Kings Mountain Kick-Off

Color me surprised that I am back here again with a Short Story.  I know that I told you I would chat with you again next year.  It wasn't that I lied, it's just that Momma Sharon went and planned an un-rally for March.  I think it's in her DNA to daydream and plan and organize these get-togethers.  She honestly cannot help it!

So here's the deal.  South Carolina State Parks ran a Black Friday special . . . 50% off the camping fees at select parks.  That meant the sites would cost as little as $8.50 a night!  Good gracious, that's almost FREE!!  When she saw that nearby Kings Mountain State Park was on the list, those camping wheels started turning.  Here's the result . . . 

That special has expired, but the regular fee of $17 per night is still a bargain.  It's not too early to pull out your 2015 calendar and pencil this in.  I would love to have you join me!!

Until I'm back again, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love & Camping Trips!"

Happy Thanksgiving To My Peeps!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Camping Peeps!  I want to share something that Momma Sharon's NY boyfriend John sent her . . .

ONLY 153 MORE DAYS TILL THE 2015 BRR

I think that says it all, don't you? Have a wonderful day with family and friends sharing food and fellowship.  Until we meet again, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love & Thankfulness For Camping!"

Sharon's Lunchbox Surprise

Back in October, Momma Sharon was browsing her friends' Pinterest pages.  If you aren't familiar with that popular form of social media, think of an online scrapbook where you can cut and paste everything from recipes to photos of cute puppies, vintage trailer decor to DIY projects.

On that particular October day, a photo of a vintage lunchbox that had been repurposed as a hot chocolate bar caught her eye.  It was surrounded by lots of cool vintage holiday props.

Hmmmm . . . an idea was hatched!  Mom has a good friend, Suzy Spence, up in Hampton, VA that has a home-based company called GeorgiaPeachez.  She takes vintage Christmas items like Shiny Bright balls, fuzzy reindeer, elfs, bottle brush trees, and crafts them into the most amazing wreaths.

Momma Sharon zipped Suzy an email with the Pinterest photo and one question.  Would she consider creating a camping-themed lunchbox with a holiday vibe?  Suzy wrote back saying that might be something fun to do.  With the Coastal Caravan consuming our every waking moment, we kinda forgot about the lunchbox day dream.

This past Thursday, we got an email from Suzy that said:

Sharon,

I really enjoyed your recent caravan and all the pictures you posted.

In fact, your little Splash inspired me along with this picture of the cocoa station.

I've been working on this for a while and it is finally ready for the reveal.

In that email was a link to a YouTube video titled "Sharon's Lunchbox Surprise".   Well I tell you, we couldn't open that link fast enough!! Suzy's email went on to say that she would send a photo to show the detail.

When Momma Sharon and Aunt Becky travel up to Williamsburg in a couple of weeks, they will see Suzy in person at the Trinkle Hall Arts & Crafts Show.  Of course that means that the lunchbox will be revealed too! One more thing.  Suzy has a blog too and on Friday, she shared her Story about this awesome little lunchbox.  You can read it HERE.

Well friends, this wraps up my 2014 Stories.  I'll be back in February to tell you all about my upcoming trip down to LaBelle, FL for the Swamp Cabbage Festival.  Until then, have a great holiday season and always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love & Camping"

Coastal Collages

My oh my, I have had fun telling you Coastal Caravan Stories for the last two weeks!  It's almost time for me to hand the Mac back to Mom and settle down for my long winter's nap.  But before I do that, I have two more Tales for you. Today I will share my Camping Collages and tomorrow Sharon's Lunchbox Surprise.

After we get back from our camping adventures, Mom goes into a creative frenzy.  She works on Shutterfly books, edits hundreds of photos, and creates camping collages that go on Postcards From The Road.  In fact, she's made a collage of every single trip we have ever taken together!  If you are curious and have a few minutes, you can see them all HERE.

Anyhoo, here's the condensed version of the four stops on my Coastal Caravan shown in the artsy-fartsy form that Momma Sharon loves best . . . 

If a picture says a thousand words, then this is the Whole Story. Thanks for coming by on this Saturday and letting me reminisce a bit. Tomorrow I will wrap things up for 2014 and until then, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love & Camping"

Sunset Over The Salt Marsh

Well hey there!  Welcome back for another Story to wrap up another week!

