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May 1 - 15, 2001
Tuesday, May 1, 2001 Charlotte, NC
We were underway at 9:00 this morning for some fishing with Ron. It was a short drive for us to get onto Lake Lanier, just north of Atlanta. The weather was perfect and the water was smooth as we screamed across the lake at better than 50 mph. Ron knows the lake well, so we moved frequently between his favorite spots. We all caught several fish today, mostly spotted bass, as we moved around. But according to Ron, we never really picked up their pattern today. Regardless, we had a terribly good time. After over three hours on the water we turned back toward home.
By this time Christine already had a blister in the palm of her casting hand. Ron and I weren’t really sure just what to make of the blister. It could be interpreted several ways. The two explanations we waffled between were: either her fishing is so intense that she keeps an ‘iron’ grip on her rod, or that she has it so easy in our travels that she’s gotten soft all over. Outside opinions are welcome.
We said our goodbyes to Judy and Ron, and were leaving Atlanta by 2:30 back to Charlotte. We made good time and had the funny feeling that we’d just been away on a long vacation when we pulled into our old neighborhood to stay with our friends, Ken and Luma. They were preparing to leave on a trip to Guatemala Thursday morning, yet were willing to host us at the same time. We enjoyed a great dinner and conversation that reaches a special level when you’re with close trusted friends.
By Christine: I would just like to point out that I could have deleted the blister paragraph, being the final editor of this log! J I do enjoy fishing though. Thanks, Ron.
Proof that we really were fishing.
Wednesday, May 2, 2001 Charlotte, NC
I spent the morning catching up on some business and then visited my previous place of employment to have lunch with a former co-worker, also named Christine. It was good to catch up on things with Christine, and hear that the office I left was doing well. After running around on a few errands, I returned to our hosts’ house and settled in for a quiet evening.
By Christine: I enjoyed a great lunch with a couple of the neighborhood ladies today. We really were lucky to live in such a great neighborhood and make such special friends.
I then spent the afternoon making a dinner of Lasagna, garlic bread, and Caesar salad for Ken and Luma. Cooking with counter space is a wonderful thing.
Thursday, May 3, 2001 Greensboro, GA
Ken and Luma left to catch their plane this morning long before we got out of bed, so we took our time packing back up into the RV and let ourselves out just after 11:00. We then drove four hours to a small town in rural Georgia to visit some friends I made while Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail in 1997. Jenny and Brooster are caretakers at a lovely horse farm on Lake Oconee. They treated us to a great home-made vegetarian dinner. Jenny made gazpacho and eggplant lasagna for us, and later created ice cream for us made solely from frozen bananas, frozen peaches and almonds. There was no dairy product in this desert, but you’d swear there was.
Friday, May 4, 2001 McCormick, SC
Jenny and Brooster led us on a pleasant walk through the lake development before we sat down for breakfast. We then spent the remainder of the morning tagging along with them as they tended to the horses. Mostly we just sat and talked about our unusual lifestyles and what the future might hold. I was fascinated with the announcement of Jenny’s plan to Thru-Hike the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) next year. The PCT covers about 2600 miles as it stretches from the Mexican border to the Canadian border through California, Oregon and Washington. I am eager to keep up with the progress of her plans.
Christine and I said our goodbyes to Jenny and Brooster and turned back toward South Carolina. We hooked up with very close friends, Dave and Alan on Lake Thurmond, one of the lakes along the Savannah River. Alan has a very comfortable weekend getaway on the lake, including house and pontoon boat. We cooked up some rib-eye steaks on the grill and feasted on the meat, potatoes and reminiscing.
Dave was my roommate many years ago in Charleston, SC, and shares my passion for travel, adventure, and living life on one’s own terms. I became acquainted with Alan through Dave, and have never forgiven Dave (inside joke). My wife and I consider these two as some of our dearest friends. By Christine: The others at our wedding, may wonder about that last statement. J
Saturday, May 5, 2001 McCormick, SC
We awoke in a gentle mood on the lake, and then further softened the mood with some of Christine’s finest Bloody Mary’s. The rest of the day was dedicated to the concerted effort of reaching and maintaining a plateau of moderate intoxication. The intoxicants included food, lake, sun, laughing, life and liquor. Mix these ingredients together in carefully measured proportions for a sustained blissful pleasure.
After Dave cooked up a greasy breakfast of bacon, eggs and grits, we loaded the cooler onto Alan’s living room on the water (pontoon boat) for a few hours of lazy motoring down the lake’s main channel. We came back to re-provision the beverages and get some brief relief from the sun before returning to the water later this afternoon. We scooted up to pay a visit to Alan’s mother, Ethel, and her husband, John. After joining them for some cocktails we returned to Alan’s lake-house for some much anticipated sustenance.
