Angel Oak

     Quercus virginiana. You've all seen them when wandering around the southeastern U. S. or while watching scary movies. Their gnarly, twisted limbs dripping with Spanish moss, are stage setters for Hitchcock et.al. Well, perhaps the biggest and oldest has a place of honor on the list of places to visit in Charleston. It's called the Angel Oak.

     So, when out of town friends drop by and the day is ideal for touring, it makes a great stop. Yesterday, Bill and Diane Russell and their slightly neurotic but handsome Collie, Oliver paid us a visit. Cindy had a day off, so she could be our excellent tour guide. Oliver does not not walk on concrete, hardwood floors, or tile! He stayed with Durelle and Mocha in the back yard and screened porch.

     It is impossible to take a picture of that tree which does it justice. If you capture the magnificent old trunk, as Cindy did here, then you don't show how far it is spread out. It is much wider (288 feet) than it is tall. The age of the tree is disputed, but the youngest guesses are 400 to 500 years. 

     A cute fact about the Cloutiers and the Russells is that when we met for lunch one day in Massachusetts, it was our fifth meeting but the first one that was planned. We both owned Allegro Bus motorhomes and had met at Red Bay, AL, Tiffin rallies and campgrounds. After bumping into them at four assorted RV venues we decided to "formalize the relationship" with a lunch. Yesterday's lunch spot is a favorite of Cindy's. Hey, she was driving! It's a small, pleasant restaurant that outgrew its food truck beginnings. Would you believe I had a calamari taco, red rice, and a beer?

     In case you are wondering what your favorite blogger looks like these days, Cindy took a shot of Bill and me.

     There is a little side story with the picture. If you look closely, you will notice that I am barely leaning against a 4X4 that is used as one of the supports for the tree. I can't stand unaided very long, and I did not want to lean against the tree itself. That would be poor etiquette and was forbidden by numerous signs, so I chose the man-made 4X4. Nonetheless, Mr. Ranger came over and chastised me. He didn't want me leaning on the supports, either. Oh, well...I've been corrected by tougher folks than him. 

Birthday

     Well, we both had dental appointments and I had PT to squeeze in in the morning before we met Cindy at the "Fleet Landing" for a birthday lunch. It's a building that at one time, I think, was a ferry terminal. Today it is one of those dockside eateries specializing in local fish. Their oysters weren't nearly as good as I had two days before at Bistro-217 in Pauley's Island with Myrt and Debra. Emphasizing local fish that do not usually appear on a menu, their catch of the day was "sheepshead". It was good...a flaky, white fish.

     They do have a good view of the Charleston harbor which is dominated by Fort Sumter

.
      So, I'm starting my 80th trip around the sun. Although hindered by serious mobility issues, I'm feeling pretty good.
      The picture below was taken last week and doesn't really fit here, but I have a nice shot of "our" pair of bald eagles.

     I have seen eagles all my life, although there was a dry spell in the 80's. But we have never lived for an extended period with a nesting pair in our vicinity. We hear their distinctive whistling shriek on a regular basis, and they provide convenient photo-ops when I'm having trouble drudging up some blog fodder.