Saturday, June 15, 2019

Saturday, June 15, 2019

This photo was taken in June of 2009. That year, Mattie had two birthday parties. On his actual birthday in April, he had a party in the hospital child life playroom. Then two months later, he had a second birthday party at my friend Christine's home. She had Mattie's friends over, and even arranged a Reptiles Alive show. As you can see Mattie was getting to know a snake! Unlike Mattie, I hate snakes and stood WAY BACK from the show, to avoid the reptiles. Yet I captured this priceless photo!






Quote of the day: Expecting life to treat you well because you are a good person is like expecting an angry bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian. ~ Shari R. Barr

Last night, the sky was very clear over Kiawah Island. We saw this wonderful Mattie Moon. The moon was so bright, it shone on the ocean and the ocean looked like it was glowing. Unfortunately the iPhone doesn't capture this scene or do it justice. 

We woke up early this morning to pack up the condo. The end of any time away is always difficult, no matter how you travel by condo, hotel, ship, you name it. When we looked out the window, we could see Bucky and Billy chomping away. These two male deer hung around our complex all week and I assume this is their home. 

The view we said good-bye to! It is funny, we are staying in Raleigh, NC tonight. Because the 8-9 hour drive straight through from Kiawah to DC isn't pleasant. Which is why I told Peter stopping over is important for both of us. When we checked into our hotel in Raleigh, we were telling the front deck staff about our trip to Kiawah. The woman laughed, and asked us whether it rained. We said yes! She then explained that every time she goes to Kiawah and Charleston it rains. That she hasn't really seen it in sunshine. I can picture that happening, given that we had three days of rain. It is hot and humid there, which breeds rain.

This morning we had breakfast at the Sanctuary Hotel on the island. This was our view. The hotel is designated an Audubon property and the flowers and foliage are breathtaking! 

Even the trees are memorable. Live oaks covered in Spanish Moss. It is quintessential South Carolina. 

To me this is the highlight of the long drive. Seeing the South of the Border signs that take you 90 miles from South Carolina, into North Carolina. I snapped over twenty but I am sharing my favorites. This one was at 41 miles to the border. 

This one had me laughing.... conveniently located in the middle of nowhere. This sign was at 36 miles until the border.

At 33 miles until the border was "hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil."

This big SMILE greets you as you approach South of the Border!

South of the Border is an attraction on Interstate 95. It is so named because it is just south of the border between North Carolina and South Carolina, and was the half way point to Florida from New York in the early days of motor travel. The area is themed in tongue-in-cheek, faux-Mexican style. The rest area contains restaurants, gas stations, a video arcade, and a motel, and truck stop as well as a small amusement park, a mini golf course, shopping and fireworks stores. Its mascot is Pedro, a caricature of a Mexican bandido. The stop has since fallen on hard times as more modern hotel areas (both to the north and south) have grown along I-95.

In front of one of the shops at South of the Border is this wonderful flamingo!

Not far from the flamingo were alligators. So Peter pretended to ride it like a horse.

All along the highway in North Carolina are these beautiful yellow lilies. Hundreds of them! It is truly hard to believe this is I-95, as I-95 North looks NOTHING like this!

Our approach into Raleigh, NC!