Saturday we had a nice breakfast then headed out to order our glasses.  After that we found our way out the gate that leads to Swansboro and Emerald Isle, (yea, less then a week until the family arrives).  We stopped at the cg on Emerald Isle and for $3.50 a day we can leave the RV there....OK, that issue is solved.  We rode around a little bit, not really having any plans then headed back to camp.  Brad wants steaks for dinner, but they are froze, so we settled on Burgers (beef anyway).  Just hung out, walked to the beach and around the cg a couple of times, not much going on.  I have finally heard from Shane (text) and it looks as if he is working up with the gas well companies.  Now I just need to talk with him to get some specifics.

Sunday, Mother's Day.

Melanie texted first this in the morning, Shari later in the after noon and about 9:00 I heard from Shane.  He is working for a company called Centrifuge and works from 6:00 pm to 6:am, so he called just before going to bed.  It was nice hearing from the kids.  Brad took me out for a brunch at the local VFW, not bad and the people were very nice.  Then we decided to head around Camp Lejeune and go up through Jacksonville, NC just to see what is here (looking for good restaurants).....and we find nothing.  There is really nothing to do, or no where to eat once you get off the base until you get upto Swansboro. 

We headed up towards Emerald Isle and decided to play a game if mini golf, it was fun, but they don't have many challanges on the courses any more.  We stopped at a coffee shop and had a cafe mocha and then went and walked around Lowe's.  It's about 2:30, so back to camp, via a side road or two on the way.  We did manage to find a restaurant, on a back road right out side of Camp Lejeune and when we looked up the reviews, decided we might have to go try it.  We got back and set the steaks out to thaw and then went for long walk on the beach, still a lot of people around for a Sunday afternoon.  We had a nice dinner and another walk around.  Back inside by dark.

Happy Mother's Day to all!!

Fort Fisher to Camp Lejeune

I did change the plans on Thursday and we headed back into Wilmington.  We were in a shop Wed. and I saw the perfect gift for somebody and had to go back to get it.  Something little, but you just can't pass them up when you find them.  We did some walking around town and then went to Elijah's for lunch.   We shared a Portabella Mushroom stuffed with spinach, onion, sun-dried tomatoes in a 3 cheese sauce, wonderful, Brad had seafood chowder and shrimp and I had a spinach salad with grilled shrimp, both were good, Brad claims the better meal.  We walked and then stopped at the Front Street Brewery for a drink, then headed home about 4:30.  We weren't real hungry, so we just had the rest of the tuna on crackers....actually hit the spot.  We walked up to the fishing dock to watch the sun set, which actually was quite nice.  It was a beautiful evening and they are having a big blues festival that starts tomorrow evening.  No wonder they had no room for us and we have to leave tomorrow. 

Sunset on Cape Fear River



Friday

We left Fort Fisher about 10:00 this morning and headed for our long 70 mile trip to Camp Lejeune.  An uneventfull ride until we got on base...the first sign "Warning, artillary firing over roadway, day and night" and the second sign was "Tank Crossing"...we were beginning to wonder what we got ourselves into.  We got checked in, found our site and got set up, nice size sites.  We are close to the ocean and we can see the intercoastal water way from our site.  We left to find the commassary and the PX, which we did. Walked around there and found a place to order glasses.  We got our eyes checked in Florida and haven't been in one place long enough to get new glasses....I'll be able to see again.  The PX and Commisary are the largest we have been to yet, and of course we had to walk through both.  Headed back to camp and yes we managed to get lost.  OK, this place is huge. 

I did forget to mention that when we crossed the bridge the bridge to leave the CG there is a field and this is one of the half dozen tanks that was there, a training mission I guess.

Charleston to Fort Fisher

Ft. Fisher

We planned on being out of Charleston by 9:00, 10:30 we finally pulled out of the gate(we aren't good with schedules).  We took Route 17 the whole way up, nicer than the 95, but a lot of red lights in some areas.  We pulled into camp about 3:00, got checked in, found our spot and settled in.  OK, no cooking for me tonight, we headed up the road and found this place called 'Big Daddy's'.  We had the steam pot (clams, mussels, shrimp, kielbasi and a large crab leg cluster all with a garlic seasoning), which was o.k., but probably the most expensive place we have eaten to date, and the food was just o.k.  We walked across the street to the fishing pier where the pelican's were trying to steal peoples catch.  Back to camp to figure out what we are going to do on Wednesday.



Wednesday we got up and decided to head up to Wilmington, it is a cool, gray day and not much of a beach day.  We headed up the road and found our way out come Friday, then headed into Old Town Wilmington.  We went to a place called 'The River Landing Restaurant' for lunch, and sat on one of the little patio's on the second floor.  We walked around the old town area and hit a lot of the little shops.  It was about 3:00 when we headed out of town and I made Brad drive down as many of the old cobble stone streets as I could....they had the neatest old building.  We took our time heading home, had to stop at Wal-Mart for somethings for the RV....of course they didn't have any of the things, so off we go again.  We get back to camp and are thinking about going for a walk, but here comes the rain.  OK no stroll tonight and it looks like tuna melts for dinner.  More tomorrow, beach plans for tomorrow.  Diane

Last Day in Charleston

Not much going on today, heading out tomorrow.  We did go for a 4 mile bike ride, and I think I might have pushed the one hill a little to hard, now just need to walk and ride to keep it from getting stiff.  We got back and opened up the Weber Q stand we bought yesterday, doesn't fit in the storage bin we wanted to put it it.....I guess we'll just stick to using a table. 