Christine had boiled up some of her beer brats last night, and they had been soaking in their beer and onion mix ever since in the refrigerator. They crisped up perfectly on the grill and effectively returned all of us to our personal plateaus of pleasure. The evening ended in a peaceful balance of contentment and consumption.
Warning By Christine: Be very careful trying to recreate this day. It should only be taken on by professionals who are truly at the ultimate stage of relaxation. And if not done correctly, it will hurt more the older you are…
The now famous Dave and Alan.
Sunday, May 6, 2001 Charlotte, NC
The measure of a well-executed bender is determined by one’s condition the next morning. I must have maintained a perfect plateau yesterday because I could not have felt any better this morning. Christine and I both awoke in the best possible spirits.
After coffee and one last brilliant Bloody Mary we gathered up our loose ends, scarfed down some burgers and exchanged hugs with our partying companions. It had truly been a great weekend to let go.
We hopped on the road by 12:30 and pointed the RV back toward Charlotte. By prior arrangement, Ken and Luma were permitting us to house-sit/pet-sit for them while they were out of town. We got back to Charlotte in time to join many of our old neighbors for a grill-out. Betty and Sergio had just finished having their new pool installed, so we joined them there with Linda and Herb, Lena and John, and CT and Lea. It was a cool evening so not much swimming took place, but it was a very nice reunion. We caught up on the latest neighborhood news and also answered questions about our travels. A great end to a great weekend.
Herb, Linda, Sergio, Betty and the new pool.
Monday, May 7, 2001 Charlotte, NC
We had come to Charlotte to complete a laundry list of errands, so we got right to it. Nothing on the list was of any interest to others, so I’ll exclude the particulars here.
Later we joined our friends Siobhan and Henry for dinner at their house. With serious renovations on their home in progress, we kept dinner casual with pizza delivery. Their daughter Bronwyn is growing so quickly. After many laughs and much pizza we returned to our adopted home for the night.
By Christine: I spent most of the day working on the computer doing schoolwork. The only outside activity I had was walking the dog and getting a haircut. Once again, I was enjoying the ability to wander throughout multiple rooms.
Tuesday, May 8, 2001 Charlotte, NC
Many more errands were completed today. We reunited with Siobhan and Bronwyn for a second dinner together, then returned to our home to meet up with Joe, another Charlotte friend that dropped by for a brief visit.
Wednesday, May 9, 2001 Little River, SC
With nearly all our errands completed, we began packing up for our departure from Charlotte. It could be a year before we return to these old stomping grounds. We turned our rig east toward the home of our recently retired friends, Nancy and Dick (Wick). They had been our next-door neighbors in Charlotte before retiring last year and building a new house in the Myrtle Beach area.
We arrived in time for dinner with them and Nancy’s visiting mother, Betty. Their home is beautiful, overlooking the golf course in their development. It is decorated in all the soft comfortable decors that say “Beach Retirement.” Nancy and Wick appear to have had no trouble making the big adjustment to retirement.
By Christine: It is important to note that Nancy and Wick are not only old neighbors and friends, but also ‘kindred spirits’ as they are also from Wisconsin and big Packer and Badger fans.
Thursday, May 10, 2001 Little River, SC
As the ladies prepared for a morning of shopping and an afternoon at the beach, Wick and I stepped out to golf eighteen holes with his regular Thursday group of twenty neighbors. I am not much of a golfer, but Wick set me up well with his spare set of clubs and enough balls (golf-balls) to give me confidence around all of the water hazards. I played like hell, but had a fabulous time. The course Nancy and Wick live on is really laid out very nicely.
After reuniting with the ladies, we went out for dinner at a place better known by the locals. The Sea Merchant Restaurant places most of their attention on the quality of the food. We all followed Wick’s recommendation and ordered the filet with scallops and béarnaise sauce. None of us were disappointed.
1) Nancy and Wick; 2) Nancy, Wick, Betty, Christine and Joe
Friday, May 11, 2001 Little River, SC
After much morning dawdling, we all piled in the car for a day trip down to Georgetown, SC. The small town is steeped in history, both colonial and civil war eras. There is a successful effort underway to restore the historic wharf area of this town and bring in a tourist trade. With quite a few buildings still vacant, the progress was still laudable. We all had a great lunch at the Rice Paddy before returning north.
