Libraries are Fun But Beaches are Funner*

July 8-9, 2010

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Mt. Pleasant Branch Library

How to get there:

The library is on Mathis Ferry road.

Address:

1133 Mathis Ferry Road
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina 29464-521

Phone:

• 843-849-6161

Website:

• Charleston Country Libraries

Cost:

• Mostly free.
• Printing cost 10 cents a page

Notes:

There are very few internet cafes in the US. So, while traveling in the states libraries are a great place to go to when you need free wi-fi, free uses of a computer, cheap printing, cheap scanning, general information about the area, and just information in general. This one in Mt. Pleasant even had a notary public that notarized papers for free.

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Folly Beach

How to get there

Website

Download

• Maps

Cost:

Free

Hours:

Always avaible

Notes:

There is a changing area and many shops and restaurants nearby.

Map:

View Larger Map

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Upgrade from Alternate JET Position

When we got back from Patriot’s Point I checked my e-mail. Mark and I had sent out many job applications to companies in Japan and I needed to see if any of them where going to give me a job interview. I hadn’t checked my e-mail in a few days.

When I opened up my hotmail account I saw at e-mail from the Japanese consulate in Guam. They had been trying to reach me all day. If I still wanted the job I had to reply soon or they would give it to someone else. I e-mailed them back. Just to make sure they didn’t give my job away, I borrowed my mom’s cell phone and called them up.

Mr. Tenorio at the consulate e-mailed me a whole bunch of documents that I had to sign, mail out, or send back to Guam. The next day, while everyone else went to the beach, I went to the library to get all my things in order. So I wouldn’t be alone, I talked my mom into giving up a day at the beach to come with me.

Library Folks are Good Folks

When traveling in the US and you need wi-fi, just about every restaurant and shop has it, and for free. But if you need a computer or to print something there really isn’t anything for you… expect for the library.

Just walk into any public library and ask for a temporary card or day pass. They call it different things at different libraries. Tell them you’re from out of town and you need to use a computer and/or the internet and they’ll help you.

Adult Swim

The next day all the kids were too tired to go swimming. I refused to leave South Carolina without swimming in its waters. I talked the adults into taking another trip to the beach. “It’ll be more fun without the kids. No one telling you how hot or hungry they are…” We went to Folly Beach.

There were some kids playing with a skim board. Mark wanted to buy one, but we didn’t think it was worth the price. Then Mark found one that was forgotten by its owner. We waited until most people left the beach, to make sure that it was really left behind. Mark and Malcolm tried it out while Vonia and I laughed and took pictures.

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* Before Taryn calls me out on my bad grammar, it’s supposed to be “more fun”, but I thought “funner” sounded cuter.

 

In the Navy

July 7, 2010

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Patriot’s Point

How to get there

Address:

40 Patriots Point Road
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

Phone:

• 1-843-884-2727

Website

Download:

• Youth Camping

e-mail

Cost:

Adults – 18USD

Hours:

9:00 – 18:30

Notes:

Parking cost $5 per vehicle.

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Market Hall and Sheds

How to get there

Address:

188 Meeting St.
Charleston, SC 29401

Phone:

• (843) 853-8000 or
• toll-free (800) 868-8118

Website

Download

• Map

Hours:

• Mar.-Oct. 8:30-5:30;
• Nov.-Feb. 8:30-5:00

Map:

View Larger Map

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A Very Big Ship, and a sub

It was a very hot ship. It was a huge ship. Most of the ship was not air conditioned. The day was very hot and there were a lot of stairs. I tried to see as much of the ship as possible. The heat and time were against me.

There are six sections, or as they call them, Tours, on the ship. I got through only four of them and the top deck. Eventually, I had to take refuge in the cinema, one of the two sections of the boat with a/c.

After chilling out in the cool cinema. We went to see the sub in the front. It was cramp like most subs, but nothing that would bring out my claustrophobia. But I do have a lot of respect for the men and women who live in one of those things.

You’ve Never Heard of the Show!?

As we were leaving, we saw a film crew setting up for a shoot. The kids asked someone in the crew what was going on. They were told that the show “Army Wives” was being filmed.

I’ve never heard of the show, but was still slightly excited to get a glimpse of some filming in action… well at least the setting up for the filming.

More Shopping

We then went to downtown Charleston and walk through the Market Hall and Sheds. I was very much tempted by many of the items that I saw there. But since I knew that I would eventually be heading to Japan and that I wouldn’t be able to fit everything in my little suitcase, I had to hold back.

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Blow Out

July 6, 2010

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Lake Aire RV Park

How to get there

Address:

4375 Highway 162
Hollywood, SC 29449

Phone:

• 1-843-571-1271

Website

Download:

• maps

Cost

Notes:

There is free wi-fi. Not every site can get wi-fi, but there are many hot spots throughout the camp.

Map:

View Larger Map

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Isn’t That Malcolm?

As I said in the last entry, Malcolm left for South Carolina before Mark, me, and company. It was very late at night when we caught up with Malcolm on the road. He was easy to spot because of the trailer he was pulling. We tried to drive along side him or right behind him, but he was going way too fast.

Malcolm blew passed us and we trailed behind. Then, way up ahead I saw their trailer swaying back and forth. I knew something was wrong. He pulled over on the side of the road. We passed them and then pulled over too.

We called him on his cell. He had hit a bump on the road and one of the tires on the trailer ripped open. He needed a new tire and didn’t have a spare.

There was a cop helping him. But we would have to go to the nearest Wal-Mart and get him a new tire. He told us the type of tire to get. We typed Wal-Mart into our TomTom and went shopping around midnight.

We got him 2 tires, just in case. When we returned to where Malcolm was, we parked behind him to shine our headlights on the trailer. He changed the tire, but needed to adjust the contents of the trailer to even out the weight on the tires. We all then went to Wal-Mart.

Should we offer them some chips? Nah, they look busy.

Malcolm and Mark unpacked, then repacked. Vonia, Malcolm’s wife and my sister-in-law, and I got some snacks at Wal-mart. Then, we all sat around the van and chatted… while Malcolm and Mark worked. We did offer them some of our snacks.

Enjoying Nature

Needless to say, we got to the camp very late. We put the tents up in time to sleep during a few sunless hours. The next day we didn’t leave the campsite. It was just a day to relax and recuperate from the last night’s adventure.

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Viva La Revolución

June 8, 2010

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Historic Brattonsville

How to get there:

map

Address:

1444 Brattonsville Rd

McConnells, SC 29726

Phone

Website:

• Events

e-mail: information@chmuseums.org

Cost:

• Adults – 6USD
• Kids     – 3USD
• Seniors - 5USD

Hours:

• M-Sa 10:00 ~ 17:00
• Su 13:00 ~ 17:00

Notes:

I recommend going when there is a performance to see. Otherwise you’re just walking around with no one to answer your questions.

Map:

View Larger Map

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Just like in that Patriot movie!

Mark and I are visiting his sister who lives in South Carolina. On our way to her place Mark and I saw a sign for Historic Brattonsville. The next day went to see it.

Brattonsville was to site of a Revolutionary War battle called Huck’s defeat. In this battle, although only one soldier in the American militia was killed, a large majority of the British were slaughtered. This battle was no contest. I won’t tell you how the whole war ended. I’ll let you figure that out on your own.

Brattonsville was also the place where a lot of the movie The Patriot was filmed. Many of the houses on the property were used in the film, including the main house in the first picture.

There really wasn’t a lot going on in Brattonsville the day we went. There were no performances scheduled. I hear, though, that this is a great place to spend the fourth of July!

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