Anderson, SC, Sept 6 2013

We traveled some interstate, but mostly state roads and divided highways from Calabash to Anderson, and the ride was about 6 hours.  Our campsite at the Army Corps of Engineer's park outside of Anderson was right on Lake Hartwell.  Sure wish we had our pontoon boat here!  We stayed at the camp Friday, having a nice fire and enjoying the lake view.  Saturday, we met with Leon and Amy (Bob's brother and sister-in-law) at their home, then on to a large flea market for a few hours.  Later, they followed us back to the camp where we dropped off Charlie and then went to lunch at a bar-b-que place they all enjoy, Sadler's Creek.  After that, we spent a few hours at their home.  The guys watched college games while Amy and I "caught up".

View from our unit window

 

View of the campsite from the lake

Bob and Charlie enjoying the evening campfire 

Time out at the flea market

Not often do you see gravestones for sale at a flea market!!!

or saddles!

A hibiscus plant the Sadler's Creek Bar-b-que.  The flowers were enormous.  Amy is holding up a 24 oz cup to try to put these blooms in perspective.

Hard to believe as much as they love pigs, they bar-b-que them!

Farmland next to  Sadler's.

Plish & John

Monday afternoon, before Jay's Labor Day party, Plish invited us to their condo.  Her niece, Lisa, and Lisa's husband, George, were driving down from the Charlotte area to spend a week in the "lock out unit" of Plish & John's condo, so they opted to not go to the bar-b-que.  Tuesday was not a good beach day, so Bob and  I drove into Myrtle Beach to do some shopping.  Tuesday evening, Plish asked us to come over with the Michigan Rummy game, which we did. Wednesday was a gorgeous beach day, and in the evening, Jay & Paul met the rest of us at the condo for pizza and a gab fest.  Thursday, another great beach day, and in the evening, all of us met for dinner at a very nice restaurant called the Boundary House.  Farewells all around after that.  Friday morning, we were on our way to Anderson, SC, to visit with Bob's brother & sister-in-law.

Plish and niece Lisa

Lisa's husband George

Plish and patio pool view

Yoga class on the beach

Low tide on the beach

George and Plish arriving after morning coffee

Beach boy Bob

Me, recuperating after a fish tried to nibble my thigh.  Ankle brace had nothing to do with fish attack.

The birthday hat some lucky guy got to wear at the Boundary House

Labor Day

Paul and Jay invited about 22 friends for a Labor Day bbq at there home.  Several folks were not able to attend, so there were 17 folks in all. Their plan was to meet at 5 and have the party outdoors where they had set up tables and a cloth gazebo, but Mother Nature had other plans.  Lightning, thunder, and rain, caused the party to come inside.  Somehow, Jay and Paul, being the seasoned entertainers that they are, were able to regroup.  Paul moved the grill to the garage, and they re-organized everything to continue the gathering indoors.  In addition to delicious appetizers, they had marinated chicken breasts, brats, hamburgers, hot dogs, and all the fixings and sides, along with a dessert table to put Betty Crocker to shame, and adult beverages to suit everyone's spirit of choice.

Pauls' apron: "Real Grandpas Grill"

 

Jay's apron: "If you don't like the food, have more wine."

Left and around table: Theresa, Barb, Barb's husband, Earl, and Donna

 

Bob, Howie, and Janelle

 

Left: Nick, Thresa's husband and right: Harvey, Janelle's husband

Left around table: Charlie (whose wife was in NY); Suzie & hubby Dan; and Chris

Joanne, Chris's wife, and proud to be 100% Polish!

Calabash Sept 1 2013

Sunday morning we were off to Shallotte, a small town about 8 miles north of Calabash,  for "wash day".  The only good thing about a laundromat is that you can do multiple loads at the same time and get in and out of there pretty fast.  To me, there aren't many places that are more depressing than laundromats.  Later in the afternoon, we visited with Plish and John at their condo for awhile, and then we all headed over to Paul & Jay's home.  After the "befores", Jay treated us to a tasty southern dish called Chicken Bog...chicken and smoked sausage with rice, which Bob insisted on calling "Chicken Bob".   After dinner, Paul suggested we play a game similar to Uno, but neither Jay nor Paul were very sure of the rules, and after the quick pace of Michigan Rummy, I decided the name of the game should be Watch Paint Dry.  So, we all agreed to switch to Michigan Rummy and once again had a fun time with that.  Jay is an avid gardener, and she and Paul have a variety of garden decorations in their yard.  I had given her a little statute with 3 elves : Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, See No Evil.  Jay thought that was very representative of herself, Plish, and me.  Since Jay is somewhat hard of hearing, we decided she should be Hear No Evil.  Plish needs glasses, so she was See No Evil, leaving Speak No Evil to me.  Although that is not very indicative of my personality since I tend to have a vitriolic tongue, I guess I will have to try to  live up to my "gnome-enclature." 

Jay showing us the pencil/pen holder she had made in the pottery course which Paul had gotten as a Christmas gift for her one year.  She loves pottery, and said the class certainly gave her a new appreciation of the skill it takes to create the vases, bowls, and other wheeled items.

Plish wondered how to keep from looking like she had double chins. I said someone once suggested lifting your head up.  While this technique might be effective, it might not be as flattering as having double chins!!!

Calabash, NC

Our last day in Wilkesboro was uneventful.  We went into Boone to find a part to fix the water tank, and did some shopping there.  It was overcast, so we decided not to try to find Stone Mountain...we probably wouldn't see much with the clouds. Back at the park, Bob finished fixing the water tank and prepping for the next day's travel.  Thursday we packed up and headed to Calabash, about a 6.5 hour drive.  Our home for the next week is the Wishing Well campground, a lovely small family owned park we've stayed at several times in the past.  We have a perfect spot...on the end with a beautiful  view of trees.  Friday we did a little more shopping, then enjoyed a relaxing afternoon reading.  In the evening, we met up with our friends Paul and Jay, at "the 19th hole", their Friday night watering spot at the clubhouse in their gated community.  As always, it was wonderful to see them and their friends.  Saturday morning, Bob and I went to the beach early, and it's a good thing we did.  People started streaming in with so much beach gear it looked as though they were staying a week.  John & Plish, who had driven down from Jersey the day before, met us at the beach about 10:30.  It was great to see them again, too.  Later, we all got together at Jay and Paul's home. Sean, Elissa, and Ryan (Jay & Paul's son, daughter-in-law and grandson) stopped in to say hello on their way back home from shopping.   After the delicious appetizers and dinner, we played Michigan Rummy.  It was a great evening filled with the chatter and laughter of wonderful friends.

Sunset Beach about 9 a.m.

Bob escorts Plish and John

The beach about 11 a.m.

 

Jay and Ryan...I dare not post any other photos I took that evening.  Seems I caught everyone with his/her mouth open or eyes shut!