The only thing that could possibly compete with a sunrise on the beach would be a sunset over the salt marsh.  Two weeks ago this evening, Momma Sharon and a few of her buddies drove over to the fishing pier on Jekyll Island in hopes of catching some color.  With the Sydney Lanier Bridge off to the right, the sun put on an awesome show! 

Looks like I will have two more Stories to share with you over the weekend and then I have to turn the reins back over to my Camper Mom first thing Monday morning.  She's itching to start sending out Postcards again!  Until tomorrow, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, Camping & Colorful Sunsets"

Up With The Sun

On a morning where many of you are experiencing frigid temperatures, I want to insert a bit of warmth and sunlight in your day.  Momma Sharon loves to wake up early when camping on the coast, throw on some clothes, put a camera around her neck, and head to the beach to watch the world wake up.

At Hunting Island we were a minute's walk to the shore and all that colorful glory.  Here are some of the photos she snapped on the beach at Hunting Island.

Sometimes you just have to tell a Story with pictures.  Until we gather another time, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, Camping & Sunrises"

Call Of The Fire

Out of the thirteen nights that me and my camping buddies spent on the recent Coastal Caravan, I think our Folks missed having an evening campfire just twice. Bundles of firewood would magically appear beside the fire ring every day and we could always count on Pete or Elaine or Becky or someone to get a fire started and tend it until everyone turned in for the night.

Momma Sharon doesn't take too many campfire photos because she says they are hard to get sharp and clear.  I kinda like the soft fuzzy effect though, so I think she needs to try more often to capture the coziness of friends warming their toes and sharing laughter.

Speaking of toes, here is a shot of Mom's tootsies one evening.  Did you notice that her socks don't match?  Ha, ha, ha!

One of the really neat things about our caravan was that all our Folks fit nicely around the circle.  There was no need for a second row and it was quite intimate.  I thought it was pretty groovy that the campfire location changed from campground to campground, campsite to campsite.  I even got to host a couple on Jekyll Island!

I'm not too sure about the origin of Elaine's Sacred Fire Poker, but I do know that it showed up at each fire and was treated with great respect!

Another cool thing that happened at our campfires was that stuff got passed around . . . M&Ms, pretzels, wine, homemade cookies, marshmallows, peanuts, and something called Happy Juice.

The call of the fire is pretty powerful and it's something that made my Camper Mom and all her Beach Peeps really happy!  It was a great way to end a great day.

I don't know how many more days Momma Sharon is going to give me free access to this laptop, so I really appreciate you dropping by.  Until I sign off at the end of the week, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, Camping & Campfires"

Out To Dry

When you are out on the road camping for two whole weeks, you gotta think about wet stuff and laundry.  Most of the campgrounds I stay in have a laundry, but our Camper Folks are pretty creative when it comes to drying towels and clothes and such!

Momma Sharon has an elastic clothesline that stretches from my grab handles across my backside.  It easily holds bath towels and dish towels that are damp. She keeps it in a nifty little Ziplock bag and it works great.

Daisy's Mom hooks up her clothesline to something nearby, like the power post at James Island, to hang her wet items on.

Papa John usually has a humongous clothesline strung up somewhere on his campsite.  At Hunting Island, it was dangling from a tree, across a bush, and hooked to his T@B.

Tiny Home sports a foldable clothes rack that looks a whole lot neater than ours. We look like a caravan of gypsies compared to her!

The award for Best Clothesline definitely goes to T@Bventure.  My Camper Mom posted a template online for a top-of-the-line clothesline mod several months ago and Papa Bill whipped out his tools and made one.  It's pretty slick looking and I see one of these in my future!

I hope this gives you some ideas for wet laundry solutions on your next camping trip.  Until then, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love & Camping"

Hunting Island State Park

The campground on Hunting Island makes a really good first impression . . . hundreds of live oaks and palm trees.  That is until you roll down the window or step outside!  On Sunday when we pulled in, we encountered a long check in line, so naturally our folks were hopping out to snap more photos.  (You'd think they would have enough by now, but nooooooo. ) 

At first I didn't think the no-seeums were too bad, but then Aunt Becky started rolling all the windows back up!!  Momma Sharon normally isn't a bug magnet, but I got tickled at her swatting them left and right and I gotta tell you, they got me situated in site 94 in record time!  The screen room also went up in a flash and out came the citronella candles too.  Rich and Sue even put up their gi-normous tent!  It wasn't long before the scent of bug spray was in the air.

