We have met many wonderful couples while we have participated in the small groups at our church. But we especially connected with two other couples a few years ago. The six of us had a lot in common and really hit it off. Unfortunately, one of the couples moved to Charleston, S.C., to complete their medical residencies. We were sad to see them leave, but we know they’re very happy there.
Having friends in South Carolina meant that we had a new vacation spot potential. Rob and Anne kept inviting us to visit them, so we finally took them up on their offer this year. So Chris, Avery, me and our friends Joe and Janel and their daughter (almost age 4) and son (9 months) loaded into their minivan and drove 1,560 miles roundtrip to and from beautiful Charleston.
I wondered what Rob and Anne would think of all of us taking over their house. I figured they had no idea what was coming their way!
We left Monday at 11:30 a.m. and arrived in Asheville, N.C. around 11 p.m., where we spent the night.
The next day, we stopped in Columbia, S.C., to visit Chris’ cousin Meghan and her family. It has been awhile since we’ve seen Meghan, so we enjoyed spending some time with her. It also was the first time Avery met this part of her family.
Meghan prepared a delicious lunch for all 10 of us.
Then we finished the short jaunt to Charleston. We arrived there around 4 p.m. on Tuesday. That night we enjoyed dinner with Rob and Anne, catching up on everything that’s happened in all our lives.
Unfortunately, Rob and Anne had busy work schedules that week, so the seven of us were left to discover Charleston by ourselves.
Wednesday and Thursday mornings, Joe, Janel, Chris, me and the kids went to the beach. It was the first time Avery was in the Atlantic Ocean.
Understandably, she was a little nervous. It was loud, and the waves were crashing over her feet. But by the end of our time at the beach, she was starting to enjoy the ocean.
Besides playing in the ocean, Avery loved walking on the sand. She especially liked to chase the birds and flirt with other people on the beach. As you know, she can turn heads in public!
Janie kindly shared her beach toys with Avery. The girls had fun playing in the sand together.
And Jack hung out in his sun-safe beach tent.
After being at the beach, we relaxed at Rob and Anne’s house in the afternoon. And we chose a different local restaurant for dinner each night.
On Friday, the three guys played golf. As Chris said, he couldn’t go all the way to South Carolina and not play golf on the ocean.
They guys met this crocodile just before they arrived at the first tee.
Chris said it was a beautiful course. The above picture is of an island green. He lost four or five balls on this hole alone.
He took a self portrait for us. He doesn’t look too sad about losing six balls total for the day. Maybe that’s because he shot a 95.
While the boys were golfing, Janel and I took the kids to the local aquarium. It was a rather small aquarium, but I think Janie and Avery liked looking at all the fish, including an albino alligator. I thought the neatest exhibit was the touch pond filled with anemones, starfish and sting rays.
Our last day in the city was Saturday. Before leaving, we visiting the weekly farmer’s market in downtown Charleston. It was oh so hot that day, but the farmer’s market was a really neat place. There were flower, meat, soap and even fresh pasta vendors. We succumbed to the homemade mini-donuts and “snowzen” lemonade.
In spite of the heat, Avery did really well. She loves being pushed in her stroller anywhere.
These must be important monuments for the city, but we failed to find out what they are!
We left Charleston on Saturday around 1 p.m. We spent the night in Knoxville, Tenn. And we arrived back home on Sunday around 4 p.m. All in all, we spent about 32 hours in the car. We suffered only a few meltdowns and other minor crises. But somehow we all survived! Our only regret was that we didn’t get to spend a lot of time with Rob and Anne. But it still was good to see them in person again.
Chris and I already have decided that we want to return to Charleston. There are many other places we’d like to visit, including plantations, museums and Fort Sumter.
We joked, saying it obviously isn’t a shark tooth. But isn’t it funny how it looks like one?
