10.15.2012

vacation pt.4


We stayed in North Carolina for the night and then headed to Patriots Point in Mt Pleasant, SC. Patriots Point is where the USS Yorktown (the fighting lady), USS Laffey and USS Clamagore are docked and serve as museums.
The original Yorktown was destroyed and sunk in 1942. The "the fighting lady" was rebuilt in 16 months to replace what the Navy had lost. The Yorktown carried 3,500 men and 90 planes. She also served in the Vietnam War and recovered Apollo 8.
We were able to walk around all the ships... it was an awesome full-day history lesson! See, we did school on vacation!
Since Meagan's foot was still swollen, sore and very tender, we were able to use a wheelchair and had access to the elevators!

This was the bridge we crossed to get to Patriots Point
The USS Yorktown (The Fighting Lady)

Collin and Dad checking out the Twin 40 MM Bofors

Collin sitting in the seat of a Twin 40MM Bofors
We walked all over the land strip of the Aircraft. There were planes everywhere.
Looking over the planes from an outside walkway.

Collin, Meagan, Diona and Kaitlyn checking out the Air groups numbers of planes, trains, subs and ships shot down or destroyed.

The list just keeps going.
Todd and Diona over looking the planes.

Checking out the walkways outside!
Todd in the captains seat.
 After we walked around the top of the Yorktown, we went down a few levels to see where the planes were stored, and check out the museum.
A wonderful reminder "When you go home tomorrow, tell them of us and say 'for your tomorrow, we gave our today'".
All the planes in the belly of the Yorktown.

Everyone took turns sitting inside this airplane.
The amount of buttons, switches and knobs were amazing!

Collin in the plane
Dad in the plane

Kaitlyn in the plane
The sign above the museum reads "Charleston Navy Yard Museum 1901-1996"
Kaitlyn, Diona and Meagan checking out how inventions like the typewriter, record player, binoculars, etc, have improved.

Kaitlyn typing on a typewriter
The Yorktown had to operate solely on it's own. So it had a sick ward, library, post office, doctors office, operating room, dentist, and a kitchen! They had the crews favorite recipe for 10,000 chocolate cookies posted! It took 112 lbs of chocolate chips, 165 lbs of sugar, 500 eggs, 100 lbs of sugar, 87 lbs shortening, 75 lbs brown sugar, 12 lbs butter, 3 lbs salt,3 cup vanilla ext,1 qt water, and 1.5 pounds baking soda!
The fighting lady
We left the massive Yorktown and went to see submarine USS Clamagore. Talk about a tight squeeze!
USS Clamagore
The torpedo room... Collin said he wouldn't want to sleep with bombs.
So many knobs and levers!
C and K testing out the controls

I think this was the radio room?
The tiniest toilet. Needs a woman's touch!

This itty bitty four table dining room had to feed 75 hungry men.
Collin, Meagan and Kaitlyn on top the submarine, with the Yorktown in the distance
Same background, this time it's Todd and Diona
After we left the Clamagore, the guys went onto the Destroyer, the USS Laffey. The girls went into the gift shop

Collin on the deck of Laffey
Right before leaving Patriots Point, we ran into some Puppy Raisers for Southeastern Guide Dogs! We enjoyed talking to the Bloom family and their two dogs; Curry a certified therapy dog and Pearl and puppy in training. Ironically, they are from Florida!
After leaving Patriots Point, full of gratitude for the men who served, and are currently deployed and working to protect our country, we headed to Hilton Head, SC.
We called up some long time puppy raiser friends (who raised Clarke, one of our finishing dogs from a pup) and headed to see them for a quick chat. We enjoyed meeting their dogs Duke, Parker and Burke.
Big Boy Duke
Sweet Parker

Little Miss Burke loved Collin.
The next day we went drove down A1A to check out the beach on the other coast. The waves were so big and the breeze was beautiful.
We enjoyed watching some guys para-sail surf.
We had the whole beach to ourselves!
Panoramic view of the beach

Vacation 2012 written into the sand and our bare feet.
 We had a great time on vacation. It was wonderful to get away and enjoy being together as a family.

Vacation pt.3

We left the cabin after tearful and sad goodbyes to our family (with high hopes of a visit out west next year!!) to head to North Carolina.

We took the winding roads to the NC/TN border and had a wonderful two days stopping at several waterfalls and rivers, look-outs, hiking a little and enjoyed breathing in the fresh clean air.

Waterfall
Rivers
The water was so refreshing
On top of a mountain and seeing the road we had just traveled waaay down there.
There were many wild flowers
More river
We had to stop and let the brakes cool... they were smoking really bad.
A picture of our family with the NC/TN state line sign.
Collin liked climbing the rocks
And Kaitlyn just liked sitting on them
Todd and Diona with mountains behind them. A beautiful view.
This older lady had set up an easel and was painting the mountains
We found a creek called "Collins Creek" so Collin was excited.
Collins Creek
Panoramic view of the mountains
If you're ever in Waynesville, NC... check out the Mast General Store. It was so much fun!
Teas, Herbs and spices...

A tree with very red leaves
We love antique shops. This is a panoramic view of just the upstairs of an awesome antique store!
Another beautiful river with very slippery rocks.
This would be a perfect swimming spot if the air was humid like in FL!

Collin skipping rocks
A very tiny water fall, but still had slippery rocks

Meagan found out just how slippery.
And ended up with a purple, hockey puck size lump on her foot!
   onto part 4... whew...