Edisto Beach

I love State Parks. 

I do. 

I don't think I've ever been at one I didn't like. They're small, well managed, quiet and unique. 

 

Edisto Beach State Park in South Carolina was no exception.

We pulled in at dusk and had a hard time getting into our campsite...this is when we said we'd never set up in the dark again. After some struggling, we got it in and set up. We knew we must be close to the beach because we could hear the surf crashing, but all we could see behind us was wetlands. In the morning when we woke up and went exploring to find the sea, it turns out we were right next to it. Long gorgeous empty beach with crashing waves, soft sand, sand dollars, big whelk shells...we spent hours every single day just walking and exploring the beach. (and I will add we found something new each time)

The kids were amazed by the palm trees and large moss covered oaks, and it fit right into Laurel's very first Oak Meadow school lesson. We even found some clay deposits in the sand and collected some to try our hand at making some homemade pottery.

The campground had people, but was not nearly full, which made it feel homey without feeling overcrowded. The bathrooms were nice, the staff was helpful. The only two downsides, which just come with the territory;are that the drinking water was salt water (I had salt water coffee for 4 days...just FYI...not good) and there are no laundry facilities in the park, or on the island. In fact the closest laundry was nearly an hour away. (Therefore we skipped laundry and decided to go beach chic...which basically meant re-wearing clothes, or skipping certain layers...who REALLY needs underpants?!?!) 

Hey, when in Rome, right?

I gotta tell you, I love a winter beach. That summer sun and vacation crowds...you can keep them. I prefer quiet solitude and a gray sky. 

Ferry Time

I realize we've been...off the grid...since we left Alaska.

Sorry.

Partly I think it was emotional space that I needed as we transitioned from one life to another, and partly I just didn't have technology and/or internet at the same time. (Plus I'm having to use the kids' cameras and Jon's computer...so nothing seems simple right now!)

First things first.

The ferry.

I have never had such a traumatic/wonderful/emotional/difficult goodbye as the day we got on the ferry. Our friends came and met us and there was playing, hugging, crying and laughing simultaneously. Then there was that last few minutes, standing on top of the ferry, watching Ketchikan (and our friends) slip away.

Talk about emotionally exhausting.

Thank goodness there is absolutely NOTHING TO DO on the ferry.

When there is nothing to do, we do nothing. We played games, slept, ate, watched a documentary about the Alaska Marine Highway and generally just hung out.

It was wonderful, and exactly what we needed after the hectic, emotionally charged and physically exhausting last couple of weeks we had in Alaska.

Since then we have traveled across the country, picked up the camper, had Thanksgiving with family, and started testing out our camping skills in Georgia and South Carolina. I will try to catch up with pictures and posts, and with any luck I will catch up to our current location soon. (I'll give you a hint though, there are loud waves and large shells...