Tybee Island and Savannah – Sat./Sun. Nov. 11-12

We had been told we should make sure we see Savannah and while searching there web site I found out about an art fair nearby on Tybee Island.  There were also festivals going on in Savannah.

The drive into Savannah was not what I expected.  A very high bridge and since it is a port, many huge cranes and ships.  Not the quaint entrance I expected.  When we got to the town a parade was just starting and the town was packed with cars and people.  We just drove through.  I would be surprised if we make another visit back there.  Tybee Island was more my style.

Tybee Island is about 20 miles from Savannah and is  barrier island. A charming town of about 4000 and it’s main purpose today seems to be as a laid back resort with many 2 story resorts and charming little condos and homes.  The art fair was about 40 little tents with a few people wandering through.  The weather was absolutely perfect.  We sat by the beach for awhile and then asked the locals where a good place for lunch was.  The photos are on a disposable camera so it will be awhile before they get posted.  The restauant was packed and let’s say “it had character”.  It was probably about 60 years old, by the beach (which you can’t see because of the sand dunes) and I think I am really happy I could not see the kitchen but the crab cakes were delicious and we really had fun watching the people come and go.

Near the restaurant is a light house and a fort so quite an interesting history to the island.  Check out the link above.

We had a bit of a surprise when we saw our hotel bill.  We were charged for about $50 of mini bar items which we did not consume.  I called the desk and they immediately removed the charge but kind of makes me wonder why we were charged in the first place.  Like many beach hotels there are a bunch of extra taxes and fees so that added another $25 a night to the bill.  If we had used the in room internet connection that would have been another $11 a day, but wireless in the lobby was free.  Really irritating.  At a cheap hotel you get no extra fees, free internet access and breakfast is included.  Go figure. 

I forgot to mention that this Westin does take pets up to 40 pounds and we saw a few really cute little dogs.  Tanya stayed at home but we missed her. 

Hilton Head Island – Nov. 9-10

We had an uneventful 4.5 hour drive to Hilton Head Island.  It is hard to imagine in the morning you are in the mountains and in the afternoon you are at the ocean.  Our Westin Hotel looks very nice and not at all crowded.  We woke up to SUMMER – 75 degrees.  We spent Friday relaxing in the hotel, sitting in the big hot spa and walking the beach. Our hot tub is the thing I miss the most.  Very relaxing. 

Food is good but expensive. At a very nice restaurant I had an appetizer of fried green tomatoes with crab and brie cheese.  Yum.  I have crab in some form where ever I can find it. 

We have a nice balcony and can read the morning paper while having coffee to start out the day at our slow pace.  Did I mention no crowds!!! Even so, the traffic on the one main road seems heavy.  I can’t imagine what it must be like during the peak tourist/golf season with most of the people visitors like us who don’t know where we are going.  They have these road things called turnarounds that are really wicked in the pitch black of night driving.  The island is only 5 by 12 miles and I think I read it has 60 golf courses!   The other main attraction seems to be shopping.  Pretty as it is, since I don’t golf and hate to shop this is probably not going to be a place I revist. 

Bob and I have a tradition of taking a bottle of wine, cheese, crackers, fruit or other snacks to eat down by the beach as the sun sets and that was fun.  The sky looked like it was on fire!

The only downside is there is a big dredging platform off shore and it makes a horrible racket all the time.  Really takes away from th calm sound of the waves rolling in.  It sounds like a helicopter flying high overhead.   

Carl Sandburg, Pisgah Forest & Ribs – Sat. Nov. 4

Carl Sandburg’s home for the last 20 or so years of his life is only about 5 minutes from our house so we went with there with Lynn and Bob.  Another sunny but cool day (mid 50’s) so perfect for sightseeing.  The farm grounds are beautiful.   Mrs. Sandburg was very well known for her herd of about 200 goats with extremely high milk production.  The prize goat could do 3 gallons of milk a day! There are still some goats on the farm as well as a big tiger cat who warmly greeted us when we arrived.  Since we have been here we have seen huge crowds of cars by this home and were so glad that when we went there were only a few other people there. 

I must admit that my knowledge of Mr. Sandburg was pretty slim.  I had forgotten what a talented poet, writer, musician, biographer of Abraham Lincoln, Nobel prize winner, and writer of children’s books he was.  Of course we took the house tour so those of you who are interested can ask me about all the “insider informaton” we got.  I would certainly recommend this as a place to visit.

After that we went to downtown Hendersonville to see the famous Curb Market where they feature only homemade food and crafts.

Our last afternoon stop was out to Pisgah Forest where we showed Lynn and  Bob a couple waterfalls that we had seen our first week here and also a stop at the Ranger Station, which we had not visited before.  Did you know that this is the birth place of modern forestery?  It is called the Cradle of Forestry.  Visit the web site to find out more.  Without a doubt, the mountains of NC are a dream come true for anyone who likes to bike, hike, camp and fish.

