CLUCKSTON, SOUTH CHICKOLINA

Esther and I stayed home with their our adopted daughter, Ellie Louise while Marilyn and Minerva went to Charleston, South Carolina.  Yes, we renamed it.  It's now Cluckston, South Chickolina.  They told us all about their trip including hanging out with a relative of our friend, Merle. Well...I'll just let Minerva tell it all.

Hi. Everyone!  What a fab trip.  Weather was not so great as we did not expect it to be so cold.  But, in one day, for instance, it was in the high 30s in the morning and then around 60 degrees in the afternoon.

We took Jet Blue as they were having really cheep (ha ha) fares of like $59 one way from JFK to Cluckston.

After checking in to the Governor's House Inn, we flew off (so to speak) to have lunch at the Vendue Hotel, where we met up with Dawn Register (Merle's niece) and Bryan Hunter....that's him in the photo.

We looked over the menu and ate.

 Well, you know how Marilyn likes to steal things so I kept watch of her as well as Dawn helping me to do so.

Almost got away with buying a drink, but when Minerva asked to have the liquor poured in, the bartender asked for our id.  That ended that!

We took a walk around the lobby to see the artwork.

I guess that a rubber chicken can talk to a fabric ram, huh?  Minerva wanted to steal the next one.

Although we did go to many restaurants,  we also spent time at the Charleston City Market 

It was much later on that had dinner at a place called the Blind Tiger.

Breakfast the next morning.  

A "hello" to one of the inn keepers.

Met a few more folks at this place.

On to a carriage tour with Palmetto Carriage Works.

Marilyn was trying to talk this horse into going home with us.

Checked in to the second place,  Two Meeting Street.  Minerva almost had a field day here!

Birthday celebration as she turned 21!  Walk about and time for dinner

We went to a place called Amens where we had she-crab soup  and met the Food and Beverage Manager of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan, New Yolk.

Tested out the bed at Two Meeting Street and telling Minerva that she was not doing too badly about stealing things.  However, she told me that she's thinking of taking this bed.

I was a bit exhausted after having to get up on this bed.

The South Carolina Aquarium got us an early start the next day.  I found a bird to converse with.

On the way to another spot, we passed an art store.

Now, we are staying at the Francis Marion Hotel where we met the chef, a new friend Tressa and what may be a fox companion.

It was a kinda pre-dinner and continued on to Henry's Bar and Restaurant.

We wanted to have drink, first.

Good night's sleep and headed for home. 

TO SKI OR NOT TO SKI IN VEGGMONT

Esther and I went to an event that had representatives from many ski resorts in Veggmont.

We each took home a goodie bag with lots of reading material. Having chatted with some new friends we found things missing.  Our guess is that some of the writers went into the bags and simply took out what they wanted, leaving the bag for another writer to be minus some of the real goodies like a pair of sox, maple syrup and a maple syrup lollipop.  Not even sure if there was anything else.  Boy were we disappointed as we wanted to take photos with these products.  Fowl on the writers!!!!

BACK FROM VEGGMONT

Eunice and I founded another state.  Vermont shall officially be called Veggmont.   We traveled to the Southwestern portion of the state in the Manchester area and had a whole load of fun meeting new friends including a special one.

Our first stop brought us to having lunch at a place called Zoey's Double Hex, where we met Beth, the owner.

Looks like our friend Laurie was there as well.  She didn't notice until dessert.

Even though we did have dessert, we wanted to find about this ice cream company called Wilcox's Premium Ice Cream.

That's Chris Wilcox.

Time to check in to our first overnight place.  This one was called The Reluctant Panther.  As long as it wasn't called the Reluctant Chicken, we were fine about that.   Bed was comfy.

Eunice said she felt dirty from the traveling so I tried to send her out with the laundry....hee, hee.

We took in some of the artwork in the bathroom.

With a bit of the lap of luxury, some gifts awaited us including a pad that said, "Making a List and Chicken it Twice".   Had two chickens at the top. 

Esther and I went over to a place called Mother Myrick's to meet Ron, the owner.  We got a tour of the place where they make the chocolates and baked goods and then went to the bakery itself where we met Jackie Baker. We sampled some cakes and candy.

That's Ron

A nearby company called Wagatha's makes organic dog biscuits.  We just had to see it and meet Erica Olsen, who is not a relative of any of the Olsens on Little House on the Prairie.

 After that we visited an organic farm called Earth Sky and Time where they make breads and other foods.  We were offered some of their heirloom tomatoes.  That is, after one of us made it obvious.

Next stop was to a Glass blowing place called Manchester Hot Glass where they were doing a demonstration.

Next day we went on yet another tour. This time it was with Backroads Discovery Tours.  One place, Merck Forest and Farm was one of many places that make maple syrup. 

Eunice and I checked into this cool place called Casablanca Motel where we had are own modern cabin.  There we met the owners Linda Benway and Diane Pouliot.
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Dinner brought us to Arlington Inn where we met Willie Docto and a possible relative.

That's Elizabeth Berger, co owner of the inn.

We decided to sleep late and didn't eat until lunch time, heading over to Equinox Resort.  Here we met Kenny Valenzuela and one of the other guys.  Kenny was nice enough to offer some of his food.

Mussels were much too spicy!!!! Quick, get us some milk!!!!

We went to this really historic place called Hildene but was not allowed to roam around.  I think that this was Robert Todd Lincoln's Lincoln.

It was time to check into our last place, the Ira Allen House where we met Kevin and Michael.

It was the next morning that we went to the Vermont Country Store.  This guy named Ben Sargent was demonstrating how to make a lobster roll as well as signing his book.  He's on the Cooking Channel.

Heading back to New Yolk we made a few more stops.  One was at a place called Sugar Shack where they have this great display of Norman Rockwell art.

Wanted a quick lunch and found a place just over the Vermont border in New Yolk called Big Moose Deli and Country Store.

We found the best mural before homeward bound having a clucking great time.