Touring in and around Columbia SC

We left Myrtle Beach and headed to Darlington March 23. We parked our rig in Lisa’s front yard and while there, I became Lisa’s personal chef, having dinner ready when she got home each day. She, of course loved it and I loved cooking and getting a chance to be somewhat creative.

Darlington is well known for the "Darlington 500" Raceway, but it is a quaint little town, with an old town square and a beautiful mural that dipicts what the town looked like back in the day.

Mural in old Darlington

Being the coffee lovers that we are, T and I set out to find a neat little coffee shop. The Clay Pot in Florence was perfect. Locals came and went and I had a chance to visit with a few of them. There is a great Farmers Market in Florence and it's open everyday. They have quite a variety of items and best of all I could buy some boiled peanuts. For those of you who are uninformed, boiled peanuts are a southern delight. You take green peanuts put them in a pot of water add salt and boil until soft. Wonderful things that we always look forward to having when in the south.

April 3, we headed over to Columbia, the capital of South Carolina. We grew up in South Carolina and have been to Columbia, or through it, more times than we can count. Amazingly we had never visited the State House. We camped at Wetson Army Recreation Center, a part of Fort Jackson and drove into Columbia to see the State House. We were duly impressed. We've seen a few state houses in our travels and this one is a cut above. The building itself is 107 years old, with the largest monolith columns in the US. After 3 months of rain and cold spring was finally in the air.

State House (107 years old)

Gardens around the capital

Liberty Bell Replica

After leaving the State House we went to visit the Riverbanks Zoo, which is ranked number 4 in the nation. There are so many animals there.  If you've never been, you should go.  We got caught in traffic on the Interstate and spent 1 1/2 hours waiting in traffic to get to the park. Though the wait was long and hot, we thoroughly enjoyed the zoo, especially T.  He has always been a sucker for the petting zoo. He can be such a curmudgeon sometimes, but if you get him in a zoo or near a pet store he turns to mush.

T petting a llama

T feeding parrot

Saturday we went to Congaree National Park, the only National Park in South Carolina. We asked ourselves why we had not heard of it. When we got there and learned about the history of the park, we felt a little less out of it. Congaree became a National Monument in1976, long after we left home in 1967. It became a National Park in 2003. That morning we got up to rain, but the weather promised to clear so we headed out and we were so glad we did. Congaree It is the largest underbrush area in the southeast. We packed water and food. I was hoping to get T to at least walk the short 2 1/2 mile Boardwalk trail. The Gods were looking out for me. T not only walked the B
oardwalk trail he also walked the Wetson trail. We walked a total of 6 1/2 miles! It was awesome. T didn't complain at all. He actually enjoyed it.

Molly enjoyed the walk too, though she got tired after about 4 miles, so she got to ride for part of the hike.

cyprus knees

Did you know that Cyprus trees have knees?  Take a look at those stump looking things in the picture.  Those are cyprus knees and have been used to make all kinds of things from lamps to chairs.

Holding hands. Even after 47 years of marriage and 3 1/2 years living together in a 5th wheel trailer (400 sq ft), we still hold hands, once in awhile. 

After Congaree we drove to Fort Jackson to see how it had changed. T was inducted into the Air Force there 48 years ago in April. The old induction center was torned down and replaced with a very modern structure. A little sad for T.  He does hate change so.  We didn't get to see much of Columbia because of the time stuck in the line to het into the zoo. No matter we had a wonderful time. 

Charleston, SC - Hills Family Get Together and A Museum in Myrtle Beach SC

March 10th

My poor "little Mini" decided to not open the third door and there being only one Mini dealer for 100 miles in any direction, we had to take a trip to Charleston, SC.  We went down on March 10th only to have the problem diagnosed and the part ordered and not having a loaner car we were stuck most of the day at the Mini Dealer.  However, you know me, I made the best of a bad situation.  I spent the day reading and on our way back to Myrtle Beach we drove out to Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island to take in the view.  Knowing we would be headed back to Charleston the next week we arranged to have a loaner on our next visit.

Atlantic Coast Inlet looking from Sullivan's Island

Breach Inlet

We stopped in Georgetown to visit my Aunt Bev.  What a great visit we had and oh the memories of the home where my grandmother lived.  We ate pizza and drank beer and talked of old times.  On my next visit I'll be smart enough to take pictures of the house.

Aunt Bev & Glo

Wednesday night, March 11th, Glo enjoyed wine tasting at Boom Booms in Myrtle Beach with Pat Monico, Mom's caregiver.  Boom Booms is a unique restaurant where you get a "tasting card" on which you place money and then you go to the wine dispenser and choose your wine.  The menu consisted of tapas.  It was an enjoyable experience and very different from any wine tasting I've done in the past.

Thursday, March 12th, we went over to T's brother's house to enjoy a meal and visit with family.

Carolyn thought something was funny.

