BELLE OF THE SOUTH - CHARLESTON

SOUTH CAROLINA BOUND...............

After a hardy breakfast cooked by all the RV’ers at Coastal Georgia RV Park we all packed up, hooked up and headed out in our separate directions.   We headed north to Charleston.  Our next stop is James Island County Park.  I stayed here about 15 years ago and have since heard it is as good as I remembered.  However,   instead of entering an address in the TOMTOM, Dave saw James Island County Complex and thought that was where we were going.  Oh oh!

That was the middle.   The beginning was when we took a bridge we should not have taken.  That set off a whole series of events resulting in being eternally lost.  At this point I could not rely on my directions and we had to rely on TOM TOM…..never a very good idea!  We were in the middle of town, driving through construction, having to keep mind that we could not back up the MH without taking the car off the dolly in the event we got into a tight spot! 

We turned around in a parking lot and headed in a different direction. TOM TOM directed us to turn right and left … then announced we were 50 yards from our destination ....which wasn’t really our destination!  

At this point I fired up MIFI and my laptop, got onto BING MAPS while Dave tried to identify an address as a starting point.  

THROUGH MILLION $$$$ NEIGHBORHOODS

We drove through neighborhoods making our way back to the main road and were following BING directions …..except when the MH took a right when it should have taken a left!  Then we were at the foot of another bridge when I said, “Whatever you do … do not go over another bridge!”.  The MH takes a right on to a residential street with a“NO THRU ACCESS” sign.  Having no choice but to venture forward, we ended up in a Country Club Development – judging by the homes they were in the Million $$ category.  We were able to loop through the streets of mansions.... but the biggest issue was the absolutely beautiful low hanging oaks that were draped over the street and dragging along the MH roof!  I was sure our AC was going to end up in someone’s front yard. 

We made our way back out to the main road, took a left and then very carefully wound our way back where we should have been and found James Island County Park.    This place is absolutely gorgeous!  It is 643 acres which includes a campground (beautiful), cottages, water park, a cdog park that rivals picnic areas I’ve seen, huge picnic areas, fishing piers and bike/walking trails winding throughout.    It lives up to it’s reputation.  DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS CAMPGROUND!

Lovely lakes for sailboat racing!

JAMES COUNTY DOG PARK

Once the Land Yacht was heading down the road, I secured myself behind the drivers seat.  I can hide my head under the seat and pretend I'm not really here!  Every time the Land Yacht stopped, I crawled back out of my hole; but then it would start up again and I had to scurry back into my cubby to feel safe.  FINALLY the Land Yacht stopped....for good.... and I could come out!  Forever Mom and Dad settled us in, fed and watered me, took me for a walk.....what wonderful sniffing I had to do!  

Then they put me into a car .... moving again ... but we came out at the most wonderful of wonderful places.........

the LARGEST dog park I have ever seen!!!!!  It even has its own pond ... but Forever Mom wouldn't take me down there

I played and played and play until I was absolutely exhausted!!!

There were some other dogs in the park and they came running over to me.  One was a brown, wet poodle who was my age.  What fun we had until her Forever Mom called her to go home!

I slept well that night!

FORT SUMTER

MAY 14, 2012

Our mission…today….was to head over to Patriots Point and take a boat to Fort Sumter.  Since the weather forecasts rain over the next couple of days, we decided to do outdoor stuff while the sky is blue.  

Our biggest challenges seem to be getting from point A to point B without getting lost!  I have the directions from BING Maps and read them as we go, yet we still get turned around.

THE BRIDGE

ARTHUR REVENEL JR BRIDGE

SIX TIMES IS THE CHARM\

FOR INSTANCE, there is a very large, very high expansion bridge across Ashley River connecting Charleston to Sullivan Island and Patriot’s Point is just below the bridge.  We managed to get across the bridge and down into Patriots Point Park with just a few small hiccups. 

However as the Caddy was driving through the park, it took a right turn and we found ourselves crossing the very high, very long expansion bridge back to Charleston.  Got off and drove around a neighborhood that has seen better days until we could get back on the very tall, very long expansion bridge back to Patriots Point.  This time the Caddy found the correct route and we parked in the correct parking lot to catch the boat.