I did get on the internet in the mean time and looked up the Diners, Drive-ins and Dives web site.  I found this restaurant, not that far away for us to try, not in a part of town you would normally venture to, but recommeded so after the trip to Lowe's

We went to the Tattooed Moose.  The food was great..I had the Lucky #1" Sub: BBQ Braised Port Belly, Seared on the Grill, Topped with House Made Kimchi, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Crispy Onions, Cilantro, Wasabi Mayo, & Sweet Red Chili Sauce, All on a Roll!                   Brad had his normal Reuben.....needless to say mine was much better!!!!  All that stuff together on the sub just went together great.

Back to camp, more laundry and start to pack up.  We are headed to Fort Fisher, Kure Beach, NC tomorrow.  I'll be back to let you know how the new camp is.  Diane

Charleston AFB

Saturday we decided we are going to look for the 1,000 acre park for hiking, fishing, etc. on one of the other military sites.  We do manage to find it, there is a small park with picnic tables and a playground, 1 boat launch, a fishing pier and the rest of it just looked like an over grown woods and the bugs were so bad, we couldn't even get out of the car or keep our windows down.

Oh well,we took a different way home and found a place called Cypress Garden.  It has a butterfly house and a few other tour things, but it is 4:30 and it closes at 6:00, not enough time to do the whole thing, so back home.  We stopped at the commissary and picked up a few things (lemon juice being one of them) then back and made dinner. 

Sunday was a do nothing day....but I did go get a much needed pedicure.  We stopped at Lowe's on the way back, got a Weber stand for the Q120....then to Home Depot (across the street) and Brad got a brush for scrubbing the RV.  We ended up stopping at a Denny's to eat, since we missed lunch and it was 4:30....early dinner, late lunch which ever you want it to be.  Back to camp, some bike rides, strolls and laundry.  Talked with some of the neighbors, then headed inside for the night.  Oh well, what a lazy weekend.

Charleston AFB



USS Yorktown

Thursday we headed over to Patriots Point to tour The USS Yorktown.  I never climbed up and down so many ladder/steps in one day, an air craft carrier is rather large.   It was very educational walking around with Brad, I got a lot of stories about the ship and how it compared to the ships he was on.  The USS Laffey was there, but you really couldn't get through too much of it and then there was a little Vietnam Memorial that we also walked around. 





Vietnam Memorial



 

We got done there and headed home for dinner.  We both called it an early night.

Friday May 4



A lazy day planned after Wednesday and Thurday, so what do we do.....a 4-5 mile bike ride.  Back to the RV for breakfast, shower and we are off again.  We are looking for the 2 other military campgrounds in the area.  The first is 'Foster Creek', an older park that looks as if there are more full timers than part timers.  There is a 'river', swampy, but fishable according to Brad .

Tent Site

We left there....now off to 'Short Stay Navy Rec.' OK, beautiful campground, just the kind of place we are looking for. Right on Lake Moultrie, boats to rent, fishing docks and mostly shaded sites.....



RV Site

Oh no, something is missing.....no sewer.  Now what do we do, I guess we need to learn how to camp with no sewer hook-up.  It seems from the peole that we have talked to, that seems to be a norm for full-timers. 



OK heading home.....hey there's a Camping World, so we pull in, about an hour and $20.00 later, we head out, this time to home.  Ham steak for dinner....no lemon juice, ok we settled on hot dogs...off to the store tomorrow...Ham Steak tomorrow for dinner.



Charleston, SC

We went back to Charleston again today with no plans, but to park on Battery Street (the only free parking) and then walk through town.  We walked around the White Point Gardens, up on the raised river walk area and down through the rainbow house street (very colorful).  We walked around until about 1:00-1:15 then it's time to have lunch and ate at the 'Fleet Landing'.  Good food and brought back a lot of old memories for Brad.

The food was good, we both enjoyed our lunch, I had a salad with grilled shrimp and Brad had Shrimp and Grits (I liked mine better). 

We planned on doing a couple of tours today, but we got distracted walking 'Market Street', and then all the other streets, reading the history plaques, touring cemetaries and walking into the old churches or buildings that were open.  The next thing we knew it was time to think about heading home.
 

We did go to the 'Roof Top' bar/restaurant for a drink and then headed to the car.  OK, one more stop.  We actually decided we were going to have Tapas (Appetizers) for dinner.  Dinner consisted of  "Gargonzola Fig Terrine with fresh fruit" and "Portobello Mushroom, Ham and Cheddar Cheese Quiche with a side salad", a little different for us, but we enjoyed them both.

View from the 'Roof Top Bar'

We finally got home about 7:00, long day of walking but that will never hurt either of us.  Be back later.