Hilton Head Island, Day 2

We had another great day on HHI. Sunny all day with temperatures into the upper 70's. We took a nice bike ride through the campground and into the surrounding area.

A view from behind the campground office looking out to Skull Creek

We came across this hidden graveyard which sits in a dense live oak wooded area on Skull Creek.

Several of the grave markers had fresh flowers

Most of the grave stones were hand-carved.
The inscription reads, "Thomas Godson, Born 1913 Jan 26 Died May 15 1936"

Looking out to Skull Creek

The next stop was the Skull Creek Boathouse for lunch. This is a place we have eating at dozens of times. We used to keep our boat here.

Since we had Rosie with us we ate on the patio. Such suffering!

Rosie made herself at home

Skull Creek Marina is used for pleasure boating and commercial fishing and shrimping.

We kept our boat here when we had a house on the island. The boats are stored "dry".
This is great because the boat did not get beat up by storms and salt water.
When you wanted to take the boat out they put it in the water usually in 5-10 minutes.

The next stop was at South Beach Marina in Sea Pines. This is still on Hilton Head Island but at the very opposite end.

The South Beach Marina is off of Calibogue Sound and only a few minutes boat ride to the Atlantic Ocean

Debbie enjoying the sun

I have seen The Salty Dog shirts, hats, jackets and other items all over the world.
And yet, until recently, there was only one place to buy them, at South Beach Marina in the Salty Dog store.
 Nowhere else on the island, nowhere else in the world.
Now you can buy them here and on the internet

They only sell one brand here.

The Salty Dog and South Beach Marina are just about one and the same.
The Salty Dog owns the cafe, the pizza place, the shops, the marina

Well our 2 week trip is almost over. Tomorrow we head to Aiken, SC for a few days with friends and then home to Tryon NC. See you in the spring!

Frank

Hilton Head Island and a 1957 Airstream

We spent last night in a Cracker Barrel parking lot near Brunswick GA. The rear parking lot was nearly empty. This is our second time staying at CB and both times it was pleasant. We patronized them each time so it was win win.

Today we got to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, a place we have been coming to for over 30 years. We will be only spending 2 nights here but it is so nice to be here any time we can. We have never camped here before so we didn't know what to expect. Hilton Head Harbor Rv Resort & Marina is one of the best private campgrounds we have ever stayed at. Our site (#62) is right on the water. It is a large site, paved & level, yet they have maintained most of the original trees. There is a 100 year + old Live Oak tree just behind our camper. We did not see a bad site anywhere.

Our site witha great view of the water and marina.

But the best surprise was running into Fred Reese and his beautiful 1957 22 ft Airstream. Fred bought this Airstream in 1959. He and his wife travelled with it together until she passed away in 1975. He never remarried and has mostly lived in this trailer since. He has been on his spot here since 1991.

Fred is from Green Bay, Wisconsin but now lives in Hilton Head most of the time. He returns to Green Bay almost every fall. He was a dance instructor and still seems to be very graceful.

Fred recently buffed the finish.

When the rear tire panel was destroyed he made a new one out of wood,
painted in silver to match and etched in  the Airstream logo.

The front end has 13 panels riveted together.

The lower window here once housed an air-conditioner. He replace that with one
on the roof and devised and new window for the space.

Home sweet home

Fred is revising the inside. He is replacing the floor and refinishing the cabinets.

Who says a 22 ft Airstream is small? Fred has room for this bull's head.
Fred told me that once you get accustomed to the size, an Airstream is a nice place to live.

I rarely get into the picture but I had Debbie snap this one.

The view from 10 feet from the back of our trailer.

On the road again...to Naples, Florida

After about 7 weeks at our home in Tryon, NC we hit the road again this time to Florida where we joined all the "snowbirds". We had a major event right at the start. The safety devise to brake the Airstream in the event it separated from the truck was accidentally deployed and the brakes to the trailer were set. My Chevy 2500 HD diesel was strong enough to keep pulling the trailer. I felt like I was dragging something and stopped but did not see the problem. When we got to the road, but luckily before we got to the Interstate, Debbie notice smoke coming from the Airstream. We pulled into a parking lot as soon as it was safe to do so. A state trooper followed us in and called the fire department. There was a lot of smoke. Two different people drove by and voiced their opinions that the brakes were the cause. It was then that I noticed the coupler for the brakes was separated. I plugged it back in and could hear the brakes unset. The smoke stopped in 30 seconds or so and when the fire department arrived they were not needed. We waited about 30 minutes to be sure there was not more problem.We cautiously drove the rig around the parking lot testing the brakes. And then on the streets and finally we ventured out on the Interstate. I tested our braking ability several times. Everything seems fine. That was close!

We always try to have flowers for Diva.

Debbie and our friend Betty are finishing dinner.

Dan, Marlene, Ava, Mila  and Luka came by for a visit.

Dan was able to back his Airstream into the spot next to us first try.
It took us, oh, 10 or 15 tries.

Ava and Mila found some leaves to play with.

Downtown Naples on 3rd Street. We had a great meal at Campiello's here.

Rosie liked all the vegetation around here.

Santa must have fallen into this tree.

Jane's car has nice eyelashes.

Self portrait

Debbie and Betty in Diva's doorway.

Breakfast at SuzieQ's old fashioned diner.

The Crunchy French Toast was great.  She dips the bread in corn flakes after  it has soaked in the eggs.

We will be heading back in a few days. I think a few days in Hilton Head, our old stomping grounds, is in order. 

See you there.

We signed up today for Alumapalozza May 28 to June 2 in Mecca, also known as Jackson Center, Ohio. This is supposed to be the largest Airstream rally going.

Frank