Saturday, June 16, 2018

Saturday, June 16, 2018

Tonight's picture was taken on July 4, 2003. Mattie was one year old and we took him to the Outer Banks, NC that summer to experience the ocean and sand. Mattie did not like either that first year! What fascinated me about Mattie, was he had a sixth sense. Or he was just wise beyond his years, as he had an innate instinct to be cautious around things that could potentially cause him harm. He wasn't the kind of kid I had to worry about jumping into water for example. Not that I gave him the opportunity as I watched him like a hawk. This photo says it all though.... Mattie was taking in the sights and sounds of the ocean and his little hand made a fist. Mattie's fingers were like little radar scopes and the fingers closed into a fist meant that he did not want to absorb any more of what was going on around him. He was scared. 


Quote of the day: Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news.
The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is! ~ Anne Frank

We left Kiawah Island today and drove back to Washington, DC. It took us 9 hours. It was a long day in the car, but really the drive is quite beautiful and peaceful up until you hit Richmond, VA. Otherwise, driving in the South is picturesque and very pleasant. Unlike driving on the other part of I-95 going North. 

However, 9 hours makes for a long day. I wish every state could be as whimsical at South Carolina. I absolutely love how South Carolina breaks up the trip with its tongue and cheek "South of the Border" signs and then theme park at the South Carolina border. I literally NEVER knew such an attraction existed because I have never driven this far South on I-95. But for 40 miles before you hit the South Carolina border you see all sorts of billboards advertising the "South of the Border" attraction. Not South of the border to Mexico, but South of North Carolina's border, putting you in South Carolina. Honestly the signs really catch your attention and they kept me engaged as I tried to photograph them from the car. The photo above is what the "South of the Border" attraction looks like. 

This is the sombrero observation tower at the theme park. 

South of the Border was developed by Alan Schafer in 1950. He had founded South of the Border Depot, a beer stand, at the location in 1949 adjacent to Robeson County which was, at one time, one of many dry North Carolina counties. Business was steadily expanded with Mexican trinkets and numerous kitsch items imported from Mexico. The site itself also began to expand to include a cocktail lounge, gas station and souvenir shop and, in 1954, a motel. In 1962, South of the Border expanded into fireworks sales, potentially capitalizing on the fact fireworks were illegal in North Carolina. In 1964 it was announced that the route for I-95 would pass right by South of the Border, and the facility would be next to two exits and within view of the highway. 

By the mid-1960's, South of the Border had expanded to include a barber shop, drug store, a variety store, a post office an outdoor go-kart track complete with other outdoor recreational facilities and the 104 feet tall image of the mascot, Pedro.

Keep in mind I am snapping photos from a moving car on a highway. I missed many of the signs, but the ones I did capture are priceless.

This is hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil!

This one says.... You never sausage a place, You're always a weiner at Pedro's (the mascot for South of the Border).

Flamingos!

ICYMI (I see why am I..... South of the Border)!

Because Nouth Carolina is ONLY 19 miles away from this sign. 

Smile! You're almost there. 

Shalom!

 Smack hit!

 Life is good

This is what we drove passed on I-95 in South Carolina. Greenery everywhere and hundreds of yellow blooming lilies. 

The highway is divided by crape myrtle trees and yellow lilies. I assure you I-95 North isn't as pretty!

Crape Myrtles starting to bloom. 

Meanwhile, we decided to stop for a rest break in North Carolina. Check out this rest/truck stop. I felt as if I was in the movie, Cars. Mattie would have LOVED this stop. Check out what was inside.....

Literally there were trucks on display inside. In addition to restaurants, restrooms (the cleanest I have seen at a public rest stop), and shops to purchase just about everything. 

An amazing display. Mattie would have been running around looking at every truck and item possible. 

Steering wheels to purchase and on display!

Meanwhile, this is the sight we left this morning. We have a very different environment around us now.