Sunday Drive- taking time to explore

Walt was pretty disappointed to not have been there to see Olive’s first time at the beach so we decided to head to South Carolina. We hadn’t scratched a state off the map of the United States in over a month so we somewhat threw a dart on the coast of SC and ended up going to Harbor Island near Beaufort. With zero expectations and neither of us having travelled to the coast of SC ever, we were BLOWN away. It was beautiful, quiet, full of culture, abundant wildlife and the food was incredible.

Walt even lined up a guide to take all 3 of us out to fish the coastal waterway. Captain Kenny was an ex-marine who has a 6 year old daughter so he made quick friends with Olive. I was so proud of her and Kenny said that she was the best behaved kid that he has had. The countless trips of dragging her with us while fishing must have paid off, that and her kindle. Gosh that thing is great in a pinch.

We were fishing right near Paris Island where they train for the US Marine Corps. So as we were listening to Grateful Dead and fishing off of a boat in the sunshine, men and women were screaming and machine gun rounds were the white noise of the morning. As Captain Kenny put it, “I always feel a little guilty that I am out here having the best day while they are having the worst day of their life and are regretting their life choices”.

Even to this day Olive will say, “you know who I miss? Captain Kenny.”

I did want to see Charleston, so we headed north for the weekend. What a beautiful city, though it felt really busy after being in a gated retirement community in the off season for the previous week. The aquarium was neat and the street stands selling popsicles with alcohol in them was a much appreciated treat.

Overall, I fell in love with South Carolina unexpectedly. It is so incredibly different than Montana in nearly every way. It was the first time that I felt that I could be happy not seeing big mountains every day and the ocean has a draw that is indescribable. And the food! I think I ate my body weight in oysters and seafood. So we will see, but the Lowcountry is high on my list.