Month: May 2024

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Hope everyone has had a great two weeks since last we posted.  The first week, 5/5-5/11 we enjoyed our time spent with Randy and Debra catching up on all things.  We helped each other on various projects, cooked and shared good meals and great family time.  We were blessed to be able to attend our great-nephew’s infant dedication last Sunday and afterwards enjoyed a meal and afternoon of family time.  We also planned and prepared for our camping (glamping) trip to Huntington Beach State Park. HBSP is just a few miles south of Myrtle Beach and not as crowded.  None of us had ever visited this state park and we all loved our time at Huntington Beach this past week.  Highly recommend this park.  It was just a short walk from our RVs to the beach.  The sunrises and beach walks were great!  Some guests were enjoying the ocean waves, but we decided it was just a little too cool for us.

Within about an hour of our arrival, we had located and were enjoying the ice cream shop.  Ice cream is a good lunch, right?  We also visited the Atalaya Castle on the park’s grounds.  Take a look at the link.  We did the self-guided tour and found it very interesting. We learned so much but know we would have learned even more on the guided tour.

We did an alligator tour that was also very educational and while on that tour saw in addition to the alligators many beautiful shore birds, some of which we had never seen before.  This was a long hike but so worth it! Did you know that an alligator can live on one good meal each year.  They usually eat more than that but in less-than-ideal circumstances they have survived 3 years with only one meal.  We wouldn’t do well as alligators.

We also attended a turtle presentation at the Nature Center.  We saw diamond back terrapins and watched them capture fiddler crabs for their dinner, along with seeing sea horses, box turtles, rays, alligator, and again lots of birds.

When we weren’t hiking or enjoying the nature at HBSP, we did some touristy things like playing 36 holes of miniature golf and eating some great seafood.

This trip was scheduled to celebrate Randy’s birthday and we certainly did enjoy the celebration.  We are already planning for next year.  Wonder if we could talk Randy into have more than one birthday each year?  Until next post, praise and thank the Lord for all your blessings, and stay safe.

Sunday, May 5, 2024

After arriving back in Johnston last Saturday, we had a very short – 2 day- visit with Randy and Debra.  After that, we made the 3.5-hour drive to Hardeeville, SC on Tuesday. Hardeeville is a small community just across the state line from Savannah, GA and the location of the Switch It Up spring huddle.  The huddle didn’t actually begin until Thursday evening but a number of us arrived early to have time to visit with friends, relax and help get ready for the rest of the crew.  Wednesday evening, we had our Bible study group join us at Fred.  All but one couple were at the huddle and Connie and David were able to join us via the internet via Fred’s outside TV.  All 16 of us were able to visit and enjoy some dessert.  It was really nice to have most of our group in person.  Real hugs are much better than virtual hugs.  Our virtual meetings and hugs every Wednesday night are good – but in person – so much better.  This group has become so close.  We are so blessed to be meeting with them each week.

Thursday the rest of the crew arrived, and the fun began for real and continued through the weekend and on into this week.  We shared meals together, spent time getting to know new friends – there were 30-40 people who had never been to a huddle before- and renewing acquaintances from previous gatherings.  We gave back to the community by cleaning up trash from the roadsides, giving donations to the homeless shelter and treats to the police and firefighters. We enjoyed catered meals, potlucks, games, worship, RV tours, pickle ball, e-bike rides, motorbike rides, a visit to the Wormsloe State Historic Site and an afternoon in Savannah enjoying the trolley tour learning about the history of the area, eating more good food and pralines.  After the huddle officially ended Monday morning, we spent time saying goodbyes and getting a little rest.  We had one more potluck Monday night for those of us who continued to hang out in Hardeeville. It’s just so hard to say goodbye to the crew.

We spent Tuesday visiting Savannah and met friends for lunch.

Wednesday, we visited the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.  We saw 14 alligators, and lots of birds before getting back on the road and returning the Johnston Thursday. Another great experience with the Switch Crew.  So much love shared!  Just a super group of people.  So blessed to call them friends.  For those that are not aware, Switch It Up began as a YouTube channel about three years ago but now is so much more.  It is a group of RVer’s who have come together to inspire others, create community and impact the world.