Mike and Beth's Adventures

The Great Dismal Swamp May 5th, 2022 A journey through the Dismal Swamp is a voyage back in time.  The route traverses a very low population density portion of North Carolina and Virginia.  It is easy to imagine yourself back in Colonial times. The route was originally proposed by George Washington in 1763.  The concept was to dig a canal to connect the Chesapeake Bay, in Virginia, with the Albemarle Sound in North Carolina to move trade goods.  Doing so would bypass the treacherous coastal route.  The canal was completed in 1805 after 12 years of construction by mostly slaves. We had been anticipating our Dismal Canal Trip for a long time.  It did not disappoint.  The entire canal is a "No Wake" zone, so it is a relaxing transit.  Type A personalities would not be a happy with this route.  As the going is slow, we broke the trip into 2 days, with a stop at the Visitors Center located midway through the canal.   Once you enter the c...

April 12th, 2022 This Freeman Adventure took place in Beaufort South Carolina.  The antebellum architecture, the  history, and the city's hospitality are all strong reasons to visit.  We drove over from Hilton Head and began our visit with a tour covering the Civil War and Reconstruction period.   Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and kept us entertained with stories from Beaufort's past.  Did you know that it was a group of 10 locals that drafted the South Carolina Articles of Succession, which led to the start of the civil war?  The house where the met and drafted the document is still standing. Historic Antebellum Mansions Beaufort was originally chartered in 1711.  It is the second oldest city in South Carolina.  Only Charleston is older.  The state was colonized as a buffer between the Spanish in Florida and the northern English Colonies.  Catholics were not allowed to settle in the colony as it was feared they would side w...

April 14th, 2022 Let's go have an adventure!  I think you need to have clear concise goals in life.  My goal is to have as many great adventures as I can with the ones that I love.  Creating lasting memories is a by product of this goal.  Ones that will remain long after the event has passed.  The kind of memories that brings a smile to your face, perhaps accompanied by a laugh or a chuckle.  Those are even better.  Memories can included all sorts of people, places, and activities.  The accumulation of these memories is the real wealth in life.  The best have persistence that be shared and retold across generations.  Almost by definition the best memories include people and new experiences.  So round up those you treasure the most and strike out on an adventure that expands your horizons or helps you collectively expand your boundaries.   Make life more interesting and fulfilling. We recently set off to Daufuskie Island, a...