Helen and I arrived at Edisto Beach on Wednesday after two stops on the way. We spent one night in Cherokee, NC, to rub a little ointment on her casino itch. My lotion worked better than hers, but that’s all I’ll say about that. We spent the next night in our son’s driveway in Charleston, SC. I invested in a partial share of a fifty-amp electrical outlet at Collin’s house, and we now have water and power for the Mother-In-Law Suite, also known as Dora, our fifth-Wheel trailer.
After our granddaughters left for school the following day, Helen and I did some Costco shopping then drove 50 miles for our fifth straight year of camping in Edisto Beach State Park. We love the beach campground, and our campsite sits behind a dune along the shoreline and overlooks a lovely salt marsh teeming with egrets, spoonbills, cranes, and one pesky raccoon. We’re here for eleven relaxing days.
November weather at Edisto can be somewhat mercurial. Still, so far, we’ve had sunny days in the ’60s and low ‘70s with nighttime temperatures in the high ‘40s—perfect for campfires, and we’ve enjoyed one every evening. I’m not sure how much of this I can take, but I’m in for all I can stand.
For exercise, we walk the beach every day. The shorebirds wander along with us as though we need escorts. The water is surprisingly warm and feels warmer than wet sand to my bare feet. There are so few people here that we have the beach almost to ourselves. Did I mention that we love this place?
This narrative will be shorter than my usual posts. We’ve had only three days to record the experience, but I captured a few images that I hope give readers a feel for the occasion. The plan is to share our visit with you after the Thanksgiving holiday. Would you please join us then?
Oh, one more thing…
On Thursday, around four in the morning, I woke up and remembered that a lunar eclipse was near the peak. My camera was unpacked and sitting beside the door. I grabbed it, stepped into my flip-flops, and walked into a dark campground in my pajamas. Nobody screamed, so I assumed I was alone.
Looking to the south, a meteor crossed the sky just below the eclipsed sphere dubbed the Beaver Moon. I decided to forgo any attempt to put my camera into perfect settings and went to automatic mode. I snapped away. Looking through the long lens, the lower left portion was as shiny as ever, but the rest of the moon was shrouded in an eerie shade of red. The image below was captured at 4:06 am.
Helen and I send our best wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday to our friends and followers everywhere. We’re blessed, and we’re Easin’ Along.
Joe, it is easy to see why you love it there. I hope the weather holds for you. We have had two days of steady, miserable rain – very uncommon for this time of year.
Will you be joined by others, or will the two of you be Giving Thanks as a solo couple this year?
Nice photo of the partial eclipse. I didn’t even try.
Take care and enjoy the quiet of a beautiful place.
Good morning, Suzanne,
Great to hear from you. Our son and his family live in Charleston and it’s less than an hour from here. We’ll join them for Thanksgiving and will bring our granddaughters here to spend at least one night with us at Edisto. No rain here, but we’ve had some gusty winds that have made our beach walks challenging. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving in your new home! Joe
Joe, what a wonderful tradition of camping at Edisto Beach! It looks so peaceful and beautiful. We’ve been walking the beaches here, too, and the weather has been perfect.
How great that you’re close enough to spend Thanksgiving with your family. I’m sure the girls are going to love coming back with you for an overnight at the beach.
Enjoy your beach walks and your Thanksgiving celebration. Thanks for getting up at dark-thirty to take that cool moon photo. 🙂
Hello, Laurel,
Life’s a beach, and I’m so grateful that we’re here to enjoy it. The moon shot was fun, but I was afraid I’d get caught in my PJ’s. Fortunately, the campers on our end of the park slept through it! Enjoy those beach walks, and please keep in touch! Joe
It is always fun to read Easin’. Along. and get a chance to follow your travels. I saw the partial eclipse ,too, but was a little late at 4:20 , and your picture was much better than the one I took..Thanks for sending and have a great Thanksgiving. Jennie
Hi, Jennie,
I was lucky with the moon shot because the sky was crystal clear and no streetlights around. Thanks so much for checking in. Please come back! Joe
Superb eclipse image, Joe and this would work for my ruby-wine color challenge! Amazing capture and your beach camping looks warm and amazing! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Terri,
Thanks so much for the suggestion. Frankly, I was stumped for a ruby-wine contribution. Lo and behold, I had one right at my feet (or over my head). You’ll see that image again soon! We love our November visits to Edisto Beach–no crowds, no bugs, and no humidity. Wishing you and Hans a blessed Thanksgiving. Joe
Happy Thanksgiving, Joe and Helen –
No wonder you love Edisto Beach. Your photos from there are absolutely gorgeous. And that 4:06 a.m. moon shot? Simply stunning!
Good morning, Donna,
This is our fifth November visit to Edisto Beach and it is always a joy this time of the year. The crowds are low and Helen enjoys finding seashells without a lot of competition. An added bonus is that our son and our granddaughters are close by and we can spend time with them. I’m not certain if Thanksgiving is observed in Canada, so I’m sending best wishes to you and Richard for a great week. After reading your latest post, I know you’ll enjoy great food. Always enjoy hearing from you! Joe
New adventures + old favorites = happy camping. That equation works perfectly for Alan and me, and it seems like it does for you and Helen, as well. Old favorites prompt complete relaxation, which is a wonderful follow up to the high level of excitement generated by new adventures. By the way, I have been known to sneak out in the morning barefoot and in my jammies to capture the sunrise, so you’re not alone in that respect. We’ll just keep that between us, okay?
Hi, Mary,
We’ve camped at Edisto in November for five years now and have reserved two weeks for next year as well. This place is becoming an “old favorite” with each visit and, hopefully, we’ll get to enjoy it for years to come–especially since our granddaughters are close by. All the best to you and Alan for a blessed Thanksgiving. Oh, our secret is safe with me! Joe