Moving On

Out of Myrtle Beach tomorrow morning.  Looking forward to the northern trek.  First stop Roanake Rapids, NC.

At Last - We know who we are!

We found a huge indoor flea market and found this wood carver.  Since it seems that all RV'rs have some kind of wood sign on their rigs, and since we had never seen this design, which is pretty cool, here we are part of the "in crowd".  We are counting down the days until the northward trek begins.  Tomorrow we will have a guest for a couple days.  Chris Fraser, the vet that worked with Norma in the animal program in Maine, has been in N.C. for the past two days doing an education thing will be driving down to spend the weekend with us.

Brookgreen Gardens - South Carolina

We met for lunch today with Ric on left and Harold on right, brothers that I went to high school with in Hawaii (Radford) and have not seen either of them since 1961.  Strangely, Ric lived in West Hollywood only 50 miles from us and we never knew that all those years.  Harold & I played on the basketball team for the Pearl Harbor Youth Center & Ric and I worked at the local bowling alley setting pins by hand for 10 cents a line.  We had a great time talking over those days and it was a completly enjoyable visit.  When we come back thru here next year we will connect again and get some local touring in.  We met a Brookgreen Gardens, an outdoor museum with majestic oaks and world-renowned sculptures.  It has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Well we pulled in yesterday after driving 7hrs on what was advertised as a 5hr trip.  We are in the KOA in downtown MB.  Very nice campground, large with a lot of permanent type mobil homes.  Went down to the beach today and then realizing that this is spring break in this area, the beach resembled Waikiki in the summer and the drive down Ocean Blvd reminds one of Vegas without casinos, hotel after hotel.  There are 2 state parks in this immediate area that we may consider next year if we head this way again.  Looking forward to getting back to Maine.  Long range plans after Maine are to join 2 other couples and Ronnie, the campground manager, at Morgantown, VA at an RV show to help promote the Jekyll Campground.  We are also going to stop in Ashville, NC and take in the Biltmore Estate.

Harris Neck - US Wild Bird Refuge

We finally made our way to Harris Neck National Wildlife Reserve about 40 miles north of here.  Harris Neck is one of 7 refuges adminstered as part of the Savannah Costal Refuges Complex.  It consists of 2,284 acres that was formerly managed by the Federal Aviation Agency as a WWII Army airfield.  Since its designation as a wildlife refuge in 1962, Harris Neck has served as a premier nesting, foraging and wintering habitat for many species of wildlife.  Signature species include endangered wood storks and the colorful painted bunting, which favors the refuge's martime scrub areas.  The refuge encompasses six man-made freshwater ponds, as well as salt marsh, open fields, forested wetland and mixed hardwood/pine forest.

Wood Storks at Jekyll Island Rookery

We are most fortunate here to have a full blown rookery in the middle of the island.  Hundreds of birds return here in the everning for rest and many including the endangered Wood Stork actually build there nests in the trees.  I hope you will enjoy these pictures of these most beautiful birds.

Winding Down

Well all good things must come to an end and we are in the last 2 weeks here.  The past week and the week to come have been the most magnificant weather you could ask for, averaging 75 a day with warm light winds and terrific walks on the beach.  We leave here April 1 and will make a month long stop in Myrtle Beach, SC and May 1 will start the trek for Maine.  Looking forward very much to seeing old friends and enjoying the Maine summer and fall.  Long range plans are to meet with the campground driector here & 2 other couples in Morgantown, WV on Oct 11,12,13 and help staff a booth at an RV show promoting Jekyll Island's campground.  We are profoundly gratelful to my best bud, Kathy Beaulieu, who has offered up her house to put the rig on, and live in her house, oh yeah I have to mow the lawn too.  Looking forward very much to that.  Also we will having lunch with brothers Harold & Ric Ross, whom I went to high school with in Hawaii and have not seen since 1962.  They both live in the Charleston, SC area.  Will blog along the way back, see you all soon.