Our weekend adventure to Charleston: Sunday

Sunday morning dawned gray and humid, with the promise of sun later on.  After picking up the boys (actually, they walked half the way because I didn't get their phone call), we headed out to Ft. Sumter.  With the boat trip easing us into the day, we enjoyed exploring the remains.  But with only an hour on the island, you have to keep an eye on the time.  But really, it's more than enough time.  Even with boys exploring every nook and cranny.

This was the face he made when I said smile.  sigh.

The black monstrosity to the right was Battery Huger, built in 1898 during the Spanish-American war.  It was camoflauged during WWII.

Brant checked out all the flags

Again, an air conditioned museum.  The humidity was brutal  that weekend.

The flag that flew over the fort during bombardment.  The flag pole was hit by a ball, and soldiers, running through volleys, retrieved the flag and nailed it to a post, to fly again. You can see the nail holes on the left side of the flag.  

While the rest of us read up on our Civil War history, Henry became an expert at flipping his paci around in his mouth with no hands!

His salute...actually keeping the sun from his eyes too.

 And just like we remembered it from our first visit, and hour is MORE than enough time to explore.  We headed back to the boat.

Castle Pinckney, the last round sided fort.  

The Yorktown from the river

 Being our anniversary, we had planned a nice family dinner out.  But seeing as the family was pooped, we opted for a lunch instead, choosing Page's Okra Grill.  Bellies full, the sleepies set in.  We had planned to head back over to Charleston for some shopping, but when your 7 year old says he'd rather lay down, you do it.  We went back to the hotel for an hour nap.  That turned into three.  That all of us woke up from.  And we missed the market.

So we decided to explore. First stopping by Trader Joe's, as we'd never been there either, for some snack, we headed out to Sullivan's Island.  There, quite by accident, we stumbled on Fort Moultrie.  Already closed for the day, we explored the recreational walkway that surrounded the National Park.

Another of the ugly batteries, Battery Jasper.

More cannons!  Brant was checking out their plug, and discovered they had USB cables attached...I guess for  a reinactment?

Ft.Sumter from Ft. Moultrie

A piece of history we didn't know...a name that was familiar, we didn't connect that he was held here.  And died here, of a throat infection. 

Before heading back to Mt. Pleasant for dinner, we had one final stop, the Sullivan's Island lighthouse.  odd. just odd.  Especially for North Carolinian's who are proud of their lighthouses!  But worth a picture, just for the sake of proving it's oddity.

Our weekend adventure was drawing to a close, as we had to head back on Monday, my birthday.  A stop at IKEA, and birthday dinner out wrapped up a fantastic weekend with our family and scout friends.  We can't begin to say how blessed we feel to be involved with such a wonderful pack.