Edisto Excursion

I couldn't take it anymore. After another week inside I had to get out and get some fresh air. Robin and I decided to take a trip to Edisto Island, which is about an hour from the house. We first started out at Bessinger's Barbecue but I really didn't enjoy it as much as I normally do. Both Robin and I have had strange appetites over the past couple of weeks. Neither of us really have a taste for anything and when we do eat we rarely finish our meals. Don't you just love medication?

I love the drive through the country to Edisto! There is always some kind of weirdness that you will see along the way! I must say that so much has changed since I last went there almost a decade ago, especially the new housing developments. I was wishing that it was peach season because there is NOTHING like getting a bushel of peaches on the way back from the beach! The only thing we saw was a truck load of icebox watermelons and we weren't really sure if they were in season so we didn't stop.

Along the way we saw a really cool ship figurehead that I think would look fabulous in the front yard...

and we saw a golf ball and tee mailbox...

Here and Beyond by Mary

and a stacked mobile home on stilts

and a mobile home that now has a steeple

and of course, the Mystery Tree of Edisto Island.

It was nice to see that the tree has regrown since it was vandalized! The last time I was there it was a makeshift tree that was rebuilt with lumber. Who would tear down something as awesome as the Mystery Tree? So sad!

We finally arrived at Edisto Island and drove around and did a couple cache's. It was so hot that after two cache's we went to the beach and walked around for a while. I wish we would have been better prepared and brought a blanket or towel with us so we could sit down and enjoy the breeze. I was really thirsty so we decided to go back to the car and head to the gas station for a drink. I was able to take a couple of photos on Edisto Beach.

After cooling down with a drink from the gas station we decided to drive around the island a little more. On the way out we saw a sign that said Botany Bay and we were both a little surprised because we thought Botany Bay was only accessible via boat. I was so glad to find that we were wrong!

We drove down the long dirt road in the convertible under the cover of a canopy of trees. There was swamp land on both sides of the road and so many different bird calls. We finally arrive at the entrance of the wildlife preserve and were met by the volunteer of the day. After giving us a map and tour guide to the preserve he paused for a second and say "Yeah... you're wearing shorts and sandals... you might want to stay on the path." I, of course, asked "why?" The volunteer went on to tell us that it's rattlesnake mating season and the preserve has two venomous rattlers that are considered "ambush rattlesnakes" so they will attack anything that is walking by! Um, yeah. I would be sure to stay on the path!! I was so freaked out after that and was on constant rattlesnake alert!

Before the driving tour we decided to walk the half mile causeway to the beach. The view of the marsh was so gorgeous and I can never get enough of the salty ocean air! On our walk we saw some cute crabs and I'm still wondering why one of their claws is larger than the other. I didn't know if the rattlesnakes ventured out to the causeway, but I was on high alert - not the I had anywhere to run!

We finally reached the entrance to the beach and it was so beautiful!

You can walk forever on this beach and there are millions of seashells! The rule of the beach is that you cannot take any seashell home with you. I love that!

There is driftwood everywhere and someone (or many!) have taken the time to lovingly decorate the driftwood with seashells.

you can even decorate your girlfriend!

I stopped for a bit and talked to one of the preserve volunteers who was picking up trash on the beach. She has only lived here a couple of years and fell in love with Botany Bay. I can see why! She was telling me about all of the people that come to the beach and try to sneak out shells. I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Some guy actually argued with her and told her that the sand was going to cover most of the shells throughout time anyway so why not let people take them. He called her an "environmentalist wacko" Wow! Some people just don't get it!

After my chat I finally caught up to Robin who was taking part in the shell/driftwood decorating.

Isn't she cute??

We stopped for a bit to take a couple of photos and then headed back to the other side of the beach, which had the most amazing trees!

The tide was coming in and it was getting late so we decided to head back to the car to do a quick tour of the rest of the preserve. I know there is so much that we missed on our quick drive so I can't wait to go back to this magical place that I'm so glad to have discovered!

Today I'm paying for the amount of walking I did so we just had a lazy day at home. Still, I'm so glad we ventured out because it felt so good to feel the sun on my face again. My camera had not been used in weeks and my body was pale and in great need of exercise!

I can't wait to get out again!