I wasn't so sure that Momma Sharon was going to like Hunting Island, but as the days progressed, she liked it more and more.  I believe that was in direct proportion with the bugs being less and less.  Tiny Home's Momma Susan told us that the critters are at their worst the last two weeks of October and the first two weeks of November.  Hmmmmmm . . .  something to consider next time we plan a visit.

That's it for today.  Just a teenie weenie little Story for you on this November day.  Thanks again for dropping by!  Until Tuesday, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, Camping & Bug Spray"

Cool Camping Canines

I love a good camping dog!  Whether it's one that snuggles up on someone's lap at a campfire, one that splashes around in the ocean or lake or creek, one that lies peacefully at the feet of the person that they love, one that will endlessly play catch with a ball or stick or Frisbee, or one that wears a cool bandana . . . I think they are all fun to camp with!!

I got to hang out with some GREAT dogs on the coast and I'd like to introduce them to you today.

I have a couple of camping dogs, Murphy and Gracie, but they don't get to come along with me very often.  Unlike Coot, Duncan and Teddy, Gracie, Keane, Kobe, and Sandy, they BARK!  They bark a lot . . . LOL!

I hope you have a great Sunday wherever you are.  I'll have another Story for you tomorrow if you happen to drop back by.  Until then, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love & Camping . . . Woof, Woof"

Two Charleston Favs

If you have ever been to Charleston, SC, then you know that it is a city that embraces two things . . . architecture and food.  Me and my camper buddies realize that we might not see our folks during the day because they are off exploring downtown.  Momma Sharon really likes to stroll the streets and peep in the secret gardens with camera in hand, looking for the unusual.  She is in her happy place looking through the lens of her camera!

Now when it comes to eating and cooking while we are out there camping, food is another central theme.  Since we've been to Charleston a whole bunch of times, it's easy for us to give out eating advice.  We have our favorite places for shrimp and grits and she-crab soup.  But we also like to cook in and dine with our friends in the campground.  The Charleston food scene gives us so many opportunities to socialize around the table!

I am having such a good time going through all of Mom's photos and sharing Short Stories with you.  Thanks so much for pulling up a chair and listening. Have a good weekend everyone and until next time, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love & Camping"

James Island County Park

Fifteen minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Charleston is one of my favorite places to camp in the whole wide world . . . James Island County Park. The campground itself sits on 643 acres of Lowcounty beauty.

Biking/hiking trails, open meadows, 16 acres of freshwater fishing, off-leash dog park, fishing and crabbing dock, and so much more.  Oh, the campground is terrific too!  Shaded sites with an abundance of Spanish moss for ambience, fire rings and picnic tables, full hook-ups, and a good wifi signal.  I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture.

Speaking of pictures, how 'bout I share a few with you!

The office has that classic Lowcounty look and three ladies hopped on their computers to get us all checked in quickly and efficiently.  Momma Sharon and her peeps did a bit of shopping in there too!

My site number 32 was the perfect combination of sun and shade.  We didn't have to use my BAL leveler because everything was nice and flat. Anastasia the Flamingo and her buddies like James Island as much as I do!

This is the view I woke up to every morning.  The sun came up over the little pond and all around me I could hear birds and crickets and frogs . . . those camping sounds that I love to hear.

Just a short distance away were some of my buddies . . . Tiny Home with her reflection in the pond, Lucy with her Halloween decoration, that aqua cutie from NY, T@Bventure rockin' all her yellow decor, and Breezy the gorgeous Airstream from DE.  I slipped in another little photo of me too, tee hee.

Well, I sure do appreciate you stopping by again today to hear my Story from James Island.  I'm kinda missing my caravan peeps, but thank goodness Momma Sharon took oodles and oodles of photos for me to look at when I got back home.

I'll be seeing you tomorrow and until then, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love & Camping!"