Mike's Bikes, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, USA

I have driven past Mike's Bikes more than fifty times in the past two months, each time observing the vivid colors and linear arrangement but - I was not able to stop for one reason or another.  I finally stopped with just a few days remaining before I left South Carolina.

Nice place, cool bikes, friendly people.



Boone Hall Plantation, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, USA

In 1743, the southern live oak trees at Boone Hall Plantation were planted, arranged in two evenly spaced rows on the approach to the house. The spectacular result is visible today and will stay in your memory for a long time to come. (Picture the scene from the movie "Forrest Gump" when Forrest is running down the long driveway being chased by his schoolmates and Jenny says, "run Forrest run." The movie wasn't filmed here but it's the same basic look.) It took more than two centuries for these massive, Spanish moss-draped branches to meet overhead, forming today's natural corridor. Boone Hall is also one of America's oldest working, living plantations. They have been continuously growing and producing crops for over 320 years.

The Avenue of Oaks

Outside the Avenue of Oaks.

Another live oak elsewhere on the property, adjacent to the marsh/river.

And in the gardens - poppies.....

.....and daffodils already blooming in mid-February.

One of the more aloof horses.

Two of the more friendly horses.

 Seated in front of a former slave cabin, a presentation about the Gullah people is conducted by Bob who is assisted by an audience member in demonstrating a typical rhythm to which the slaves would work at a consistent pace. Gullah is a language, a culture, and a people living in the lowcountry coastal region of South Carolina and Georgia. The Gullah trace their roots to the slave ships from western Africa in the 17-1800's. 

Boone Hall Plantation, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, USA

The majestic Southern Live Oaks (Quercus Virginiania) and adjacent horse pasture run parallel to the entrance road to Boone Hall plantation.

If I could just get a horse to stand by the railing and hang his/her head over the fence........where's Mr. Ed when you need him?

Looking through the gate near the main house, the Avenue of Oaks dramatically lines the entrance to Boone Hall plantation.

Today, Gullah is a language, a culture, and a people living in the lowcountry coastal region of South Carolina and Georgia. They trace their roots to the slave ships from western Africa in the 17-1800's. The presenter shown above, Jacqui, provided a powerful rendition of Gullah experience for visitors to the Boone Hall plantation.

This slave cabin is typical of the 27 that were built on the plantation during the years of slavery. Usually 15 persons lived in such a building. Most slave cabins on other plantations , unlike these, were built of wood, lacked windows, and had dirt floors.

Bricks were also a product of the Boone Hall plantation in addition to crops such as rice, indigo, and cotton - all based on the labor of slaves.

Sweetgrass baskets are popular local products.  They are handmade mostly by descendants of the Gullah people.



Visual Definition: Irony, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, USA

This blog post seems especially appropriate since today is the day the President of the United States delivers the annual State of the Union address to the American people.

This American flag, our great symbol of freedom, whipped by the wind, is inadvertently wrapped around a surveillance camera in a public park.  Personally, I think our Founders would be appalled at the idea of both public surveillance and some provisions of the Patriot Act. Since 9/11 we seem to have increasingly allowed security to impinge upon freedom. I question that strategy for the future of a free people.

USS Yorktown, Patriot's Point, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, USA

 

The USS Yorktown is permanently berthed in Charleston Harbor and on public display. The Yorktown was commissioned in April 1943 (the tenth aircraft carrier, thus, designation CV-10) and decommissioned in 1970. In 1975 she became a museum ship at Patriot's Point as a National Historic Landmark. She served for many years in the Pacific supporting U.S. war efforts in WWII, the Vietnam War, and later as a recovery ship for the Apollo 8 space mission.

Tourists board the 888 foot long ship from this walkway.

An F/A-18 on display on the flight deck.  In my younger days as an air traffic controller, I provided air traffic control services to many thousands of flights by these aircraft that flew into or out of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in California.

On the flight deck.

Few people on the planet can lay claim to this chair - it belongs to the Captain of the ship.

And most of the 3500 men (3088 enlisted, 380 officers) on the carrier slept in these bunks - stacked three high about 18 inches apart, imagine all these young men packed into this tight space for many months at a stretch. How they kept all these men fed is an awesome feat that required four meal sittings daily.

And don't forget dessert - if you ever need a recipe for 10,000 chocolate chip cookies, here you go - tried and true, battle tested.



Pitt Street Bridge/Park, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, USA

There was once a bridge on Pitt Street that connected Mt. Pleasant to Sullivan's Island.  That bridge is gone but the right-of-way has been converted to a very pleasant park with views of Sullivan's Island, Charleston Harbor, the distant Ravenel Bridge, and the saltwater marshland adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway.  A nice place for a walk, jog, sit, saunter, mosey, amble, or kayak. 

Looking towards Sullivan's Island.

Looking towards Mt. Pleasant.

The last 500 feet or so is on a wooden pier out into the marsh.

When I departed, a fancy car was parked with an unusually endearing automobile license plate (based on my stereotyped image of a Jaguar owner) - either that or he/she owns a chain of doughnut shops.  And yes, that horribly bright yellow reflection is my polarfleece sweater - it keeps me from getting lost with others- or shot at during hunting season in the Massachusetts woods. Plus, old people can wear anything they damn well please - and often do - now where did I put those multi-color plaid pants, striped bowling shirt, and white shoes?.

Charleston Harbor Marina, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, USA

The Charleston Harbor Marina is the largest marina in the state of South Carolina, with 459 slips. It is situated on the Mt. Pleasant side of Charleston harbor with views of Fort Sumter, the skyline of Charleston, the Ravenel bridge, and the Patriot's Point permanent berth of the World War II aircraft carrier USS Yorktown.

The Yorktown was commissioned in April 1943 and decommissioned in 1970 and in 1975 became a museum ship at Patriot's Point. She is a National Historic Landmark. The Ravenel Bridge opened in 2005 and hosts a very popular bike/pedestrian protected lane - it's on my list of things to do..... it is the tallest thing around for miles here in the "low country."

The USS Yorktown.  She served for many years in the Pacific supporting U.S. war efforts in WWII, the Vietnam War, and later as a recovery ship for the Apollo 8 space mission. The submarine is the USS Clamagore.

A view of one of the piers in the marina, downtown Charleston is across the river.

The best bicycle cup holder ever!

Boone Hall Plantation, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, USA

In 1743, the southern live oak trees at Boone Hall Plantation were planted, arranged in two evenly spaced rows on the approach to the house. The spectacular result is visible today and will stay in your memory for  a long time to come. (Picture the scene from the movie Forrest Gump when Forrest is running down the long driveway being chased by his schoolmates and Jenny says, "run Forrest run."  It wasn't filmed here but it's the same basic look.) It took two centuries for these massive, Spanish moss-draped branches to meet overhead, forming today's natural corridor. Boone Hall is also one of America's oldest working, living plantations. They have been continuously growing and producing crops for over 320 years.

This view is the side of one line of the trees away from the roadway.  Although I do not want to glorify anything from those days of slavery, the enduring beauty of these trees is still worthy of remark.

Let's sit a spell and chat on the front porch rockers.

This little lizard was hanging out on this 1923 Farmall tractor.

This cotton boll had just split open - roughly 4-5 months after planting.

This cotton boll is fully open and ready for picking and turning into our clothing.

And after a hard day being a tourist in the hot sun, what does a vegan have for dinner?  Roasted vegetables with whole wheat pasta and fire-roasted tomatoes and white beans.

And for an extra helping of antioxidants, a glass of California red wine, 2010 Malbec.  I think I can get used to this retirement lifestyle if I just keep practicing at it.