July 2022 - On the road again GA, NC, SC!

27 July 2022 Wednesday - Largo Florida
My sister's daughter had planned a visit to see her grandmother but their family had been exposed to covid so their visit was cancelled, which is just as well, because our mother had mild stroke and went into hospital.

26 July 2022 Tuesday - Largo Florida
Morning walkabout at Largo Nature Preserve where besides seeing heaps of birds, also saw an alligator in the pond...then afternoon DNA class at the library...then heavy rain with thunder and lightning.

25 July 2022 Monday - Largo Florida
Morning walk on the beach.

22 July 2022 Friday – Largo Florida
Morning walk then time at pool but too hot to just lay in sun and too hot to swim in bathtub water at 92 degrees!

21 July 2022 Thursday – Largo Florida
Morning walk at Botanical Gardens then visit with mum then running around doing errands to catch up.

20 July 2022 Wednesday – Brooksville to Largo Florida (74 miles)
After one month on road, return to mum’s condo and within  one hour, the crazy woman across the way is yelling about how much she and her son (whom I have never met) hate me, have no idea why, but that is life here in weird Florida with which I am not happy, my trip away was SO wonderful.

19 July Tuesday – MacClenny to Brooksville Florida (137 miles)
More backroads then interstate, upgraded to two room suite!

18 July 2022 Monday – Kingsland Georgia to MacClenny Florida (73 miles)
Backroad return to Florida to avoid the interstate. Visited Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, visitor center closed on Mondays and toilets closed due to broken water line.  Walk to local café for fresh trout, grits, green beans (gave the okra a miss).

17 July 2022 Sunday – Kingsland Georgia
Visit to Crooked River State Park but after short time on the trails, decided to return because mosquitoes were horrendous. I instead visited the ruins of the tabby sugar mill built by John McIntosh in the 1800’s. The walls are beautiful shell art work because the word tabby means a type of concrete (coastal concrete) built by burning oyster shells to make lime, then mixing with water, sand, ash and oyster shells. Cleansed the car at the local car wash to rid it of the salty ocean air to which it has been exposed.

16 July 2022 Saturday – Beaufort South Carolina to Kingsland Georgia (163 miles)
I95 south from South Carolina to Georgia! Explored St Marys downtown and great chat with Holly at Welcome Center. Visited Cumberland Island visitor center where the morning boat was departing with over fifty folks. Had considered doing this tomorrow Sunday but no return ferry until late day and decided not to spend full day on the island in the heat/humidity with heaps of mosquitoes and with potential thunderstorms forecasted, maybe another time when weather is cooler. Great walkabout of the Oak Grove Cemetery and the adjacent historical park and the waterfront farmers market.

15 July 2022 Friday – Pawleys Island to Beaufort South Carolina (157 miles)
Managed to bypass Savannah via I526 then enjoyed walkabout downtown Beaufort with wonderful historic homes and where they are having 66^th annual Water Festival with several vendors along the waterfront

14 July 2022 Thursday – Sneads Ferry Topsail North Carolina to Pawleys Island South Carolina (159 miles)
Managed to bypass very busy Myrtle Beach via the new route 31 bypass. Drove Pawleys Island then managed to find parking spot at very busy south end for walk on the beach with beautiful sand dunes. Houses in the historic district date back to 1800’s.

13 July 2022 Wednesday – Emerald Isle to Sneads Ferry Topsail North Carolina (104 miles)
Exploration of Topsail Island although all parking lots require payment via mobile phone which I do not have, so have to pay to park to pee. Great visit to the Topsail Museum (free parking) to learn about Operation BumbleBee, a US Navy effort to develop surface to air missiles in the 1940’s, plus an exhibit depicting life of Blackbeard (Edward Teach), famous English pirate.

12 July 2022 Tuesday – Emerald Isle North Carolina
Visit to North Carolina Aquarium with the family then take away fish lunch from the food truck then evening of ghost crabbing under the full moon on the beach.

11 July 2022 Monday – Emerald Isle North Carolina
Another relaxing beach day with evening meal of fresh fish from Willis Seafood

10 July 2022 Sunday – Emerald Isle North Carolina
Enjoying the beach with my sister and her family

9 July 2022 Saturday – Cary to Emerald Isle North Carolina (178 miles)
Midday drive to my sister’s beach rental house, passing by Camp Lejeune

8 July 2022 Friday – Cary North Carolina
Much needed haircut at local Great Clips (Ebony) then car wash at Tidal Wave then evening take away meal of chicken lo mein from China Chef.

7 July 2022 Thursday - Charlotte/Concord to Cary North Carolina (132 miles)
Early morning drive to my sister's with stop at niece's home for short visit. Afternoon visit to local library, Whole Foods (still no sparkling water in stock) and Harris Teeter. Delicious grilled salmon and veggies for dinner.

6 July 2022 Wednesday - Helen Georgia to Charlotte/Concord North Carolina (223 miles)
Driving backroads to interstate where there was major accident in Charlotte.

5 July 2022 Tuesday - Helen Georgia
Still enjoying quiet cottage on Dukes Creek with afternoon thunderstorms.

4 July 2022 Monday - Helen Georgia
Walkabout of the property with large garden and chat with locals. Tis so nice to have quiet for the Fourth of July without the noise of fireworks and barking dogs!!!

3 July 2022 Sunday - Brevard North Carolina to Helen Georgia (131 miles)
Beautiful winding road through mountains of southern NC and northern GA, a bit of morning fog. Visit to Unicoi State Park and downtown Helen, famous for its German architecture, but too busy for me. Back in the 1960's, the town decided they needed a way to attract tourists and it has worked for this small town of 600 and third most visited in state of Georgia, after Atlanta and Savannah. Walkabout on Tsalaki Trail to covered bridge at Smithgall Woods state park while waiting for cottage to be cleaned.

2 July 2022 Saturday - Brevard North Carolina
Early morning hike to High Falls, Triple Falls, Hooker Falls at DuPont State Recreational Forest before it becomes too busy, which it did, and before afternoon thunderstorm. Before this was a park, this property was owned by the DuPont Corporation where they operated an xray film plant for decades. It was destined to become a housing development in the 1990's then was saved for conservation, using the state's power of eminent domain to make the property state land.

1 July 2022 Friday - Brevard North Carolina
Early morning drive in fog to our Florida neighbor's new home here then visit to Gorges State Park for hike to Bearhollow Falls. Walkabout downtown Brevard, food shopping at Ingles then delicious sushi at Sora Japanese.