I was up with the birds, which down here could be anything from the Nature Shows, let’s go with an Egret….

Ok…trying again, I was up with the Egrets….

Sorry — the truth is I was up with the people who fill their coolers from the ice machine. My room was #120, which means, the ice machine has an address of 120 and a half…. (for those of you who don’t want to read ahead, I am ALSO across from the ice machine tonight and tomorrow night). Some people are chick magnets….but it appears Clayton is just a magnet for ice machines -

Friends who have shared a beverage or two with me will not be surprised that I am found near the ice –

Well, I digress.

I took the hour or so ride down to Charleston and found the Visitor Center. The South must wake a little later as I was one of 5 people in a place the size of the Hilltop Steakhouse in Saugus…

Well. First old man travel tip….always use the facilities when arriving or leaving a Visitor’s Center.

So – I go in….and I was hit with a wall of scent –now….before you go THERE — this was early — I may have even christened my urinal for the day — the place smells like CINNAMON! I mean – STRONG — if I closed my eyes, I would have guessed I was in the Yankee Candle in Sturbridge…..I guess, if I ever was going to be sure I wasn’t in a bathroom on the Mass Pike, my nose told me the story -

Well….I settled in and decided to take the Gray Line historic tour — a 90 minute narrated ride around the Historic neighborhoods of Charleston — This was a good way to see everything and learn some local history –

(I missed one tour by 2 minutes, so I took a walking tour for about 20 minutes on my own)

I walked around — before my 10:00 tour and happened to notice what almost looked like my personal Starbuck’s — by what the jeweler is named next door -

I then continued down their version of Newbury Street — all top notch stores in old or restored buildings — and then, knowing that the new Apple I-Phone is out, I knew that there would be a HUGE line, just like the dozens or hundreds I have been seeing on the news — so…I was not surprised to see the whopping line below:

Yep – Five people….a count of 6 if you count the pooch (somewhere, there has to be an app for finding fire hydrants for that pooch, don’t ya think? “There’s an App for That”).

You will, however, notice, that this DOES warrant crowd control, as the police car parked out front tells you -

So –back in time for my tour and we breezed around town — it was an enclosed bus, so not possible to take photos during the tour -

After it finished, I decided to try and snap some photos of some homes….but parking near the biggest and best was impossible — so I found a decent neighborhood and took some photos of some medium sized homes –

And another one…

Not everything is that big — there are many “freeman cottages” which were built or given to freed slaves. These are the smallest ones around.

There are also small homes, that are supposed to be full size. Notice the one below. It is almost just as wide as that car out front….and the car is a CIVIC!!!

After the tour and snapping some photos, I headed to the Hominy Grill (website for restaurant) for a nice southern lunch — I ordered Iced Tea….”You mean sweet tea, hun?” …well, yes (says the northerner)! I then decided on southern fried chicken on a biscuit with sausage gravy — and I ordered two sides (out of about 20 on the chalkboard). I went with deep fried cheesy grits and “tomato pudding”. Everything was great! From Tea to Grits….

I talked myself into dessert — which is a little unusual — but I wanted more of the south in my mouth (easy does it!).

I asked what the Buttermilk Pie was….she said it was like a light custard…a little lemon, with fresh cream on top — “well, hun, it’s really like a Chess Pie…” — “OH!” (says, the northerner), “then I’ll take a slice!”.

Food TV – Buttermilk Pie Recipe

AllRecipes.com recipe for Chess Pie

…have no idea what chess pie is…

It was just as she said — and I was happy I ordered it -

Drove off to Kiawah Island — what a waste — who knew it was a private community at the end of the ride?? There is a public beach — but $7 for me to take a peek? See ya!

I drove by about the fourth place with “Buck” in the name today — and finally took a picture of one –

There’s a joke here, “…if you are looking for a stud, Buck is your man”…or, even worse “hey look, Buck has wood…”, but let’s try to move on…..

Hotel seems pretty nice — not near the attractions, but comfortable and clean — Courtyard Marriot — and yes! The ice machine is in the room across from me…
Tour in Savannah in the AM — and either hang among the neighborhoods or if I think I need some R & R, I may try Tybee Island (beach) –

Targeting a drive by Braves Game on Sunday, but keeping Atlanta for another trip….

Buh bye for now