MOM'S CHRISTMAS PRESENT

HE WENT TO JERROD'S(not!!!!) Mom needed a new watch and we picked up a new one that she liked. I called it her Christmas present. He went to Wal-MART!

FORT SUMTER

Took a boat ride out to Ft. Sumter last week, (sorry it took so long to get them posted). What a beautiful piece of history. The fort still stands, although the walls used to be 3 stories high before the shelling that took place at the beginning of the Civil War. This is the place where the 1st shots of the Civil War took place in 1861. It was neat to see old cannons and the inside locations and the way it was fortified. The Battle of Fort Sumter (April 12, 1861 – April 13, 1861) was the bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter near Charleston, South Carolina that began the American Civil War. The fort is maintained by the parks service and a guide meets you at the dock and gives about a 10 minute talk about the fort before you are left on your own to explore.

Taking the tour boat ride to the fort.

Approaching the fort. Taken from the boat.

Sign in front.

One shot of the many cannon bays.

A view of the courtyard and some of the cannons. Notice some of the rubble where the fort sustained hits during the attack.

One of the cannons. It could be rolled forward and side-to-side for aiming.

One of the locations, where a cannonball hit .

They left as much of the evidence of shelling as they could, so you have a better perspective of what it was like.

The courtyard and a center battery that was added in later years.

HISTORIC CHARLESTOWN

Wednesday we took a stroll to the downtown area of Old Charleston. What history this area holds, both in the American Revolution and the Civil War. It was interesting to hear stories about what took place during both of these times in our Countries history. We will attempt to pass on some of what we learned to share with ya'll. (The south is growing on me.)

One of the mortars used to shell Ft. Sumter in 1861.

Moutrie Park on the tip on the Charleston Penn.,

Named for one of the Officers in the battle for Ft. Sumter.

An example of some of the great homes with beautiful landscaped yards and courtyards in the downtown area.

Some of the great homes along one block in the downtown area that have been restored and each

is painted a different color. This is called Rainbow Row.

A tour guide for the "Exchange". One of the oldest buildings in town. It was used as a prison in the 1700's.

A wall painting inside the "Exchange".

Some of the original cobblestone streets in town.

One on the new modern buildings. The US CUSTOM HOUSE.

One of a couple fountains in a downtown waterfront park.

Another pretty fountain. Wasn't running, but the posted sign allowed wading. Neat!

PATRIOTS POINT

Thursday, Nov. 20, took a trip to Patriots Point Maritime Museum at Mt. Pleasant. It has a lot of Naval history to look at; including the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier. The original Yorktown was sunk at the battle of Midway in WWII, this was the 2nd Yorktown which saw service towards the end of WWII and the Vietnam War. It also was involved in the recovery of the Apollo 8 Command Module.

USS Yorktown (CV/CVS-10) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, and is now a museum ship at Patriot's Point , Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
She was laid down on 1 December 1941 at Newport News, Virginia, by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. as Bon Homme Richard, renamed Yorktown on 26 September 1942 to commemorate Yorktown (CV-5), lost at the Battle of Midway. The new Yorktown was launched on 21 January 1943, sponsored by Eleanor Roosevelt, and commissioned on 15 April 1943 at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Captain Joseph J. Clark in command.

Another view from the parking lot.

Looking at the bridge from flight deck.

The captain's chair in the bridge.

The flight deck from the captain's chair.

Anti-Aircraft guns.

Side Anti-Aircraft guns.

Crews sleeping quarters.

A sub we could have walked through, but ran out of time.

A quote that moved me.

There was a Medal of Honor Museum there also.

A BIG BRIDGE

Yesterday we took a trip over to Mt. Pleasant. Its just across the river from Charleston. We were heading for Patriots Point Maritime Museum, and had to cross the Coopers River Bridge. Its a VERY large cable bridge. About 1 1/2 miles across.

Starting up on the bridge.

A view from Patriots Point.

Zoomed view of the size.

Viewed from water aboard a tour boat.

SLIDESHOW

Christmas

Click on Above and then Chick Slideshow.

When done keep clicking back button to get back to blog.

Enjoy the photos. This was at James Island County Park. The pictures don't do the real thing any justice, and they are a little fuzzy, as we didn't always get the car stopped when they were taken. These are only a sample of what we saw. You can't tell it from the photos but these were huge, I would say most were around 20 feet, or more tall It was a 3 1/2 mile road trip and there was something on every turn. They had the roads in the park blocked so all traffic went in the same direction. It was pure JOY on EARTH.

Additional Christmas Decorating

Well, after getting into the spirit of Christmas decorating, we decided the outside of the camper needed a little color. Back to you know where... (Not really, we pick the garland up when we got
the tree)

Had to get the outside ready for the season.

Its about done!
Sam said "It looks OK to me"
Now if we could just get some snow. NOT!!!!!!!!!!


PS
Just an update on the waterfowl. They are actually ducks. They are a Muscovy Duck.

Muscovy Duck

Latin: Cairina moschataAverage length: M 31", F 23.6"Average weight: M 7.72 lbs., F 3.86 lbs.Description: Muscovy ducks are brownish-black in coloration with iridescent green and purple dorsal plumage and white wing patches. The legs and feet are grayish-black and the iris is yellowish-brown. Males and females are similar in appearance; however, males are nearly twice as large as females. In addition, males have a patch of bare black skin surrounded by pinkish-red caruncles (fleshy outgrowths) which extends from the back of the eye to the bill. Although relatively silent, the male produces a low hissing sound, and the female has a short, weak "quack."

THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE HUNT

Its the time of the year when we go out to the local tree lot, or head for the woods to find that perfect tree. Well, this year not wanting to drive great distances to find a tree lot, we headed out into the deep woods beside the campground and found the perfect tree. It was a small one, just the right size for the camper, and it even had little red berries growing on it. (Go figure)

Got out my trusted old tree saw( thank goodness for my Leatherman) and whacked it down.

I was going to have Sam pull the tree back to camp, (long haul, & I didn't want to get tired) but he didn't want anything to do with it.

Mom found some small strings of lights and a cute Santa Boot stand at (you guessed it, Wal-Mart), and she and Sam decorated the tree.

The finished project!!!!!

Sam looked it over and said "It will have to do, but its not very big for getting my presents under"

We wish everyone a Blessed Christmas Season.

Moving on Down the Road

Well we finally packed up and left Tenn. on 12-9 and drove into the N. corner of NC and on down in SC. Stopped at a campground called Magnolia RV Park just N of Newberry, SC.

It reminded me of campgrounds in northern Mich. Very quite and peaceful. Spent 4 days there, before moving on down to Charleston on the 13th. We are planning a least a week, maybe more, at present campground, called Lake Aire RV Park. Its located just outside of Charleston city limits, to the South.

Really haven't visited anything yet, just making plans on what we want to see and relaxing around camp.

Lake Aire RV Park Office

Sam & myself working on the satellite dish, which

is still not working. Got some new ideas to try

when I next work on it.

Some shots of the campground.

More shots of campground.

Our site.

Some of the locals around camp.

Not sure what type of waterfowl these are.

Will have to ask, and let ya'll know.