Carolyn is always smiling

T, Carolyn, Jennifer, Peggy & Craig

Craig & Jennifer

Craig, Jim & T in deep discussions

Jennifer's beautiful smile as she cooked.

Friday, March 13th, we headed over to Darlington, SC to spend the weekend with my sister Lisa.  Saturday, my brother Thomas came over and the three of us spent the day cooking Lebanese dishes.  The weather was awful.  It rained all day, but we had so much fun we didn't notice.  Though I took my camera, I was having too much fun cooking and eating to stop to think about taking pictures.  We made, tabooli, kibby, baba ganoush, stuffed squash and pecan filled cookies.  We ate and we ate and we ate.  It was wonderful!!!  I even ate some kibby, the first meat I'd eaten in almost 5 years.  Lisa's husband, Tim, paid me the ultimate compliment.  He said, "The kibby is better than your mother made."  Wow!  

Sunday, March 15th, we drove back to Myrtle Beach to stop at our camper to pickup a change of clothes and then headed to Shallote, NC to visit old and dear friends from our high school days.  We spent a glorious couple of days with Keith & Cherie Compton.  The weather was beautiful!! Sunday night we ate steamed oysters, freshly harvested from the creek. Monday we ate homemade scones for breakfast and grilled cheese sandwiches and homemade broccoli cheese soup.   We drove around Shallotte and looked at the homes around the inlet and saw the most magnificent live oak tree.

View from Keith & Cherie's backyard.

Keith & Cherie

Glo, T & Molly

T & Keith

Live Oak (over 2000 years old)

We went home Monday afternoon and on our way we stopped to buy T a Tilley hat.  Thomas and Brian say he looks like an Indian Jones kind of guy.  Glo loves his new look!!!!

Glo & T in their Tilley hats.

We  were up early Tuesday, March 17 to drive back to Charleston to have the Mini repaired.  This time we had a loaner car, so we were able to enjoy some sights in Charleston.  The old homes in Charleston are magnificent.  For lunch we went to the Okra Grill in Mount Pleasant.  Excellent food.

Rainbow Row

After a week of traveling and eating out everyday, it was good to get back to our "home."  It goes without saying that I've gained a pound or two while being here. 

Today, March 18, it was rainy and cold, what seems to be the norm here.  T went to help our nephew-in-law install a ceiling fan. Rather than stay cooped up I went to the Boroughs and Chapin Art Museum.

"The building itself dates to 1924, when it was built by textile industry mogul Eugene Cannon in the Cabana section of Myrtle Beach.

View from Burroghs & Chapin rt Museum
 looking at Atlantic Ocean

We'll be here, in Myrtle Beach, until Monday.  Our stay here at Pirate Land Family RV Resort has been fun, well sort of.  If the weather had been just a little nicer it really would have been fun.  We could have been outside meeting our neighbors instead of being cooped up in our camper.  We are looking forward to sunny days and new adventures in the coming months.  Stay tuned.

What Have The Rolling Hills Been Up To?

Most of you know the weather has been awful, just about everywhere in the US.  Myrtle Beach has been no exception.  It has been rainy, cold and windy with very little sunshine.  I've done my best to stay upbeat, though it has been tough.

In early February I met an old Mary Kay friend, Diane Heckatorne. for lunch and we caught up on what has been going on in our lives.  Diane always looks great!

Diane Heckathorne & Glo

T and I went over to Georgetown, SC for a day and strolled on the riverwalk, had lunch and drove back.  Georgetown is the third oldest city in South Carolina.  In it's hay-day it was a large port city.  Today it is primarily a mill town with a lot of history.  The first seven years of my life I lived there.

In an effort lift my spirits, we drove to Lakeland, Fl, on  February 18th, to visit with my friend, Angie, the gal who sacrificed and took the road trip across country with me in December. What a great time we had while in Florida.  The weather was glorious while we were there.  Sun was shining everyday.  We walked around several of the lakes in the area with no coat and short sleeves.

One day we went to Oponay Farms and picked strawberries.

That evening we had a healthy meal with strawberries for desert.  I was so proud of the meal I made and pleased with how pretty it looked I had to take a picture.



We visited Bok Tower Gardens, just outside of Lake Wales, FL.  Bok Tower Gardens is a National Historic Landmark, contemplative garden and bird sanctuary.  If you are ever in the area, I recommend you take time to visit the gardens.  Everything was in bloom and it was wonderful to be outside in nature.

Glo, T & Angie at entrance to Bok Tower Gardens.

T enjoying the tranquility of the gardens

Bok Tower

After leaving Bok Tower, we headed over to the Cherry Pocket Restaurant.  T fell in love with the place.  T says, "It's just a fish camp dive with excellent chow and reasonable prices." We will go back there again if ever in the area.  

T entering Cherry Pocket

View from the parking lot.

To give you a feel for the place, there is a sign in the restaurant that says, "DO NOT FEEDTHE ALLIGATORS.  It is against the law.  Feeding the alligators also makes them less afraid of humans and more likely to attack people and animals especially small children and small animals. " Definitely, T's kind of place.

