There is a soft spring rain falling today. The leaves are just unfolding in the trees and the birds are calling out to possible mates.
We are back at the KOA in Mount Pleasant/Charleston SC. Received a warm welcome from everyone who works here. Good to see friends that we met last year and to meet new rv friends. We have a lovely campsite on the end of the row near friends and lots of greenery. The canopy is up...the lantern on the table and I bought 2 small pots of trailing pansies just to add some sense of garden! It is peaceful here and quickly feels like 'home'. Peter remembered where our fave bakery is.
Oh and the manager here...bless her....remembered that I am a storyteller and interested in the Gullah Culture...so she told me of an event the day after we arrived which was happening at a nearby National Park which was the Pinckney Plantation. So it was just pouring rain but I went anyway...well dressed and rubber booted. It was a wonderful afternoon! The event was well attended despite the rain and thunder.Veronica Gerald & Jesse Gantt started off with an introduction of the culture while some food was cooking...it was so enticing and the oyster soup was warming all through on such a rainy day. Alada "Muima" Shinault-Small told some tales in the Gullah language and NIA Productions did some drumming for the dancers and the tale teller. Wonderful afternoon.
Sorry to have been so silent...let me just work backward here a little to catch you up.
Our last week in New Port Richey:
We were introduced to Honeymoon Island by camping friends who do bird trails in the area. They took us with them...even delaying their usual early time...I am slower to get going in the mornings. We walked the Osprey trail seeing many pairs near nests....the trail ended at an eagle's nest with 2 young birds. I noted that while the people took pics of the babies in the nest one of the parent bird sat in a tree behind us and watched us! Along the trail we also saw an owl close to a nest...on a later visit Peter saw an owl on the nest so he waited patiently and got a picture of her. We had a lovely picnic lunch. Honeymoon Island is so peaceful and has a variety of spots for enjoying the beach or the trail. We went back on our own later in the week.
The next day we went to Howard Park to see the sunset on the beach and we followed a group of Dolphins feeding and they swam around the island we were on...it was so lovely...they came in quite close to shore and the fish were jumping. The dolphins at one point were blowing loudly and making sounds ...the sunset was glorious as well. We have flown our kites here...but there is so much more of this lovely park to see. We then stopped in Tarpon Springs to explore...there is a big Greek community there and great food.
The next day we drove into St. Petersburg to see the Dali Museum. It was so wonderful. Unique building for showing such a fine artist's work. We took our time and wandered about...I fell in love with a couple of works that I hadn't seen...it was so good to read what was said about works I had studied. One of the guides overheard my husband & I talking about one huge painting and as we left the area he stopped us and asked if I had sunglasses...then he held them up so we were looking back at the painting...and wow the image was completely different! Neat. We also enjoyed a student exhibit which was inspired by Dali esque works...an excellent display. We had a lovely dinner at The Moon Under The Water over looking the harbour. http://www.themoonunderthewater.com/ This eatery was recommended by a salesperson in the Chihuly Store...it was too late to explore the Gallery with his amazing glass sculptures. But we enjoyed brousing the store and were careful if we looked closely at anything! His imagination and craft take me out of myself every time I view his work. I am sorry that I don't have the site to hand right now.
We spent our last time in this camp...talking with new friends and tidying and packing. We bought a small steamer with a hanging ironing board because of the space saving and the method of cleaning. During this time we were also following our older daughter's trip in Vietnam! Neat to see the pics!
On Feb 1 we moved camp...drove north on Hwy 19...stopped for lunch at theee Suwanee River Park in Fanning Springs FL. Lovely drive...no traffic to speak of. We drove along the shore of the Florida Panhandle...enjoying the views and we did stop and check out an rv park in Carrabelle...within walking to the public Beach. Then arrived at Rustic Sands rv park in Mexico Beach, FL...losing an hr due to crossing the time line into Central time. It had been a 6hr drive just rollin' along. It was raining...and our Canadian friends were expecting us. We had a lovely spot in Rustic Sands park...beside a little park area and under 80 ft pine trees. The earth was sandy...the air full of the Gulf sea air. My beach walks started again. We attended a piano concert in Appachicola given by Bob Milne. We had a lovely dinner celebrating a birthday and friendship and artistry.
So a month in Mexico Beach with walks and visiting Cape San Blas again to fly our kites. Sunny day...lots of wind and waves. Yes I'll get some pics up soon. On one walk there were otters in a pond...shore birds in plenty...oh and MUCH colder temps than what we were used to. I didn't know that I was coming down with a terrible sinus cold which lasted about 10 days...very painful and not comfortable being sick in the rv for a longish time. There were also airpressure changes as well and rain...so I was not always a happy camper! We were given some fab dinners by our friends...my husband went on the morning walks for a while. We also watched movies more than usual. When I had some energy back we drove up to Wewahitchka to visit the apiaries where Tupelo Honey is made. Also took a lovely drive into cypress swamp areas. Neat to see the small inland towns. Stopped at Gaskin Park where 2 rivers meet...boat launch area. Managed a pier walk in Mexico Beach to see the sun set...wow so gorgeous.
I was very disappointed in the choice of breed for the Westminister Dog this year!! To me, the judge condoned the continued breeding of a dog that can no longer function as a dog! I wanted the Dalmation to win.
Valentine's day I watched "An Affair to Remember" and cried again.
My friend in Mexico Beach took me to a fab clothing sale at the Goodwill store...amazing stuff and a 50% sale.
We both had a cold...coughing and low energy...I was getting better as my husband was not feeling well. Oh and we had a Tornado Watch...living in an rv the weather becomes very important. We discussed what our plan was and I prepped by packing some things in case we had to get out of the rv. ( hah a little madness and some scotch helped me through this) It did STORM that night...with LOUD thunder. The rain was gone the next morning...the puddles were spashable!
Mardi Gras we got our mail from home and we went out for dinner in Port St Joe... to the Sunset Coastal Grill where we ate wonderful food and watched the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico. Great outing after being ill in the rv for so long.
We did drive into Panama City for shopping...drove to the harbour and explored a new road outof the city....due to construction. Once was enough...the mill smell was strong but we avoided the pile up from construction.
I am stopping here for the time being...a dash out with my husband.
The sun shines right now.
Wishing everyone well.
Sunshine & Laughter
anne
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