 We of course went back across this bridge to get to the historical district in Charleston.  THEN….when we were heading back to James Island the Caddy went North instead of South and we once again cross this very high, very large expansion bridge.  Once on the other side, came back across it again!   That makes  SIX times in one afternoon we cross this bridge…..thank God it wasn’t a toll bridge!

FORT SUMTER

WHERE THE CIVIL WAR BEGAN

APRIL 12, 1861

Fort Sumter actually sits on an island that the Federal Government created by hauling “fill” to elevate a 6’ sandbar.  It was built as a coastal fortification after the War of 1812.   The bricks for this Fort were made on the local plantations.

Things weren’t going well between the North and the South around mid-1800s.  South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union on December 20, 1860.  At that time there were four Federal installations around Charleston Harbor; Fort Moultrie (Sullivans Island), Castle Pinckney (Shutes Folly Island), Fort Johnson (James Island) and Fort Sumter.   Within six weeks of SC sucession, five other states – Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana – followed.  The Confederate States of America were set up in February 1861.  March 2^nd Texas officially joined the Confederacy.  By this time all the Federal forts, navy yards in the seven seceding states were seized by the new government with the exception of Fort Sumter remaining in Federal hands.

Maj Robert Anderson commanded two companies; one at Fort Moutrie and one at Fort Sumter.  After SC seceded, Anderson abandoned Fort Moultrie as indefensible and secretly transferred his command to Fort Sumter. 

By Dec 27, 1860^th SC volunteers occupied the other three forts erecting batteries around the harbor.  The State regarded Anderson’s move as a breach of faith and demanded the US Government evacuate Charleston Harbor.  President Buchanan refused and attempted relief expeditions. 

January 9, 1861, Citadel cadets fired the first shots of the Civil War on the Union Ship Star of the West carrying relief supplies for Fort Sumter.    President Lincoln sent relief supplies April 4th so South Carolina decided to take actions while the Union was vulnerable.  

April 11^th Brig Gen Beauregard commanding the Confederate forces in Charleston demanded Anderson’s surrender.  He was one of Anderson’s artillery students at West Point and didn’t relish the prospect of firing on his old friend and instructor.

Anderson refused to surrender the fort, so SC militia bombarded the fort from Fort Moutrie and Fort Johnson  and Pickney lobbing projectiles into the center of the Fort.  Anderson’s regiment was rather “underfunded” and running out of provisions.

 SC struck while Anderson’s resources were down.  From Ft Moultrie SC lobbed fireballs which set the officers quarters on fire and it was heading for the munitions.  Anderson had a choice – fight the fire or the war.  He chose the fire and surrendered the Fort.     They were bombarded for 34 hours until “the quarters were entirely burned, the main gates destroyed by fire, the gorge walls seriously injured, the magazines surrounded by flames”. 

         REMINDS ME OF THE FORT IN THE DRY TORTUGAS - CORRIDOR OF CANNONS

With only one fatality in this battle, the start of the Civil War, the resultant loss of 620,000 sons, brothers, husbands was incomprehensible.  What started in 1862 resulted in the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865 and then it took an additional 100 years for the enactment of the Civil Rights Act in 1964.  It wasn't "just a war between the states", it was the beginning of the Civil Rights movement and it took a bloody toll. 


 Amazing the chain of events one action can set off!!

THE FLAG

I learned something interesting about our flag.  The Flag that flew above Sumter had thirty three stars although Kansas had been admitted to the Union making it 34.  South Carolina had seceded so that would have made it 32.  So…………the US Flag never removes stars and new stars are added ONLY on July 4^th which is why Kansas was NOT represented in April and South Carolina along with the other states that seceded  WERE represented although in their minds they were not part of the union. 

Second official Confederate Flag called “Second National” replaced first banner in 1863.  Flew over Fort until Confederate troops withdrew from all Charleston harbor defense February 1865.

UNION FLAG WITH 34 STARS HOISTED BY ANDERSON FOR FORT SUMTER.  IT WAS HIT BY THE LOBBING PROJECTILES OF THE CONFEDERATE MILTIA, UNION SOLDIERS RAN OUT AND GRABBED IT, NAILING TO A BOARD TO CONTINUE FLYING OVER THE FORT.

CHARLESTON ......... and BEER

BEER IS GOOD!

