July 3-July 5                Charleston, South Carolina

We were fortunate to find a slip in the lovely Charleston City Marina, located within blocks of downtown with many conveniences and attractions.  We were on the Megadock with huge yachts that could almost have used The Bottom Line as a dinghy. All of them had crews, young, tanned, agile, and dressed in khakis and monogrammed shirts.  Several had their own dock carts, similar to a golf cart, which bore the names of the yachts.  Charleston presented a wonderful opportunity to ride our bicycles.  We found a lovely place for breakfast, Caviar and Bananas, near the College of Charleston.  It was an upscale deli with interesting and delicious foods.  Everything, of course, was organic.  We discovered Harris Teeter for groceries and fresh seafood.  Located in a former train station, HT was a delightful blend of necessities and specialty items.  We loved browsing their aisles.  On a long bike ride, we discovered Hominy’s, a small restaurant that appeared to be very charming with an interesting Southern menu.  On Sunday, we went there for breakfast and waited in the long line outside until we were given a small table on the patio.  The food was different, Southern (lots of butter, cream, seafood) and delicious. 

The many beautiful homes of Charleston can be observed much better by bicycle than by car and we rode for hours through the quaint neighborhoods admiring the architecture, experiencing the historical ambiance, and understanding why Charleston is regarded as a United States treasure.  The festivities of July Fourth began as darkness descended shortly after 9:15 PM.  Our bridge was an excellent place to see three fireworks displays.  We prepared a delicious steak dinner, fortified our trays with wine, and sat for hours in delightful weather watching the gorgeous display of color over the water and the city.  It was truly one of the best evenings of our lives and an unforgettable experience. On Monday, another legal holiday, presented an opportunity to take a long bike ride around the waterfront and through High Street, with its interesting shops before heading for HT for more supplies.  We spent a long evening on the bridge looking at the water and the city lights as we said a reluctant farewell to Charleston.