worthy. I hope you agree.
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Working our way back to Florida- Camden, ME and Surrounding Areas
Camden State Park was nestled in the woods and offered many hiking trails. The spectacular view of the summit of Battie Mountain is stunning as it overlooks Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay. The stone tower is a memorial for all those serving in WWI. The hike up Megunticook Mt. was arduous but worth it. It is the second-highest mountain on the east coast, with Cadillac Mountain in Maine coming in first.
The quaint town of Camden did not disappoint. It has it all! Shops, restaurants, a beautiful harbor, and a library where most of the facility is underground. From Camden State Park, one has to go through Camden’s Historic District. The homes are outstanding. Typical of summer homes in the New England area. We would have set sail on one of the majestic schooners if it was warmer.
We searched out Curtis Lighthouse Overlook on our way to Wiscasset and almost missed it. A tiny sign perched on a tree only indicated we were there. A short walk ends, and across the bay is the Curtis Lighthouse. Glad I have a zoom lens on my phone to capture this wonderful lighthouse.
Wiscasset, ME
Mitch kept saying he had to go to Red Eats the entire trip. The tiny shack boasts of having the best lobster roll in Maine. Many famous people have gone there to try its delicacy, and this establishment has been in various notable publications as the best. People told us that the line is about 2 hours long in summer. It did not disappoint. The much sought-after lobster meat was piled high on the roll. A thumbs up from Mitch. As a side note, they only take cash!
Boothbay, ME
We enjoyed this town. Lots of little shops to meander in. Places to grab a bite and an ice cream shop where everything was handmade. Delicious! The Boothbay Footbridge is a 1000 ft wooden pedestrian bridge connecting both sides of the harbor. There is also a place to put your love locks on the fence for all to see. It offers a fantastic view of the harbor and the boats moored on the docks. The sight is tranquil and takes you away from busy life. We took time to relax and enjoy ourselves.
Rockland, ME
Rockland is a short ride from Camden and worth the trip to see the Breakwater Lighthouse. A lighthouse! I’m there. One must go one mile over the uneven sea wall to get to this lighthouse. We did this late in the afternoon, and the wind was nasty, but we trudged forward. Along the way, we spotted a baby seal on the side of the seawall. Someone explained mothers often leave their young on a ledge because they don’t have the strength to handle the rough waters. The moms search for food, return to their pups with food at high tide and take them to calmer waters.
We covered a lot of ground on our stay at Camden and loved every minute of it. Wonderful memories were created, and we hope a visit will be in your future.
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