Charleston – Recoup, Relax, and Get Some Hugs

When Helen and I planned our winter trip through Florida and up the east coast, we intended to spend the last two days in Charleston before heading home. We stayed longer. Readers know that our son and his family live there and we love going there. Our fifth-wheel fits nicely in their driveway. With an electric outlet nearby and a water connection a few feet away, we have all the comforts of an exclusive RV resort. Add in the bonus of two lovely granddaughters to hug, and Charleston becomes the perfect place to cap off a winter RV trip.

We have endured less than perfect weather during this entire trip, and Charleston gave us more of the same. A cold mist settled in as we arrived and hooked up in our driveway campsite.  Our son purchased tickets to an Oyster Roast at the Yacht Club near his home on our first night.  Several of his friends would join us for an evening of food and fun. Thankfully, the rain stayed away.

A tailgate tent served as our dining room.  Drink locations, scattered across the Clubhouse lawn, made it easy to maintain social distancing. Within a few minutes of our arrival, two young men came to our tent and unloaded a bushel of steamed oysters on our table. We all dove in.  What could be better after a day of driving? The oysters, cooked to perfection, gave us no difficulty shucking several dozen.

As stated earlier, we intended to stay for two days, but Helen and I decided that wasn’t enough grandchildren time. We had always wanted to camp at James Island County Park, a very popular and highly regarded campground, but things never worked out for us.  On a whim, Helen decided to call the reservation office to see if we could secure a campsite for three nights. Luck was with us, although we would have to move to a different campsite for the third night. Big deal, moving is part of camping, we always say. Helen jumped at the opportunity.  

James Island County Park is a huge facility.  There are hiking and biking trails, playgrounds, water parks, dog parks, and a lovely lake in addition to the campground. We finally enjoyed some sunshine and spent an afternoon on the bike trail with our family getting some much-needed exercise and fresh air.

Folly Beach, a short drive from the park, offered another opportunity to take advantage of the Charleston area’s beauty.  Although we chose a cold, windy day to walk the beach, we enjoyed a brisk walk in the bright sunshine, and the girls seemingly paid no attention to the cooler temperature.  

Fortunately, COVID has not prevented our grandchildren from attending school so, with the children in the classroom and their parents at work, Helen and I decided to sample one of Charleston’s best Fish and Chips restaurants for lunch. Codfather’s Fish and Chips serves authentic British-style food, served wrapped in paper just as the Brits do it. The cod, lightly breaded and crisply fried, was served alongside hand-cut fried potatoes. The only thing we needed after that meal was a nap.

Once we moved to the campground, we spent most of our evenings there, cooking, watching movies, and just hanging out.  Time passed by all too quickly and, before we realized it, the time had come for us to head toward home. Nevertheless, a six-week journey had ended perfectly with plenty of time to relax and enjoy.

We’ll be Easin’ Along again starting in mid-April.  Details to follow—please join us.