It was 1:00 when we got back from Fort Sumter and we were hungry and thirsty so decided to drive down to the Historic District and find lunch.  What we found was a Brewery!!!  Always have to stop for a brewery!

I liked the Pale  .... Dave liked the Stout ... obviously we liked them all pretty well!

The first thing we ordered was the Sampler Tray for $10.  It was WELL WORTH IT!

Once the beer sampler came, lunch became less important!  But we did order and the food was good.   The beer was GREAT!

Already he looks like he's had the Sampler!

COFFEE, COFFEE, COFFEE..........BEANS .........

We read where there was a coffee roaster in Charleston and we wanted to find it.  WE LOVE OUR COFFEE.  Got hooked on fresh roasted beans up on Brevard NC last fall and was thrilled to find Hotties Coffee in NSB where we buy our coffee exclusively.  Packed up our Cuisinart Coffee Grinder/Maker and a couple of pounds of beans from Hotties.  We were running low and decided to stock up.

Dave got directions to where we thought was the Coffee Roaster Store but ended up being a Dr's office.  He walked in while I took pictures.  Apparently this doctor owns the Coffee Roaster Store and they gave us directions to the store.

Walked back to the car and drove down to the Charleston Coffee Roasters.  Bought two pounds of freshly roasted coffee beans and while they were packing it up, I played with the yellow Lab Booner who would roll the ball so that I could throw it!

I sure hope Billy doesn't smell Booner on me!

CHARLESTON EARTHQUAKE

INTERESTING ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS

As if the Civil War and occupation of the Union Army wasn't enough, Charleston had a powerful earthquake in 1886.  It was the most damaging earthquake to hit the southeastern US.  It occurred August 31, 1886 and lasted just under a minute.  It damaged 2,000 buildings and caused $6M damage (over $141M in 2009 $).  It was estimated between 6.6 and 7.3 on Richter Scale.  In crowded Charleston, the damage was horrific: over 2,000 buildings destroyed, a quarter of the city’s value gone, 27 killed immediately and almost 100 more to die from injuries and disease. Because of the large numbers of newly homeless, tent cities sprang up in every available park and greenspace. The American Red Cross’s first field mission soon brought some relief, but the scarcity of food, and especially fresh water, made life difficult for everyone.

The reason I bring this up is ..................This led to the widespread use of the “earthquake bolt” now seen throughout older Charleston homes. Essentially acting as very long screws with a washer on each end, the idea of the earthquake rod is simple: Poke a long iron rod through two walls that need stabilizing, and cap the ends.  The end caps were often decorated with a pattern or symbol.   That's how you know the building is pre-1886!

 THE PEAK OF THE HOUSE IS HELD TOGETHER BY THE EARTHQUAKE BOLT

SO ENDS OUR FIRST DAY IN CHARLESTON!

MAY 15, 2012

The CADDY made our way back out to Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum to tour The USS Yorktown (CV-10) “The Fighting Lady”.  She was named for the Yorktown CV-5 lost at the Battle of Midway in 1942.    This  is an Essex class carrier commissioned in 1943, serving in the Pacific offensive earning 11 battle stars.  She was featured in the 1944 Academy Award winning documentary “The Fighting Lady” and in the 1970 picture “Tora! Tora! Tora!”.

The Yorktown carried of crew of 380 officers and 3,088 enlisted men and an air group of 90 planes.  In the 1950’s her deck was angled for jets and then converted to an antisubmarine carrier.  She served in Vietnam in the 1960’s and recovered Apollo 8 astronauts in 1968. 

 The Congressional Medal of Honor Museum (all part of the Yorktown) tells the story of the Country’s brave warriors from the Civil War ear through those honored today.

CAPTAIN DAVE ON THE BRIDGE !

CAPT'N DAVE IN F9F COUGAR .... IN YOUR DREAMS!

GRUMMAN'S TOMCAT

FLIGHT DECK - UNBELIEVABLE - IMAGINE LANDING ON A PITCHING DECK!

CHECK OUT THIS RECIPE!

Docked next to  the Yorktown is the Destroyer USS Laffey (DD-724).  Built by Bath Iron Works she served in the Pacific.  While operating off Okinawa April 16, 1945 she was assailed by a massive air strike of 22 Japanese bombers and suicide kamikazes.  Five kamikazes and three bombs struck her .  Thirty two men were killed and seventy-one wounded of the 336 man crew.  The remaining crew shot down the attackers and kept the boat afloat.   She was decommissioned in 1975.

