We left mid-February not expecting warm - we had planned to go and then reports were of unusual coldness in South Carolina and impending snow storms (on top of several inches previously deposited) in our town....we decided to go anyway after much debating and initially deciding it would be foolish to go. But then we realized how bummed we would be if we stayed home and decided if Jet Blue was flying, so were we - so the morning we left South Carolina declared a state of emergency - and a day or so in - they got nearly twenty inches of snow back home in New York. They were snowbound - and we had no snow, very little ice, just cold. Well, more like COLD.
Cold with palm trees. Cold with people not used to cold or ice or snow so what seemed like nothing to us was unreal to them. Everything was shut down the day we came in except the airport, hotels, and restaurants. People were walking around in layers of light clothes - we were from snowbound NY, we had snowboots, parkas, polertec! So we were toasty even though now when we ask about the weather in our house and if it is particularly chilly with a bite in it, we refer to that as "You know, like South Carolina cold".
The lighthouse out on Hunting Island. The outlines of the old buildings from a distance looked like bocce courts to me. Yeah, um, no. It was beautiful everywhere we went. Going places off season is nothing new for us, we have gone to Cape Cod in early icy April (you have no crowds, great heated hotel pools, and stark gorgeous scenery - also clam chowder never tastes better than when it's cold).
We went to Maine in a post season very brisk October - and instead of summer tourists we had pretty great Halloween decorations, no crowds, and ...well, clam chowder, encore). Florida in July (not as bad as you think), North Carolina in August (again, not uncomfortable).What did we get in South Carolina? Amazing juxtapositions like peonies blooming out of frozen dirt, Spanish moss frosted. Seeing how southerners rise to the occasion of inclement weather with grace and patience. And the onion soup in the Charleston French Restaurant after walking in cold rain was divine.
great freezing cold walk down a long pier - the Nature Center at the end was closing but looked like it had some very nice offerings.
Another couple were walking on the pier with my frozen husband and myself, they were kind enough to call us over as we were leaving to point out this little fellow in the marsh grass hunting for his supper. They were from Virginia and told us tales of the frozen weather there...well, here it is late April and I have the house heater on so I guess we are still not out of it yet. Bet it's a lot warmer now though in South Carolina.
6 comments:
Who is that little fellow in the grass? or what is he?
This is a satisfying story of taking rest from your adventure. It encourages me not to be such a wimp about the weather.
We used our heater until just last week, which is very unusual. Now the heat has arrived!
Thank you, Gretchen! We were very proud of ourselves for deciding to go after a big back and forth debate. We had such fun.
That little fellow was a raccoon. We have raccoons the size of small cars in our neck of the woods - who are not frightened of anyone. This timid little fellow was nearly a different species!
Don't feel like the lone stranger. It's right nippy down here in Texas after blowing dirt around at 50 mph for three days straight, at 13% humidity -- what we call Rice Krispies weather (Snap! Crackle! Pop!). It's in the 60s during the day and down into the 30s at night.
Now it'sa two day rain so hard the window in the living room leaking. Owl, is Texas under tornado watch like so much of the south?
It was COLD, but that low-country vibe was wonderful. Next time we'll find good BBQ.
It was freaking COLD, but I loved the low-country vibe and next time we'll find good BBQ. But 39 Rue de Jean on John St in Charleston was a great restaurant to kick back and enjoy being adults.
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