After much more dawdling we again piled in the car to partake in a popular Wisconsin past time (Wick and Nancy are from Wisconsin, as well as my wife), the Friday night ‘fish fry.’ We went to the Elks Club for some very well prepared fish, and plenty of it. We all then returned to the house for an evening of games.
Saturday, May 12, 2001 Little River, SC
The morning was spent putzing around the house before we jumped in the car to spend a few hours at the beach. The temperature was up to 80 degrees today, but the wind was blowing so hard off the coast that we were actually a bit chilled. This didn’t phase the northern blood of my wife. She waded all the way into the ocean until the big waves finally knocked her under. She was all by herself, but clearly loving it.
Wick and Nancy gave us a tour of the beach area and we returned to the house to prepare for dinner. We had reservations at a wonderful little Italian restaurant, Benny Rama’s Trattoria. This is a regular choice for our hosts, and it was truly a delight. We went back to the house to digest dinner before surprising Betty with a cake for both Mother’s Day and her birthday (Monday).
1) Nancy, Wick and Christine, perfecting the art of beach life. 2) Where is everyone?
Sunday, May 13, 2001 Swansboro, NC
We were busy bees this morning as we wrapped up our projects and packed up the RV. We’d grown so comfortable staying with our retired hosts that there seemed to be no incentive to get underway. It was after 1:00 when we finally left our friends. It was clear to all of us that we got along splendidly.
Heading north on highway seventeen we stopped in Wilmington to stretch our legs and walk around the town. Wilmington is a very clean historic city that is preserved partly for the benefit of all the movie/TV studios that have productions filmed in the area.
We continued on to a campground on the Intracoastal Waterway. The evening was perfect for a walk after a dinner of Christine’s homemade pea soup.
By Christine: What a joy the past days have been. Many have heard me comment that we have more in common with retired people right now than other friends. We were able to spend long evenings playing cribbage and playing on the computer, and lazy mornings. They were just as relaxed as we were and there was no worry about what day it was or work or kids.
Monday, May 14, 2001 Ocracoke Island, NC
We did a little shopping as we hit the road north again toward the Outer Banks. We made reservations for the 3:00 ferry crossing from Cedar Island to Ocracoke Island across Pamlico Sound. This gave us enough time to check out the historic little town of Beaufort (bō-fort), NC; not to be confused with Beaufort (byū-fort), SC. We then lined up for our RV’s first ride on a boat. The crossing over to Ocracoke Island took a little more than two hours, putting us at the southern tip of the Outer Banks.
Nearly all fourteen miles of Ocracoke Island are owned by the National Park Service, except for the tiny village of Ocracoke located on the cute little harbor at the south end of the island. We picked out a campsite at the National Park Service Campground about three miles north of town. We are separated from the ocean by a short walk over the protective sand dune. The pristine undeveloped beaches here are such a departure from Myrtle Beach and the many rest of that ilk. We had to make sure we marked where we crossed the dune when walking along the beach, otherwise we wouldn’t know when we had returned to our starting point.
Christine whipped up a fresh pasta salad for dinner before we bicycled into the village for a little sightseeing. The sun was dropping close to the horizon as we checked out the Ocracoke Lighthouse and dallied about the harbor. We stopped for an after dinner beer at Howard’s Pub before returning to our Oceanside campsite. We are looking forward to falling asleep to the rhythmic cadence of the ocean waves terminating their thousand-mile journey against the beach just to the other side of the sand dune.
1) The RV's first ferry ride. 2) The Ocracoke Harbor.
Tuesday, May 15, 2001 Rodanthe, NC
We lingered in our paradise this morning before driving to the north end of Ocracoke Island to catch the short (45 minute) ferry over to Hatteras Island. We made our first stop there at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. At 208 feet tall, it is the tallest lighthouse in the U.S. Of more recent interest is that the lighthouse was moved nearly 3000 feet in 1999 to rescue it from near certain ruin by the eroding coastline. The feat got national coverage, and nearly daily attention in the regional media. Christine and I labored up the spiral staircase to take in the view from the lighthouse observation deck. The amazing relocation of the lighthouse achieves even greater awe when its entire journey is viewed from the top of the tower.
We drove on up to another ocean-side campsite in Rodanthe for the next two nights. Here I was referred to an RV service provider to complete the final alteration of the RV’s propane fittings to enable the connection of our tabletop gas grill. This was a long overdue accomplishment that brought me great closure with its completion. Christine and I also took the bicycles off here for a little exploration.
1) The RV with the Lighthouse behind us. 2) This is a picture of a postcard, it shows the lighthouse as it was being moved last year. 3) This is the path the lighthouse moved down as shot from the top of the lighthouse.
Continue on to May 16...