 This is truly an amazing museum not to be missed.

MAY 16, 2012

THE BATTERY

I’m so excited, I’m so excited, Forever Mom and Dad are taking me with them today…..ohhhhh so excited.  Just like a good boy I hopped into the backseat and sat quietly as we drove out of the campsite.  I don’t know where we’re going ….. but I’m going!

After a while the motion finally stopped and Forever Dad opened the back door to let me out.  OHHHH, what wonderful, new smells there are!  We walked down some pretty streets then along the water…..hmmmm I wonder where that boat is!........anyway the ground wasn’t moving under me and people said hello to me as Forever Dad and I walked.  Forever Mom had a black thing stuck to her eyes so lagged along behind!  

We crossed the street to Battery Park …. What a dog friendly city this is …. Battery Park is a leash-free area.  I ran around and around and then……right in front of me….were at least five squirrels.  I didn’t know what to do…I just stood there.  It was such a fun, fun day!

Billy wasn’t the only one to enjoy this beautiful park.  The Ashley and Cooper rivers border the park that stretches along the waterfront of the Charleston peninsula.  It is also known as White Point Gardens named from the piles of bleached oyster shells.  Southern antebellum mansions border the Park.

Battery Park opened as a public park in 1837 however its use changed during the Civil War.  It also has a history of pirates.  Dozens of pirates were hanged from oak trees and gallows in the early 1700’s and left dangling from their nooses for days as a deterrent to prevent other pirates from entering Charleston Harbor.

THE CITADEL

A visit to Charleston would not be complete without a visit to the Citadel.  What a beautiful college this is.

Had we come on a Saturday morning we would have seen the Cadets on the parade ground.


The Citadel was founded in 1842 and one of the six senior military colleges in the United States.  The cadets from the Citadel fired on Union ship Star of the West carrying supplies to Fort Sumter.   The first shot of the bombardment is believed to have been fired by Second Lieutenant Henry S Farley, Class of 1860.  During the Civil War the cadets were called upon to provide military support.


February 1865 the school ceased operation as a college when Union troops entered Charleston.  However, Government Hagood, Class of 1847, urged the SC Legislature to pass an act to reopen the college.  The 1882 session began with an enrollment of 185 cadets.


Today it is a highly acclaimed public-supported college.   

ON THE BOURBON TRAIL????

We dropped off Billy and headed over to Folly Island for lunch. This South Carolina Low Country is captivating.

After several  swoops around town … it’s not that big … we landed at Loggerheads to have a fresh Flounder sandwich.  The highlight of the lunch was the beer and bourbon! 

When we asked what they had on draft and a waiter responds, "We have lots, what do you like?" we usually respond "What's local?"  and we were not disappointed.  Ordered up a local beer that was a cross between stout and port.    Then the waiter asked if we liked bourbon.  .....BUT OF COURSE.

He suggested the local bourbon .... VIRGIL KAINE  made on Folly Island.  No… it’s not Kentucky bourbon but it’s a start!  The interesting thing about this Bourbon is that it’s flavored with ginger.  When Dave handed me the glass, I didn’t expect to like it.  But like it I did.   In fact, it was great.  Tastes a little like Bourbon Honey but not as sweet and syrupy.  . 

THE LEGEND OF VIRGIL KAINE

During the Civil War, soldiers depended on rail lines for many important necessities.  Virgil Kaine led the Danville Train to make sure the soldiers received all of their supplies.  He also brought a vital supply … booze.  He had some of the best spirits known his side of the Mississippi.  His secret formulas were smuggled across the South during the Civil War to thirsty and tired Confederate troops until those pesty Union troops destroyed the railways and stopped their supply.  Fortunately his recipe survived and we tasted it.  In fact, we swooped through town to find the liquor store to buy a bottle.  

DEFINITELY A FIND!  SO BEGINS OUR BOURBON TRAIL!

So, we are finished fighting the Civil War for awhile and heading up into the mountains for some cool days and cooler nights.

Stay tuned for the mountain adventures.

Life is Good!