Thursday, March 27, 2008

Another Jacob day

We visit Inlet State Park in Ft. Pierce, FL, to give the dogs a
chance to enjoy the beach.

Jacob enjoys himself a bit too much.

On a nature hike, he finds a rather large animal hole in the ground
and LUNGES into it, up to his shoulders (despite the poison-ivy ground
cover) to "play" with whomever is home (probably an armadillo).

On the way back to Otto for a scrub down (to get rid of the poison
ivy), he encounters an 18-inch tortoise and is STARTLED when the
critter tucks in his head and legs. Jacob barks and barks, then flops
down on all fours and CRAWLS up to nose around where the head used to
be. (Pause .... do tortoise bite?)

Then, after the bath, we head to the beach, discover dogs ARE NOT
allowed, so we leave them behind in an air-conditioned Otto.

Jacob lays in wait. When we return, he leaps out of Otto and, once
again, takes off. This time he races around the parking lot, gallops
down a wooden boardwalk toward the beach, then dashes into the hammock
before trotting back to me, with a smile on his face.

Bad dog.

Safe dog, thank God.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Encore! Encore!


We return to Frankie G's Island Diner on Saint Simons Island, Ga., for
more of those artery-clogging, delectable homemade potato chips.
Eric, our waiter, is the same guy who waited on us in January, and he
says remembers us.

He even remembers where we sat the last time we visited.

Hmmm. These chips drip with tons more cheese and gravy than usual.

Thanks, Eric.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Nice to meet you, Loyce


Easter is Loyce' 77th birthday. It'll be 200 or more years before March
23, Loyce' birthday, falls on Easter again. Doubtful either of us will
be around to celebrate that one.

Loyce and I spend a delightful day together on the fishing pier on
Jekyll Island. She catches nothing, but must be feeding something
because she rebaits her hook throughout the day.

Lois has been around the world and loves the Lord, the Gaither's
Homecoming Reunion, and a bag of good cookies she shares with me.

She asks for my e-mail. I love having met her. I hope she writes.

What's left was the best


We head to Fort Sumter (you know, where the Civil War began) and find
we can see it, but can't get to it; it's smack dab in the middle of
the water in Charleston Harbor. Boats leave at 1:30, 2 and 4 p.m. It's
now 2:30 p.m. We're not waiting.

Instead, we take what's left: a tour of a little known Civil War
fortress called Fort Moultrie, on Sullivans Island, also in Charleston
Harbor (but with a bridge; no boat needed). Wow wee wow. What a find.

This military installation first protected our shores during the
Revolutionary War and was last used during World War II. Many
skirmishes are documented here.

It's a walk through the history of our military might.

From one lookout, we can even see Fort Sumter. So we're good. On all
fronts.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Jacob anoints our adventure

We get a slow start to our adventure, ambling no further than
Smithfield (just outside Rocky Mount), NC, for our second evening,
then on to James Island, SC, for our third.

James Island has this great dog park that is an island itself. Jacob
loves to swim after tennis balls more than play with other dogs. We
think he's worn out.

No so.

When we return to Circle W (our Wal-Mart parking lot camp site), Jacob
pushes the screen door open and BOTH DOGS escape. Joshua returns with
our first plea. Good dog.

Jacob, however, is out past the tree line, into the road and out of
sight in a blink. Bad dog.

Allen takes off running, I return to Otto to secure Joshua, grab my
shoes and a leash, then I pursue, too.

About a quarter mile away, I can see Allen (on the other side of a
stinky moat) pleading, his hands stretched upward and outward. Ah! He
must see Jacob!

I call "Jacob!" Nothing, "Jacob!" Nothing. Then, I sit on the ground.
"JACOB, COME!" AND HE COMES TO ME, wagging his tail, stinky (he
enjoyed that moat), goofy, just so happy to see me. Urghhh.
Frustrating dog. But, unharmed dog.

Monday, March 17, 2008

On the road again


About 2 a.m. we shut down for the night at a Virginia Welcome Center on I-95. We ate late (should I say early?), played late and slept late.

It's WONDERFUL being in Otto again. Like coming home .....