Sign in the restaurant.

While in Florida the temperatures back in Myrtle Beach dropped into the teens.  T was concerned that things may have frozen in the trailer.  So sadly, we left Florida and headed back to Myrtle Beach on the 25th.  

I posted this picture on Facebook with the caption, "What were we thinking?"

The first week in March, I had the opportunity to spend an evening with my cousin, Linda and her husband.  The guys talked all night about cars and the military while Linda and I talked about family and memories.  It truly was a pleasant evening.  Linda prepared Shrimp Grits and that made the evening even better.

Since we got back to Myrtle Beach, we've had rain and wind.  One day it did get into the 50s and I went for a walk with a friend on the beach.  We are projected to have about 4 days of nice weather with temps in the 50s and 60s and no rain.

Though I have painted a picture of dreary days during February, we did have one or two that weren't so bad and I took a few pictures of the beach and the birds.

Pelican, up close and personal.

The Hills are in Myrtle Beach, SC

In my last post I told you about my trip east to Myrtle Beach.  I failed to tell you we are still in Myrtle Beach and plan to be here until the end of March.  We don't know where we'll go from here.

I spent the past month at my mother's bedside.  My sister, Lisa, and I were at her side when she left this world.  I am so thankful that I had the chance to be with her during her last days.  We had a lot of laughs and those days are memories I will cherish forever.  Mom died in her home on January 21st.

To say the least I am still reeling from it all.

Where oh where are the Hills now?

So much has happened since I last posted to this blog.

Murphy, Lisa & Mom

December 4th, 2014 I flew to Myrtle Beach, SC to visit my mom.  She chose to discontinue her chemo treatment and I wanted to see for myself how she was doing.  She wasn't doing so well, so I decided it was time for me to move to Myrtle Beach and be with her.  While there I took pictures of course.

Mom, always smiling

Murphy,Glo, Lisa & Mom

My friend Angie Phillips called while I was visiting Mom to ask how things were and while chatting I asked, "How would you like to take a road trip?"  She thought about it a few minutes and then said, "Sure."  That was Tuesday. We booked a flight and she flew out of Tampa to Phoenix on Thursday.

I flew back to Phoenix on Thursday, December 11,  and we met at the airport.  We spent the night with my friend Cleo and headed to Benson on Friday.

On Sunday, the 14th we had a potluck party at Kartchner, sort of a farewell party for T & I.  Though it hadn't been planned as a going away, it gave us a chance to say goodbye to a great group of people.

Glo & Judy, from Oregon

T couldn't take his eyes off of me.

Michael & Sharon Burns
T & I

On the 15th Angie and I left Kartchner Caverns headed east.  What a trip we had.  As we were leaving Benson I commented on a billboard I've seen for years: "The Thing?"  I said I'd never seen The Thing.  Angie said, "Let's go!"  So we did.  It was worth it. The cost was $1 and the things we saw, no pun intended, were kind of neat.  Here are a few pictures, though there is much more.  It's the kind of place you should stop to see when traveling by, though never take a trip just to see it.

The Early Model Tractor was really the THING for replacing
the four legged horse power. Still in perfect Health

One of the rarest pieces on earth and is the only one in the world.

The first night on the road, we stayed in Van Horn, Texas at the Whitten Inn and had dinner at a restaurant called Chuys.  Chuys is a unique little Mexican restaurant on the outskirts of Van Horn, famous for John Madden eating there.  You'd have to go there and read the info on the place  for it to have any meaning. 

The motel was okay and breakfast was typical "free breakfast."  It was a warm place to lay our head for the evening and  we were up early on Tuesday to continue our trip.

We got as far a Terrell, TX on the 17th.  Nothing exciting.  The 18th we stayed in Oxford, MS.  In our travels we went to Vicksburg National Military Park.  Learned a little history and of course took pictures.

From there we continued our trip east through Georgia.  Since we were going right by Madison, GA, we decided to stop and take in a few of the sites around town.  First stop the Welcome center.  Madison is a small town that escaped Sherman's march and has several antebellum homes that are open to the public.  Also, the TV show "In The Heat of The Night" was filmed there years ago.  We wandered around town, had lunch and then headed out toward South Carolina.

Angie Phillips

Glo @ Herritage Hall

We got about fifty miles away and got a phone call.  I had left my purse in the Welcome Center.  We broke out laughing and headed back to Madison.  All you women out there will agree, it is nice to be traveling with a girlfriend when something like this happens, because you can laugh about it and not have to listen to an outraged spouse. LOL

Glo pickup up purse @ Welcome Center

After losing two hours running up and down the highway to get my purse, we headed to Florence,SC to see my sister, Lisa.  What a welcome site to see the South Carolina Welcome Center and to know our journey was coming to a close.

We got to Myrtle Beach on the 20th and we were thrilled to see Mom still smiling.

Angie, Mom & Glo