OUR DEAR SWEET ROXY . . .

Had her last run in her sleep this morning. Run baby, run! Just like mama left the gate open.

Sunday Roxy began to decline even with a trip back to the vet yesterday and yet with additional drugs we knew it was time today. This morning was her third and last ride to the vet since our return home. Roxy rests peacefully now in the backyard with her babies, her favorite ball and a few sticks.

Much love to her . . .

Best ~

Alice & Tim

NO PIRATES TO BE FOUND

Even though Tropical Storm Andrea begins with an A I give her an F for fouling up our day. We had to make the decision to depart Charleston early. With just regular daily showers not even related to the storm the area was already saturated and our campsite stayed half flooded most of the time. Not knowing if Charleston was going to get 6" or 12" of rain it was time to depart or we knew we wouldn't get out for a few days. On our way out one of the roads was already flooded. 

So no plantation tour, no cobble stone streets, no pristine secret courtyards, no pirate sightings, no more shrimp and grits, no mansion pictures, no market shopping, no Civil War Museum, no Daughters of The Confederate. Just a crazy ride home. I know we made the right choice and I am happy now to be home and safe. 

PATRIOTS POINT

Today began early. We wanted to get a head start for our adventure out at Patriots Point. We crossed the Ravenel Bridge in Charleston to get there. Upon our arrival you can't miss the massive USS Yorktown Flight Deck. Commissioned in 1943 it became a museum here in 1975. Sitting nearby is also the USS Laffey Destroyer and the USS Clamagore submarine.  Tim and I have toured the USS Intrepid in NYC and this reminded us so much of that.  

It took us five hours to tour all three. We saw almost everything but had no time to read everything. We were on a tight schedule for the day and still needed to eat lunch then go pickup Roxy. The tours through all the vessels are self-guided. You go up a deck, down a deck then down a few more decks. When you realize that you are finally down deep in the belly of this massive piece of steel it's time to go back-up to either the flight deck or the hanger deck. Five tours in all continued with this crazy maze of up, down,

up, down, down and back up again on steep almost ladder like stairs. I'm so glad we were able to enjoy this historic piece of history. We've always had so much respect for those who have served our country. This experience only makes that feeling stronger. Go Navy!

Throughout the day we were also

constantly on the lookout for pirates and other enemies who may attack the coast. While on the flight deck we could see Ft. Sumter where the Civil War began. No pirates, mayhem or chaos to be seen on the horizon. Rrrrrgh matey ... Maybe some mayhem will pursue on our adventure tomorrow!

For our late lunch which also became our dinner we stopped at the Charleston Crab House. This was a recommendation we received from a friendly local. The CCH is halfway between James Island and Charleston. Ohhhh did we eat. Here is a list of what we ate . . . BBQ Shrimp & Grits with melted cheddar, Fried Blue Crab Claws, Lowcountry Crab Cake & 'Crab House' Crab Pot that had Steamed Shrimp, Snow Crab Legs, Dungeness Crab Legs, Mussels, Sausage, Potatoes, Onion & Corn-On-The-Cob in a garlic scampi butter. Oh ... Yeah you know we ate all of that. There was nothing left!!!

After finally polishing off all that amazingly delicious food we went back to camp to pickup the Rox. Our next adventure of the day was to drive deeper into the Lowcountry to go to a surf shop and to see the coast of South Carolina. I still needed to purchase surf pads for my surf rack for the paddleboard I don't have. But next week may just be the week if the birthday fairy reads this. Oh ... Don't forget I need a paddle as well. 

DAY OF RECOVERY . . .

The last two days had been consumed by very long days of driving so today was our day to slow the roll and relax. The morning was spent sleeping in & cleaning the interior of the Airstream. After having spent almost a week camped in an old corn field behind the Airstream factory it really needed it. Today was also laundry day. I had to sprint back and forth to the bath house/laundry room between showers today just to get the clothes washed we need to get us through the rest of the week. 

