CALABASH SEAFOOD

On Wednesday night, before we left Ocean Isle Beach, "Skid", Pat, Tom and I went to the quaint town of Calabash for some of that world famous Calabash-style seafood.  We were not disappointed!  The shrimp, flounder, and everything else was scrumptious!  While we were having dinner, overlooking the fishing boats moored in the channel, it came a big thunderstorm and downpour of rain, however the skies cleared by morning, and it was a beautiful, spectacular day for our drive across the top of South Carolina and into Georgia.

We had one more stop to make on this long road trip.  We headed up into the mountains of north Georgia, to visit with Tim and Kathy H. at their beautiful home in Big Canoe, Ga.  Tom's brother and sister-in-law always make us feel so welcome in their home, which sits on the side of a very steep mountain!  What a workout it is just to walk up or down their street!  Steep!  Very steep!

I took this photo while standing inside their home, looking out the front door.  See how steep the street is!  Crazy!

Tim, my brother-in-law, is currently planning his own thru-hike of the A.T. in 2013!  He plans to retire at the end of this year, and will celebrate being 66 yrs. old next year by thru-hiking the A.T.  I will be rooting for him and cheering him and supporting him in any way I can, because I know first-hand how much that means when you are plodding along every day, up and down mountains, swatting bugs, getting rained on, getting blown around by strong winds, sleeping on the ground, sweating, being dirty, and on and on and on!  A kind word or goodies goes a long way to making it  all seem worthwhile.  I know I couldn't have made it all the way last year without all the support I had from my family and friends back home.

Tim & Kathy's neighbor, Paul, is planning to thru-hike with Tim!  Amazing!  We went to their home for dinner Thursday (May 10th) evening, right after we arrived at Tim's home.  Talked about the Trail and their plans!  Fun!  Paul and his wife Suzanne are such great people, and we always enjoy seeing them while we are in Georgia, visiting our family.

The next night, we went to see Tom's nephew, Jeff and and his family, in Cumming, Ga. and enjoyed dinner with them.   

Here, Tom is playing "microfone" with Grace, Jeff & Elizabeth's daughter!

An this is Emma!

We also saw a bear in Tim's neighborhood while we were out and about!  Also, there was the coolest spiderweb on the hill in front of Tim's house, I told him to leave it. (He probably got rid of it after I left!)  Tom and I also went for a "walk in the park" with Kathy on Friday while Tim was a work.

I'm so glad we don't live where the bears come right up to your house!!  I would be afraid to go outdoors, especially at night!

We got up early on Sunday morning and made the 12+hour drive home safely.  There is no place like home!