This was a great three night stay with some wonderful friends from our church.

We will definitely go back to Hurricane Lake.

We had been to Charleston with our camping friends Paul and Becky and had a wonderful stay at James Island County Park campground. This visit was to be a different experience because we did not camp in the Airstream, but chose to rent a home in the Charleston Historic district. “Liberty Tree House” was a beautiful two bedroom home right on Charlotte Street, which afforded easy access to sites and restaurants, yet was close to the main roads we used for plantation exploring.

Friends Polly and Doug joined us for a memorable time together.

Liberty Tree House

900 year old Middleton Oak

Reflecting pond at Middleton Place Plantation

We visited this unsung gem while visiting Tallahassee, FL. It really is a gem because all the furnishings and decorative items are original. Not just authentic re-creations, but original to the house. Apparently the last occupant, Mr. Tom Hood, died a widower with no heirs. Fortunately he was a visionary and established a foundation in the name of his deceased wife, The Margaret Wilson Foundation (Wilson being her maiden name) for perpetuating the house and gardens. There were no estate sales, no children that would lay claim to furniture, accessories, or even clothing.

Mr. Hood honored his wife by stipulating that the house be restored to it’s original condition when Margaret first acquired Goodwood. It is serendipitous that so many items were left in attics, closets, and pantries. The restorers were able to use these items as part of the restoration. Chandeliers, furniture, clothing, many sets of China, and even photographs and paintings of many of the occupants over the long history of the house.

Goodwood started life in the 1830s as a cotton plantation. The initial estate encompassed 2400 acres and was soon increased to 8,000 acres.

My wife and I learned of Goodwood while visiting the Florida Tourism area in the Florida State Capital. A woman at the desk enthusiastically suggested that we would not be sorry if we toured Goodwood, and she was certainly on the mark. When you visit our beautiful state capital don’t miss this piece of history. The Docents are enthusiastic and well informed in their presentation. There are no ropes or glassed off spaces, which gives one the feeling of truly being a guest in someone’s home. The only restrictions are no photography, and do not touch anything. Quite understandable given the historical aspect of the house and contents.

Friday nights in Floyd, VA can be very entertaining. Following pizza and beer at Dogtown we strolled around near the Floyd Country Store where groups of musicians stake out a spot to play some great Appalachian music and even do a little flat foot dancing.

This Bakery cum deli on the outskirts of Floyd is a jewel. Terrific bread plus some of the best deli sandwiches I have enjoyed.

We love this campground. This is the scene from the place I get a cell signal. My office for a few days. 72 degrees up here…108 back on the Gulf Coast.

We are ready for some

Long term comfortable camping with our

New Lambright theater recliner.

Here on the Emerald Coast we love our military and especially the Blues. Starting Wednesday the Navy’s precision flight team will awe and entertain us with skill and bravery. We are blessed to live near some of their flight patterns and experience the thunder of the jets as they fly overhead.

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