A frog, Georgetown, SC and a boat trip

Well it seems we have a new pet.  Freddy the frog appears to have adopted us.  I guess he was feeling lonely after his friend got lost at the car wash at Parris Island and decided to hitch a ride with us.  The last few nights he has been seen eating the flies around the outside light of the motorhome here at Goose Creek.  I love him and hope he stays around for a while.

May 22nd, 2014

We decided to stay on the lighthouse trail and booked a boat trip with Rover Boat Tours out to an island that was the only way you could get pictures of Georgetown Lighthouse.  We called them this morning and managed to get on a trip tonight at 5pm.   The tour was about 4 hours and this meant we would see the sunset and we could also park free without worrying as there were no restrictions on parking after 3pm.

We had to make a trip to Lowes to get a couple of things to help with sealing the roof and we picked up Kentucky Fried Chicken so we could have something to eat before we left.  We wanted to leave about 2pm as we had a 90 minute drive to Georgetown and we wanted to allow enough time for our 4:30 check in.  We packed sandwiches, drinks, jackets, flip flops and a small towel as well as our cameras, and binoculars and off we set.  It seemed to take forever to get there on the smaller back roads and I wondered what on earth we were doing driving all this way, especially as we would have to drive all the way back in the dark.  Maybe we are a little mad!!

We got there in plenty of time and had a walk around.  There was a small maritime museum in a store there that we had a look around as well.

The Georgetown Clock Tower

Bell at the top of the clock tower

Sue by a fountain.  A plaque on it reads "1911 presented to The National Humane Alliance Hermon Lef Ensign Founder"

This was behind the fountain.  A wall had been painted to give the effect that these were small shops.  It was very well done.

Walking to where the boat was docked.

We checked in and waited to board the boat.  We got talking to a couple from Tennessee who were driving along the coast.  He was quite loud and quite a character.  I think he was trying to stop smoking as he chewed on an e-cigarette most of the trip.

Boat Storage on a stacked system

Shrimp Fishing

Corp of Engineers Boat

We passed the lighthouse and the guide promised we would get better views on the way back.

We got to the beach on the island where we could collect shells and driftwood if we wanted to but nothing that was still living. The guide had told us the different types of shells and where the best place was to find them.  

Oops, not a shell but a large jellyfish

A dead Gar (Fish) Look at those teeth!!!

Looking for shells

Even though the boat was full, the beach still looks deserted

Bryan was still looking for alligators by the beach

We had an hour on the beach and had been concerned what we would do but the time went quickly.  We headed back to the boat and had our sandwiches and a drink.  There were some horseflies that were pestering us and you could feel them bite.  I got my bug spray out and they seemed to leave us alone after that.  Thankfully though neither of us had any sign of bites.  

We left the island and the guide had brought a Horseshoe Crab back.  She had rescued it as it had become wedged in the rocks.  She let us see it and hold it if we wanted to.  Guess who got to hold it first, was so cool!!  Although for some reason she wouldn't let me hold it by myself as she did some others.  Maybe she thought I would drop it!!

Here is a better picture of it. 

She put it on the floor and it started to walk around.  I got a VIDEO of it moving along.  She put it back in the water after we had finished looking at it.

As we slowed down to see the lighthouse there was a bald eagle sitting there.  Bryan got a picture before it flew away and I got a picture of it flying.

Bryan got this great picture of Georgetown Lighthouse from the boat.

We passed more fishing boats on the way back.  This one was being followed closely by the coastguard. 

We saw dolphins and I took a couple of videos although it is hard to see them.  The second one is dark but the dolphins were really close to the boat.  

VIDEO 1 - The dolphin appears to the left of the buoy but difficult to see.  Towards the end you can see the lighthouse light blinking and signaling.

VIDEO 2 - You can see the dolphin twice in this if you look carefully.

We got our picture taken in front of the sunset.  Unfortunately it blocked the sunset but you can see how beautiful it was in the other pictures.

We got back to the dock about 9:30pm and got our lighthouse passport stamped before getting in the car and driving home.  The drive back was scary at times in the dark.  You have to remember we very rarely go out in the car once it gets dark and so are not used to driving in the dark any longer, together with we didn't know these roads.  We got home about 11pm exhausted but it was another interesting trip.  

Here is a picture of the shells we collected.  

May 23rd - 26th, 2014

We didn't want to do much on the 23rd so we had a short drive to the Air Force base here at Charleston to have a look around and get some shopping. Bryan did the laundry while I caught up on paperwork. We don't usually do anything at weekends if we can help it and that applies even more this weekend as it is a holiday weekend for Memorial Day.  We have tickets to go to Patriots Point tomorrow.

Take care everyone.......