Once the campground was just about dried out and cabin fever had set in Tim and I took a bike ride through the entire park to see what all was here. This is an amazing park that has so much to offer. Bike riding, doggie yappy park, golf frisbee course, rock climbing wall, fishing pier, Splash Zone Water Park, salt marsh, festivals, paddle boats, crabbing and the Festival of Lights during the holidays. So much to do and very little time. 

After our bike ride we decided to drive to 'town' with Roxy to see what our options would be for parking on our day visit later in the week. I have been here prior but Tim has not. The best I could describe it to him was to compare it to St. Augustine with a twist of Key West then add a few colleges to the mix. So off we all went in Tim's big truck to the historic downtown Charleston, SC. We needed to decide if we could park in town or would we be better off taking the shuttle from the park. First of all the streets are VERY NARROW and if you could make a turn it was a one way street going the wrong way or someone pulled to far forward on the cross street so we couldn't turn OR the street was just too narrow to drive. Charleston is a gorgeous and amazing place. Keep in mind this place was built for horse drawn carriages. Cobble stone and brick streets lined with the most amazing southern majestic mansions one could imagine. 

        U.S. CUSTOM HOUSE

(I use to work right next door)

Tomorrow we have a few other places to visit on this expedition so I will get better pictures of historic Charleston later in the week.  Just the history alone is a lot to consume and take in. We have a full day ahead . . . I can't wait!!!

  SPENCER ART GALLERY

JAMES ISLAND, SC

Our stay at Cracker Barrel in Virginia was the best for the price (free) even though we had to sleep with our heads at the foot of the bed. I'm so not complaining. Breakfast was very tasty, quick and oh so convenient.  They even let me take a cup of coffee to go. We felt safe and slept sound. I don't think we will ever hesitate to do this again. 

Monday brought another long day of driving. As we approached our destination the rain came. Once we arrived in our site it was still pouring (ok flooded) and we had to wait for some of the water to recede to finish setting up camp. 

We have landed at James Island County Park in South Carolina. This huge recreational park is located on the coast near what use to be known as Oyster Point. Tim and I will be staying here through the end of the week. This will be quite the adventure with the area having been attacked in the past by Spain, France and pirates!

I can't wait to explore the area. On our way in it still looked beautiful despite the rain. Even the majestic magnolias & mansions still stood out in the down pour. 

TRAVELING SOUTHEAST . . .

It was yet another amazing year at Alumapalooza. Everyone had fun and a great time despite the weather. There were factory tours, seminars galore and abundant camaraderie  . . . friendships made that will last a lifetime. 

Friday the rain came and we didn't think we would have a break in the weather. The rain continued through Saturday morning adding mud to our fun. Everyone prepared for the worst of the weather still to come but it never did. Only a few Airstreams had to be pulled out for Saturday departures. By Sunday morning the field was almost dry for everyone else's departure. 

As the attendees depart their separate ways home or to the next destination there is still excitement in the air.  Talk of Alumapalooza 5, Alumafandango, Alumafiesta and especially Alumaflamingo. 

Tim and I headed out today as well. Traveling southeast through the hills of southeast Ohio, the breathtaking mountains of West Virginia to finally land in Wytheville, VA. The scenery was non-stop the whole way. Originally the plan was to stay at an Airstream park near Roanoke but with our delayed departure this morning we decided that a side trip to this hidden gem in a meadow was too far out of the way. 

        REST STOP IN W. VA.

Tonight is a first for us because we are at a Cracker Barrel for the night. We've already had our dinner and can't wait for the doors to open in the morning for some bacon. We will be sitting in the rocking chairs waiting. 

          CAMP CRACKER              BARREL

APZ4 DAY 5

SO MUCH MUD . . .

AIRSTREAM BEING PULLED OUT OF MUD

RIVET MASTER COMPETITION

AWNING MAINTENANCE 

WALLY BYAM'S GOLD AIRSTREAM

LAST HAPPY HOUR

FINAL SUNSET OF ALUMAPALOOZA 4