Have you ever thought of a GREAT title for a post, but then you sat down to write and it didn’t seem like such a good idea?
When I mentally composed this post today yesterday, its working title was "I’ve got the ‘Jelly Legs’ and I need an icepack for my crotch". It seemed positively brilliant at the time; then again, the "Gilligan’s Island" theme song was blaring in my brain and crowding out all sense of reason and good taste, except instead of "…a threeee-hour tour, a threeee-hour tour" it was a "fiiiive-hour bike ride, a fiiiive-hour bike ride".
Catchy, no?
Last year, when it rained our first few days here, I discovered all the island’s wi-fi spots. It’s important to note, I had to PACK UP MY LAPTOP, GET IN THE CAR, AND DRIVE SOMEWHERE. This year? I had no intention of doing that, but when it was discovered we have access in our condo, to help me remember more than I would otherwise, I decided to bullet point a few highlights.
Shelly W., a blogger who recently discovered PENSIEVE and who shares my affection for all things Kiawah, commented about something I didn’t know. We decided to see if what she said was true, so we pedaled our way to the end of the earth Kiawah…and then kept going until I was certain the world IS flat and we were on our way to falling off into oblivion. And I didn’t care–my legs, well beyond sore, now had lost complete feeling.
I’ve always said Kiawah is a wonderful beach, but I wish it had more shells. After 15 years of vacationing here, I discovered it’s not that there are no shells…we just didn’t know where to look–
Twenty-eight "dollars" and then some…! My daughter’s exact words: "It WAS worth it!!"
Thank you, Shelly! I’ll even forgive you the redneck-tank-top sun tan lines I’m now sportin’ ;).
Beautiful! I’m 43 years old and still love finding shells.
Y’all are having way too much fun! Went back through your past days’ posts. Fabulous photos!
How fun!
I just got back from the Jersey Shore. My heart’s not in San Francisco. It’s in Ocean City.
There was a hurricane there in the end of May that I think brought new things in the mix–we found approximately 3,287,387 sand crabs, hermit crabs, starfish, and shells.
Soak those sand dollars in a bit of bleach solution and then carefully drill a small hole at the top…. you can then slide some pretty ribbon through them and use them as Christmas Tree Decorations.
What a fabulous looking empty beach, it looks as though it really does stretch right on to the end of the world!!
pst…fancy winning some chocolate?!? I am hosting a giveaway on my blog!
Those sand dollars are amazing! To get so many perfect ones you are surely blessed.
Hooray! Hooray!! You found the “ultimate” Kiawah spot! (You just have to promise not to tell anyone–too late, huh?) I am SO glad you did that, and I am SO glad you had fun. Oh, and I am SO glad to have a small part in your vacation. You just made my day.
Ha. Doc and I did that on the Cape a year or so ago with our laptops. We drove around looking for free Internet to piggyback.
Hulagirl, I’m OLDER, and so do I!!!
Carol, Thanks! I’ll be back to “normal” summer bloggin’ next week 🙂 (meaning I’ll actually be visiting others).
Heather, oh, my…sounds WONDERFUL to me!!
Sam, DID SOMEONE SAY CHOCOLATE????
Karmyn, I did the first part of that YEARS ago, but they would add to our tree, especially because of the memories attached :).
Barb, I agree…:)
Shelly, “Thank you” only begins to express our gratitude…THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Your secret is safe with me ;).
Monica, at least you had a partner in crime! 😉
Your story is a poetic and lovely real-life metaphor about the payoff of persistence and faith. And about the cost that often accompanies these things (see: jelly legs and ice-demanding crotches). Sure looks like you’re having a wonderful adventure.
I know you wish you had your Nikon this trip, but you’re doing just fine with the P&S. (That’s P “&” S, not P “O” S, tyvm.)
By the way, what is the current exchange rate for sand dollars? Are they doing better than Euros?
Sounds like an awesome trip! You are only a couple of miles from where I was supposed to be this week – Seabrook where my brother and sister both have condos. Their poor relative sister has to mooch when she (I) come to visit. You have to let me know if you are going down next summer. I am so jealous. Great photos!
Looks like you guys made a haul on your awesome biking adventure.
I know what you mean about well-intentioned titles. Agh – the Google searches!
Wow! The one thing I miss about Florida (besides my family) is the ocean. What a lovely haul!
Wow you did good!! For me, those sand dollars and other discoveries would have been worth the ride and discomforts too. I seem to remember a conversation that you and I and another lady had about her “little point and shoot.” I remember you telling her you used to use one and we were discussing your new toy, the Nikon. Well, those “little point and shoots” not only come in handy in a pinch, but STILL take great pictures, and can obviously make the difference between a good vacation and an even better one; one where you can share with others your discoveries instead of just talking about them. Whatever kind of point and shoot you have, it sure seems to be a good one (coupled with your great eye for taking photos anyway). Glad you’re having fun!
Oh, that sand dollar picture is just gorgeous!!
Just catching up after my holiday. Enjoyed all your back posts and especially the photos (your point and shoot does a good job).
What beautiful sand dollars! Before we moved to Florida, we used to vacation at Edisto Island (next up from Kiawah). We decorated our Christmas tree for years with sand dollars we found on Edisto Beach and Botany Bay Beach. In recent years we have substituted Florida sand dollars for the Edisto dollars that have deteriorated over time.
They make for a BEAUTIFUL Christmas tree.
Something of a wierd thing to discuss on the Fourth of July Weekend, I suppose.
great sand dollars!! 🙂
Those sand dollars are incredible! What an awesome find!!
Those are the best sand dollars I’ve ever seen. Here in Alabama, we find bits and pieces of them on the beach. And,yes, they cost a small fortune in the store.
Sand dollar jackpot!! And perhaps more valuable to your daughter – the memories of finding them.
I can never show my son all your sand dollars! He’ll lose it. We feel the same way about the Oregon coast, even though we live in WA. It’s true love 🙂
Absolutely gorgeous!
And I loved the original title. Hee!
What a gold mine of sand dollars and a beautiful location. One of these days I’m going to relax on vacation!
What an awesome find! Glad y’all thought it was worth all the suffering to get there.
Oh my goodness those shells are beautiful!!!
What a great find! We just about flipped when we found 2 sand dollars at the beach this year!
Jackpot! And wha tan incredible photo, I love the composition, those sand dollars are practically falling off the screen and into my lap – thanks for sharing:)
Now I am going to have that song in my head the rest of the day! :o) Very pretty picture of the beach and the shells.
Looks like you had a perfectly wonderful time at the beach. Those sand dollars are just amazing. Sand Dollars are probably among my favorites of all the sea shells.
So many lovely sand dollars! I’m sure I would have given up.