To finish off the day we went to Breakwater Grille in Hendersonville for dinner. Blackwater Grille is Carolina’s original Appalachian Grille, serving an upscale chef-inspired Southern Highland Cuisine.  Delicious.  The young chef was a delight.  I can’t remember when I last had the chef come to our table several times to meet us and talk about his food and restaurant.  I tired collards for the first time and liked them.  The main entree was a whiskey smoked ribs with a blackberry BBQ sauce.  Yum!

Medieval Lunch – Sun. Oct. 29

The photo is a water fall we saw in Pisgah Forest our first week. 

We had a wonderful Medieval Lunch  at Highland Lake Inn in Flatrock.- In addition to live music, a costumed medieval court jester, Richard Cuyler, will perform magic tricks, deceptions and juggling acts from table to table. He will also perform with flaming torches outside, easily viewed from the dining porch windows.  The food was very good, especially the smoked pork and the whiskey bread pudding!  

The buffet will feature Henderson County cider, whole suckling pig, applesauce, seafood, sausage, baby octopus, prime rib of beef, cured meat display, and assorted vegetables, mushrooms and herbs. A variety of vegetables, soups, salads, fresh-baked breads and pastries and desserts will also be available on the buffet.

It has been interesting to learn the liquor laws here.  Wine and beer is sold in grocery stores and hard liquor only is sold in the liquor stores.  The only liquor store in Hendersonville, a town of 11,000 is simply called ABC.  If you don’t know what you are looking for you will never find it.  On Sundays alcohol is not sold in restaurants before noon but you can buy the wine in grocery stores after noon on Sunday.

After lunch since it was another gorgeous day we went driving around Flatrock.  I am continually amazed at the heavily wooded lots and homes that are tucked away in quiet streets.  I don’t think I have ever seen anything like this in MN. 

As I read all the activities going on within 30 miles of here I am impressed with all the music and arts programs and fall festivals.  It is easy to see why people love living in these mountains.

Yurts and a new KFC menu item – Fri. Oct. 27

On the way to Bryson we stoped at Sylva at a Kentucky Fried Chicken for lunch.  Nothing unusual about that except on the menu they had deep fried liver nuggets!   I’ve never seen that in Minnesota.  No, we did  not try them.

The weather is rainy and cool, not a good day for camping but that is what we are going to do, sort of.  We spent the evening in a yurt near Bryson NC, about 80 miles from Hendersonville in western NC.  The place was everything we expected.  Up in the mountains, deep in the woods and quiet are 8 little round tents but nothing like any tent you ever camped in.  If there is only one link you click on in this blog, click on the one above to see what a yurt is like.  Comfortable queen size bed, hardwood floor, decorated, clean, electric heater, refrig., coffee maker.  There is even a hot tub.  Nice clean heated bathrooms and showers, behind locked doors are about 20 feet away.  It rained and was windy and the sound kept us awake some but it was so nice to be warm and dry and comfortable.  I remember camping in a regular tent under similar circumstances and that was not much fun. 

We had dinner and breakfast at a very nice resort about 2 miles away.  Homemade rolls and biscuits that melted in your mouth and fresh rainbow trout.

Waterfalls, Injuries and Theater- Sat. Oct. 21

We headed out with Kris and Greg to DuPont State Forest to see more waterfalls and fall colors.  Another perfect weather day!  On the hike down to see the first waterfall Bob fell and hurt his finger.  We hope it isn’t broke.  He can bend it but it is swelling up.  Fay made it to Tripple Falls and Hooker Falls but got tired out when she looked at the next steep climb so I sat and visited with other tourists while the other three made the climb.  After two days of hiking around indoors and outdoors we were tired and grabbed a nap before our next event.

We went to Flat Rock Theater, a professional theater about 5 minutes from our house and saw a delightful musical comedy “I love you, your’re perfect, now change”.  Very funny and well done.  Yes, there is a huge flat rock in the middle of the parking lot!

We tried out the smoked trout and trout spread and all thought it was delicious!

Getting settled in a new routine. Mon, Oct. 16

The weather is rainy but that’s ok.  We are both kind of burnt out.  I dug out my art supplies and found a spot in the loft with a big desk that looks out over the woods.  Time will tell if that is enough to get me inspired.  I looked through the large selection of books here and I could not believe it whan I found one on the history of Sumi-e painting (Chinese brush stroke),  which is what I have been learning to do.  There were incredible color reproductions of very old Chinese paintings.  Since I don’t believe in coincidence, I think this is a good sign! 

Bob contines to get settled in with work and he says I am a little restless.  The cable TV station has a couple great jazz stations and I really like that.  My computer, which we shipped by DSL from Mpls., is not here yet so I don’t know what to do with myself.  That’s ok.

We found this great Deli/Market called Fresh Market.  It is like a small version of Byerlies or Kowalskies and got a couple steaks.  They were the best steaks we have had in any recent memory.   Proves that Minnesota isn’t the only place with good beef!