Jan 17/11

Hello there.
We have done a self-guided walking tour of a very small part of downtown Charleston. The houses and history of them are amazing...Many of the houses face sideways (to me) to the street with long verandas running down the sides on the main floor and second floor. One street we looked at was narrow and so were the lots for the houses but there was such detail in the  iron gates and the address plates. We caught glimpses of rear gardens and saw some raised steps on the edge of sidewalks...so worn down...they were steps for people entering and exiting carriages. The day we did this tour...the sun was out and warmish...the colors were vibrant and the air had that ocean softness I enjoy to feel on my face.
We wandered about downtown and found a kite store called Kites Fly'N Hi...wonderful store and owner. There were many different types of kites to see.MY husband says it was the best equipped kite store he has every seen. We enjoyed talking to the owner about flying and Festivals. We also bought some very nifty kites! With those bundles of kites we headed back to the car and returned to the RV camp.

We did go again to the Isle of Palms beach to fly the kites...the wind was very strong so we didn't use the new kites. The sand was streaming across the waved patterned beachsand...I took some pics of Peter flying a kite and of some wind surfers out on the water...they were doing the most delightful moves and looked so at home on the water. But the weather was very cold and windy so we didn't last too long.
There was a very bad storm in this area with ice and snow further inland. People were advised to stay off the roads and even though we do have snow tires on the car ...we stayed in. It was very cold for a few days...so domestic tasks were done and the continued repacking of items to utilize this space.

One day we did go to the Boone Plantation to tour it. It was cold outside and most of the places to see were outside!! I forgot to put my warm wooly sweater in the car so most of the pictures Peter took are of me striding ahead to the next stop. Very cold to me due to the damp cold. It is a very old plantation with a very long driveway leading to the house which has ancient live oaks all down the sides of this drive. Some of these trees are 200 plus years old and the views are so beautiful. We again took pictures. We toured the slave quarters which had displays of local history and US history. Then we toured the main house which was heated...sigh. We saw about 2 other people visiting...it was too cold to be out for long. 
It was great to go to the dock house and see the river. We learned that the owners would use the river and not the roads which were mostly paths to get to market or Charleston.
The cold temps continued for a few days with some records being broken. We are warm in the rv thankfully.
We have been to a few campfires in camp. As the sun sets the air gets cold ...the fire is warm and the smoke is thick....the people are great and the stories flow.

Yesterday was sunny and warm! We went to a different beach and flew our new kites in a light wind!!!I had so much fun. It was true playing about because my kite is a box kite and can be maneuvered to drop and float freely and tumble...so I was dashing about tugging and then letting the line go slack. Such a joy to truly play and to have the sun shining and the salt air to breathe and the waves sounding behind me. Every so often I would stop and let the kite ride as I turned to look at the ocean...drink in the waves and birds and also watch Peter fly his kite. We took pics which I will put up soon.
The afternoon went by so quickly...my happiness just let me bouce about with a smile on my face. I must play more often!!