Randal and I are in Hilton Head South Carolina, the first stop on our “road trip up north.”  Yes, South Carolina is still south of Roanoke, VA, but it is the first stop of our trip.  We’ve come here to visit our Chinese friend Singkey who is here immersing herself in English, albeit South Carolina Low Country English.  Monday Singkey will be flying back to China from Savannah so Sunday we’ll drive her there, tour Savannah and then have an early night.  Singkey’s flight is 5 am Monday so we need to get her to the airport by about 3 am!  Randal and I will say good-bye to Singkey and then just keep going up the coast if it hasn’t washed away.  We’re hoping to stop in Hatteras and Chincoteague if the weather cooperates.

Today we helped Singkey do a few last minute chores: close her bank account, get a suitcase for the return trip home.  Then we drove out to the end of the island to visit the landmark light house.  We had sun, rain, a lovely lunch and a photo op.

The light house behind Randal and me.

Singkey posing with light house.

Harbour Town Lighthouse       http://www.harbourtownlighthouse.com/

“The 90-foot, red-and-white striped tower of the Harbour Town Lighthouse on Hilton Head Island is the visual centerpiece of the popular Sea Pines, located in Hilton Head South Carolina.

Completed in 1970, this was the first privately financed lighthouse to be built since the early 1800s. Visitors who climb the lighthouse steps will find an excellent spot from which to view Hilton Head Island.”

We did climb to the top for the view…..

Actually it wasn’t the greatest of views but it was nice and breezy at the top.  The walk up the step was past displays and exhibits since the light house is also a museum.  Lots of those machines where you can press and image into a penny and we made one for Singkey. 

Randal and Singkey

 

I thought this one was fun!

Then it was time for lunch just across the way.

While we were waiting for our meals I noticed this woman with the flowered hat.

Randal and I split a grouper wrap and a half filled the plate!  Pretty good!!!

Singkey taking a photo of the information about the Liberty Oak.  She had chosen that image to emboss on her penny.  The plaque explains that the tree had been saved when designing the basin for the yachts and condos so instead of being perfectly round as the original design called for; there is an edge where the oak stands.

We walked over to the beach.

In China many of the women carry an umbrella to block the sun.  Singkey says she’s gotten some strange looks, but it really does work.  Chinese women don’t want to darken their skin so they protect it from the sun with umbrellas or long sleeves.

The clouds were lovely but the water wasn’t at all as clean as the Mediterranean.

Randal and I took Singkey home.  She rents a room from a lovely mom and daughter.  We will see them for dinner tomorrow.

Hilton Head is criss-crossed with bike/walking trails and one passes our hotel. 

The alligator sign was just at the start of this bridge.

Ru