Meeting an Author

Posted on November 15, 2012 by larry

 It didn’t take me long to procure some new friends here in the low country.  Cathy and Dave, two of Canada’s finest,became entrenched next to me for a couple of days. They’re from Ottawa and making their way to south Texas. We hit it off quickly, sharing stories and trading barbs, as if we were buddies reunited over the years. It must have been the firewater. In fact, becoming bored with Florida over the past three winters, they’ve sold me on the idea of joining them just outside of Brownsville, Texas once we head for the deep South. I’ve almost got Robin talked into this. Besides, I have some unfinished business with the cartel down there that I need to address. Disregard that last statement; I’ve been watching way too much “Breaking Bad”. However, two days here was enough; today they headed for Savannah.
I started my walks again the day I arrived here and I want to go on record that I have been ‘noticed’ as I made my way around the grounds over and over again. Yes, two ladies traveling together have taken a fancy to me. No, they’re not gay, don’t go there. They just travel together out of friendship and a sense of security. They’ve flirted to the point that it’s almost embarrassing to me….and that’s hard to do. Actually, their comments are blatantly over the top regarding their sexual innuendos. I’ve been smitten. They’re what you would call, ‘cougars’. Quite a bit older than me and here they are, pursuing a younger man. But it’s a win-win situation for all of us. I tease and taunt and return their flirtations, and in return they’re teaching me all about Medicare.

Later in the afternoon, I made my way over to Mt. Pleasant, which is across the Cooper River from Charleston. Riding the motorcycle across the Ravenal bridge was exhiliarating, noting a glorious view from this cable-readied behemoth.

Ravenal Cable Bridge

The locals were holding a Civil War re-enactment at the Boone Hall Plantation. However, South Carolinians refer to this most notable turning point not as the Civil, but the War of Northern Aggression. I’ve always been fascinated with this portion of our nation’s history and became well read on the subject in years past. However, I’ve come to learn that battle reenactments are much like the Grand Canyon.

Boone Hall Plantation

After being there twice, there’s really no reason to attend a third time. But as fate would have it and unbeknownst to me, renowned author and historian Nancy Brewer was there. Not only did she personally sign my copy of her book but she held me close while her husband photographed the two of us.

     Listening to her was fascinating as she spun stories that made me feel as if I were at another place in time.  Nancy has been awarded the “Jefferson Davis Historical Gold” award for several of her literary works and you can find more about her here. After a few hours with the rebels, it was back across the bridge toward my abode as I was hankering for a grilled ribeye.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Nancy Brewer and Me

 

 

 

Categories: Full Time RVing, People, Photography, Road Trips, RV, Travels | Leave a comment

The Holy City

Posted on November 13, 2012 by larry

This journey has a uniqueness that I’ve not yet been accustomed.  It’s a solo one.  Yes, I’ve gone on fishing trips, sporting events, and conferences in the past but always with at least one partner in tow.  I’m testing myself and that’s something I’ve done quite often over the past five decades.  My writing is stale, the words flow like syrup.  Seasonal affective disorder has kicked in and I yearn for the warmth and glow of the sun. This time it’s the ” Holy City”, Charleston, SC.

I’ve settled in at the Oak Plantation Campground.  I’ll review this venue in a future post, giving it some time to be fair and unbiased.  Arriving in the early afternoon gave me time to establish a homey and coziness to the place. After all, I’ll be here for a few weeks.  But my itch to wander and explore didn’t take long to come to the forefront, and after a good morning workout, the weather directed me to hop on the bike.  My first stop was the  “Angel Oak Tree”, which I had learned about on a morning walk.  I cannot encounter a person on my walks without initiating a conversation.  I make it a habit to make eye contact, smile, and bid the person a good day.  You never know when a stranger will change your life for the better.  So a lady with a badge asked me if I was a professional photographer. I laughed, telling her I wished I were.  She then proceeded to give me a short history of the tree.

 Angel Tree is the largest and oldest living oak tree east of the Mississippi. The girth is 11 feet in diameter at its widest girth and the longest branch is 117 feet long. Enough of the lesson. Just enjoy the photo. My guide asked me if I were new to the area. Upon finding that I am a transplant she suggested the Charleston Tea Plantation, the only working one of its kind in the United States. Thanking her, I hopped on the bike and headed into the low country. Something unique about South Carolina, once you’re five miles out of any city, you enter another world, which visually takes you back in time a century ago. And that’s the way the locals wish to keep it. Ten miles down the road, I found my destination. I never knew that tea was grown and cultivated and looks just like a hedge row.
This plantation cultivates it’s leave for the American Tea Company and then much of the product is shipped to packing houses in Connecticut and processed to your local market and sold as Lipton.
On the return home, I spotted an old cemetery and just had to stop. I guess Robin’s love of these has worn off on me. The only ones there were me, and another codger paying his respects.
While sitting and contemplating, I couldn’t help but notice the white squirrels rousting about.
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Reserve Grand Champion

Posted on June 12, 2012 by larry

The title sounds as if the Black Angus pulled a blue ribbon at the county fair. But ahh, contraire. It actually means second place. Here’s the scoop. Mike, the Porkmeister, asked me a few weeks ago to be a part of his barbecue competition team. Mike’s the manager of the Gnome Cafe, here at Lake in Wood Camping Resort. He also has been entering barbecue competitions for years and has raked in many a trophy and cash prizes. What did I have to lose. He stated that he would be culling the pork and chicken as those two choices were the mainstay of the program.  I was to bring up the rear with the Chef’s Choice entry. This could be anything of my choice. It just had to be done over charcoal coals -on site. These three items would be presented to a score of judges for presentation, preparation and taste. Saturday at dawn we headed east to Valley Forge and then up the northeast extension as the competition was taking in all of the Greater Philadelphia area. Upon our arrival I was amazed at the thousands of dollars grown men would spend on equipment to smoke and barbecue meat. When I spied the tent housing Famous Dave’s, well known throughout the tri-state area for their catering and specialties, I figured we had no chance and these competitors would send us shamelessly home with a good ass-whoopin’. We unloaded the trailer, setting up our canopy, kitchen, smokers and grills all in a 20’x20′ area and began the day-long journey. We prepped, we smoked, we grilled and we tasted. Much of our time  was spent just waiting and watching as the meat processed.

We solved most of the world’s ills as the essence emanating from the smokestacks piqued not only the olfactory senses but made our tastebuds salivate with anticipation. Mike is the master with the meat, so I played the role of kitchen bitch. And to my way of thinking the judges were getting meat and more meat. So for my Chef’s Choice I decided the best thing to go with meat/meat was sweet. I prepared my famous sweet and sour strawberry crepes. Making crepes from scratch over charcoal coals was a feat that was new to me. Twenty minutes prior to turn-in I found myself sweating, not from the heat of the surroundings but from anticipation and exhiliaration. My god, I was nervous. Competition does that. I love it. Everything turned out better than our expectations. We relished the ride back to Lake In Wood Resort, who incidentally sponsored our sojourn into the land of smoking cuisine. We had placed second overall and were deemed Reserve Grand Champions. My first foray into the world of Pit Masters and we came out winners. A great end to a good Saturday.

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