Fort Sumter, South Carolina

JANUARY 27, 2014 (Monday)

Today was a beautiful day, very warm. It is supposed to start getting really cold, maybe even snow, and people are freaking out here. Schools are closed and people are worried. Maybe we should be but we’re not. There was even a message on our phone about warming centers and where to go in case of power outages.

Michael and I were up and out the door by 9:30 AM. (Lexi opted to sleep in and have some time alone.) We drove to the nearby McDonald’s and had breakfast (egg white McMuffins and coffee). Then off to Charleston (about 80 miles) to meet up with Robin and Ken. Robin and Ken were people we briefly met back in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas. We met at dinner the night we arrived. They were leaving early the next morning. They have traveled the lower 48 states in their 2001 Corvette. They’ve been in more timeshares then we have. We enjoyed our short conversation in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas and looked forward to getting to know them better. We arrived a little early so we stopped to get gas (receipt got wet but I think it was around $2.99 a gallon), and then over to Walmart (next door) to get some fingernail clippers as Michael’s nails were way too long.

Anyway, Robin and Ken have kept in touch since meeting back in October. They live in Florida but are up in the Charleston area. We decided to meet up for lunch and then go on to Fort Sumter. Robin picked the lunch place. She confessed she was a foodie and looked into Yelp. I was sure she would pick a great place. It was called the Dog and Duck on Long Point Road. It was close to the boat ride to Fort Sumter. What a great lunch. Robin and I both had the same thing (she ordered and I copied) – shrimp taco and Korean bbq taco. She and I agreed we liked the Korean bbq taco better, but both were really good. Michael had a chicken salad and Ken had a tuna sandwich. Good lunch and good visit.

Robin's tacos, Edie had the same. — Robin’s tacos. Edie had the same.

Ken's Tuna sandwich. — Ken’s tuna sandwich.

Then off to Fort Sumter. It was about five miles from the restaurant to the parking lot ($5.00 parking fee). There was a sign saying the island is about ten degrees colder so we all grabbed jackets. We got the tickets and then headed for the boat. There weren’t many people, only about thirty, on the tour. I wasn’t quite sure how it worked but it turns out they have a tape on board about information regarding Fort Sumter. There was also a volunteer on board that would point out dolphins swimming near the boat and other things. He was also available to answer any questions you had.

Ferries leave from Charleston and Patriots Point. We used the Patriots Point Ferry.

The USS Yorktown is moored here and available for tours.

The first of many cannons to be seen today. The bridge in the background is a joy to look upon.

Looks like a submarine parked here as well, will save for another day. — Looks like a submarine parked here as well. Will save for another day.

Working docks in Charleston, can't help but think of giraffes. — Working docks in Charleston, can’t help but think of giraffes.

There was a lot of air traffic, military and commercial.

Once we got off the boat, an actual Park Ranger did the tour. He took us around to the different areas in the Fort and explained what happened, how it happened, how loud it was, how long it lasted, and answered any questions you had. Very informative. There were also several different flags flying, and he explained the significance of each. There was a small museum on grounds that went more in depth as to the history.

It is easy to get lost in imaginings of how it must have been in battle here.

Back in the day, no earplugs allowed. Lots of deafness for the artillery men.

I think 33 states, just prior to the Civil War.

The second Confederate Flag. — The second Confederate flag.

The first Confederate flag, called, The Stars and Bars". — The first Confederate flag, called, The Stars and Bars”.

There was no standard configuration until 1912, so the manufacturer could arrange the stars anyway they wanted. — There was no standard configuration until 1912, so the manufacturer could arrange the stars any way they wanted.

Cannons of every style and size at this place.

Robin chatting with docent volunteer Chip.

Ken is quick to do dueling photo's. — Ken is quick to do dueling photo’s.

I didn't touch it, just put my mitt there for scale, a big cannonball. — I didn’t touch it, just put my mitt there for scale, a big cannonball.

Robin taking a rest. How many cannons can you look at?

The Charleston Ferry had to wait for us to leave to dock at the Fort.

US Customs building viewed from the Ferry. — US Customs building viewed from the ferry.

Speaking of history – so much history in this area. It’s really quite amazing. We want to come back and spend more time. So much to see and read and know. The Park Ranger had told us about the Civil War submarine that was located very close to Fort Sumter, about the Fort across the bay, the last lighthouse to be built (and the only one with an elevator), and many other tidbits that we found fascinating.

My kind of a light station. One with an elevator!

Once the tour was done, we went back to the boat. On the ride back we decided to try to go to Fort Moultrie (about six miles away) before it closed at 5:00 PM. We got off the boat at around 3:30 PM and headed out. We got to Fort Moultrie around 4:00 PM, after passing by some quaint areas that reminded us of Key Largo area of Florida. Quite lovely. Fort Moultrie is a very small Fort. (We got in free because it was after 4:00 PM.) Robin and Ken had been to Fort Moultrie before but they said it was raining so hard they could not enjoy it. Glad we all got to see it on a lovely warm day.

Both Ken and Robin are tall but seem to fit the Corvette well.

Aimed to protect Charleston harbor, or run the Yankees out of Sumter, depending on your perspective.

At first I thought, "Why would they angle these bricks upward" then I realized it was thousands of steps off the stairs that angled the bricks upward. — At first I thought, “Why would they angle these bricks upward” then I realized it was thousands of steps off the stairs that angled the bricks upward.

The day went so fast but it was time to leave. We said our goodbyes. Michael and I really enjoyed getting to know Robin and Ken and hope to see them again. They were very helpful with questions regarding New York City as they used to live there. They were just fun people with which to spend the day.

After leaving around 5:00 PM, we got into Charleston rush hour traffic so we decided to stop and have dinner at Applebee’s. Michael got the chicken tenders dinner and I got a chicken salad. I also got a blended margarita drink special.

Edie's Chinese chicken salad. — Edie’s Chinese chicken salad.

My chicken strips and fries with coleslaw.

On the ride home after dinner, we got a call from Lexi requesting dinner. She also asked us to stop at the registration center to get garbage bags for the kitchen. She had cleaned our home (yahoo). We stopped for her dinner and then at the front desk. The young man behind the counter was very helpful. I asked if our mail package had arrived (we’re expecting it tomorrow but thought I’d ask about it today). He said it wasn’t there but not to expect it tomorrow either because of the storm coming.

Anyway, that was our day. Hope yours was great!