Charleston

The Behemoth takes a ride on the North Carolina Ferry System.

Kure Beach behind us we headed south to Charleston South Carolina.
Fred had visited this beautiful port city while in the National Guard but I had never been there and he was certain that it would appeal to my love of all things old and southern.
First, though, it was time for the Behemoth to take a ride on the North Carolina Ferry system.  We drove through Fort Pickens and once again boarded the Southport Ferry this time with our home on wheels. The load master placed her on the inside row where she towered above the other vehicles but road like a champ. The scariest part for me was watching the beast on the metal ramps that bridge the space between the dock and the boat, but Fred handled them like a pro.
Once disembarked we hooked up the truck to continue our journey together.
Charleston was charming. We visited on a 92 degree September day but even the heat could not crush our enthusiasm.

Gate at Liberty Square handcrafted by blacksmith Phillip Simmons

We left the truck in a parking garage near Liberty Square and set off down East Bay St. past Market to walk through the French Quarter of the city.
I was thrilled to see all of the garden spaces secreted behind beautifully crafted black iron fences with ornate gates. Most were shady and looked welcoming. They were obviously well tended yet the warm humid climate of Charleston allowed the vines and blooms to spread profusely.

One of Charlestons many secret gardens

The wrought iron work was repeated in architectural details like light posts and balconies. We were told that one of the most well known wrought iron craftsmen in the world, Philip Simmons  lived in Charleston and that he is responsible for more than 500 of the iron gates and other works in the city.
We moved west onto State Street to find a shady sidewalk and were rewarded with glimpses of some of Charlestons churches. We walked through the Old Slave Market. Once a shed for the purpose human trafficking, the building has been reborn to provide local artists a sheltered place to sell their varied wares. We saw baskets woven from sweet grass, spices and herbs, leather goods, and a woman representing Sudanese artists that wove small ornamental dishes from  colorful reclaimed wire. The market is open daily and there is a separate night market open on weekends.

Rainbow Row on East Bay St in the French Quarter

Lush window boxes adorned the shaded sidewalk of Rainbow Row

We couldn't get enough of the beautiful pastel row houses with gas lamps and hidden driveways.

We continued walking past the stables that house Charleston's carriage horses and turned back toward the river before heading south again on East Bay.  My goal was to find Rainbow Row, that lovely block of Georgian row houses that have graced Charleston with their presence since before the civil war. The buildings fell into disrepair after that war but between 1931 and 1945 were restored and painted the pastel colors that you can see today. The 14 restored homes were worth the effort it took to find them, the shaded street with lush window boxes, gas lamps, and hidden driveways were wonderful to see.
With tired feet we stopped  at Mac's Place to have some lunch and cool off before walking across the wharf and into Waterfront Park.

Fountain in Waterfront Park

The park along the Cooper River has great views of the harbor and the cruise ship terminal. We had a great view of Fort Sumter and Folly's Island. There were several buskars performing including a sax musician that could really play the blues. We stopped to watch several small children and a black lab playing in one of the parks many fountains then strolled back to the truck to find our way back to camp.