Moving Right Along

 

#4 - Bluffton, SC is a town in southern Beaufort County and one of the fastest growing municipalities in South Carolina. Within, lies Okatie and site of Dell Webb's Sun City which is just west of Hilton Head Island.  It is here where I'll spend four days visiting fellow retirees, Roger and Wendy, a.k.a. R/W. The 4-hour, 257 mile journey from North Myrtle Beach to Okatie, SC was uneventful. This will be the first opportunity I'll get to be with people I know...with plenty more to come. In my travels back and forth to Florida I've always tried to make a stop in Bluffton to visit my long time friends. Former English and science teachers in the Hendrick Hudson School District, R/W have been 17-year residents in Dell Webb's Sun City. They've made arrangements for me to park Winnie on the property 4 to 6 minutes away while I enjoy the comfort of their beautiful home.

Here's a nice opportunity once again to illustrate the value of blogging. I've gathered blogs written years ago that describe my past visits and activities with R/W. If you're interested, the following links will take you back to years 2015, 2016, 2020 and 2022.  I couldn't find 2018. There's a lot of terrific memories contained there and I'm fortunate to have them on My Train.

Rigatoni & meatballs. My welcoming first night dinner.
She's not Italian but boy, this hit the spot and close to home.

Chilly as the days and evenings were during my four day visit, the warmth of their hospitality once again topped the list of enjoyable moments. As my saying goes, when it come to enjoying life, nothing enhances it more than having good food, good wine and good friends. My four day visit was filled with just that. The highlights:

Thursday's dinner was at the  Oakatie Ale House. As with most restaurants in this sprawling area surrounding Sun City, every night sees packed restaurants and most don't take reservations. The Ale House was no exception. After our basket of breaded button mushrooms served with ranch dressing, I enjoyed their BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich: "Tender pork tossed in our very own zesty BBQ sauce. Piled high on a Brioche roll."

As an added treat we hung around to be entertained by Chris Paul, a very talented regular from Beaufort. Click HERE to hear a sample of his style and check out his website as well. 

Friday is bowling day. In Sun City, there's something for everyone. I joined R/W at Station 300  for their weekly league games. This Friday the 13th was a lucky one for Roger. No doubt because I was present he scored a high 214 in his second game. In this video clip he completes his third straight strike...7 altogether in that game.

Wendy made an impressive showing as well.

 

Afterwards, with twelve others from the league and/or neighborhood, we dined at the British Open Pub in Bluffton  for our Friday night dinner.  I had their famous St. Andrew's Fish & Chips: "The best this side of the pond! Nine ounces of fresh cod loin, dipped in lager batter and fried golden brown, served with Brew City fries, coleslaw and tartar sauce" 

Saturday night, direct from the R/W grill, we had London broil with horseradish mayonnaise, 4-cheese scalloped potatoes (Parmesan, Asiago, fontina, and provolone), sauteed mushrooms and orange glazed carrots accompanied by Josh Cabernet Sauvignon. Delicious.

On my last morning before taking off for Georgia, we drove to the First Presbyterian Church on Hilton Head Island for Sunday church service. It was my first experience attending a Sunday service in a house of worship other than Roman Catholic. The pastor, Rev. Dr. Will Robinson (who, by the way, was never "Lost in Space) gave a terrific sermon, "Walking in Step with the Spirit." It's the theme that the all-church Book Study was beginning this week. He tied it in nicely with the remembrance of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King whose holiday will be celebrated Monday. I found him to be an intelligent, sincere, committed and dedicated leader who communicated the Word and work of Jesus to his huge congregation in a special way; it was a very positive experience for me. This Sunday was special also as the congregation welcomed infant, Rori Bell McLaughlin into the Church with the Sacrement of Baptism.

For our brunch, we dined at Frankie Bones. With Hollywood's "Rat Pack" as a theme, this packed restaurant full of memorabilia of that era had quite the menu. I enjoyed the Broadway Brunch: "Two scrambled eggs, applewood smoked bacon, hash brown casserole and country style white toast." (No. I don't know what makes toast "country style.")

  

For my would-be "food critics," a reminder that these wonderful dishes I enjoy are usually one of the two I have for the day. Of course, not healthy but you know my feelings about that. Alas, it all came to an end on Sunday. That afternoon I set off for  Okeefenokee Pastimes Cabins and Campgrounds in Folkston, Georgia, 3 hours and 250 miles south, the subject of my next blog. Take care and stay warm and safe. See you in Georgia.

"Doing what we like is freedom. Liking what we do is happiness." ~ Frank Tyger