Vacation in Charleston (2)

Saturday morning (23 November), we (Rick, Melissa, Alex, Kate, Mom, and I) headed to a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant and game center (https://www.chuckecheese.com/) for Kate's big birthday party. Kate and her young guests played various games in the gaming center. Then, they came to the table to enjoy pizza and a birthday cake. The adults--parents of the guests--joined in the dining. It was quite a nice event for these kids--especially, Kate.

That afternoon, I drove to North Charleston to view the H.L. Hunley (https://www.hunley.org/), the world's first successful combat submarine. This Confederate craft sake the Union ship USS Housatonic in Charleston Harbor on the night of 17 February 1864; however, the Hunley disappeared soon afterward. It was discovered on the bottom of the harbor in 1995 and raised five years later. The vessel is currently being conserved for display at a museum in the future.

I toured the museum with its exhibits on the Hunley and its role in the American Civil War. The guide took me and two others to see the sub in its conservation water tank, and told the story of its historic combat patrol. It was all most interesting.

After the tour, I sat in a full size replica of the Hunley's hull, which had a hand crank that most of the submarine's seven-man crew turned to propel the boat. It was cramped, and tiring to use the crank, but at least I had a better appreciation for what these sailors went through.

The next day, Mom and I drove up to Southport, North Carolina--approximately a three-hour journey--to visit our cousin Cheryl Fulton and her husband Bob. I had not seen Bob and Cheryl in person for years, so it was great to see them and to catch up on things. While Mom and I were there, we also welcomed my cousin Melanie Dykes and her two daughters, Katy and Molly. They came over from Raleigh, North Carolina, where Katy's team from Birmingham, Alabama was playing in a college soccer coaches' showcase tournament. I last saw Melanie about 20 years ago, and had not seen her daughters at all in person. It was great for all of us to get together and talk.

Driving back to Charleston that night, Mom and I stopped at a restaurant in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Leaving the restaurant and going to the car, Mom tripped and fell in the parking lot. She got a black eye, her glasses were broken, and she had scrapes on her one hand and knee, but otherwise was fine. A bystander nearby (who we guessed was a nurse or physical therapist) and I helped get Mom back up her feel and gave Mom some antiseptic wipes to use on her wounds. Mom was fine as we returned to the guest house. After arriving in Charleston, Mom went to an urgent care facility. One of her hand scrapes needed a few stitches and she was given some medicine. She's doing fine now, and Mom had a backup set of glasses to wear.

We basically chilled out on Monday (25 November). Mostly sat around the house, though I did go late that morning to Highfalutin Coffee Roasters (https://highfalutin.coffee/) about two blocks from the house. I enjoyed a beverage and bread while reading an ebook. Very nice neighborhood coffee house.

More to come next post. Later.

Vacation in Charleston (1)

Early last Wednesday morning (20 November), my mom and I got a ride from our neighbor Ralph Sartori to St. Louis Lambert International Airport (https://www.flystl.com/). There, mom and I flew to Charlotte, North Carolina, then connected with another flight to our destination, Charleston, South Carolina. After our flight arrived midday at Charleston International Airport (https://www.iflychs.com/) and we got our luggage, we made for the Enterprise Rent-A-Car (https://www.enterprise.com/en/home.html) counter. I checked in at the counter and got the key to my rental vehicle, a Nissan Versa. I checked it out before picked up mom and our luggage, then headed for my brother Rick's house in Avondale.

Mom and I moved into a house next door that was unoccupied, which served as our guest house during our time in Charleston. Rick, his wife Melissa, and their two adopted children--Alex and Kate--greeted us that afternoon. We were at Rick's house for some meals and socializing. This day, we had lunch at the nearby Triangle Char & Bar (http://trianglecharandbar.com/). That night, we had a small party at the house for Kate, my goddaughter. She turned five years old Wednesday and Kate got some presents from the family. Those included a stencil drawing set from me.

The next day, we gathered for lunch at East Bay Deli (https://www.eastbaydeli.com/) not far from Rick's house.

I began exploring Charleston in earnest last Friday morning (22 November). Parking in a public garage, I began walking around downtown, going down to the Battery at the southernmost tip of the peninsula, where the Ashley and Cooper rivers flow into Charleston Harbor.

After that, I walked up to Liberty Square on the eastern part of the peninsula. There, I entered the visitor center for Fort Sumter National Monument (https://www.nps.gov/fosu/index.htm). I went through the displays there, including a replica of the garrison flag that flew over the Fort prior to the Confederate siege in April of 1861. Then, I waited with others for the ferry boat to take us to Fort Sumter, on Sullivan's Island in Charleston Harbor.

Along with other visitors, I boarded the Spirit of Charleston for the 30-minute boat ride to Fort Sumter. There, a park ranger told us about the background to the 1861 siege, which began the American Civil War. Then, we walked around the fort for about an hour, stopping by various sections.

We then got back aboard the Spirit of Charleston for the return trip to the visitor center. It was a most moving experience, being at a place where history was made in a most significant way.

That night, Rick's family, Mom, Melissa's father Neil, and I had dinner at Lewis Barbecue (https://lewisbarbecue.com/), where we had such a fine time. Neil lives in a senior center in Charleston. It was good to see him.

More on this vacation in my next post. Later.