Between The Great Smoky Mountain National Park and the South Carolina coast, we had three groups of friends to visit: Darren and Jen Strawn, whom we knew from Ann Arbor and hadn't seen in 18 years; Robert and Ginger Vobejda, who just joined us in the Smokies; and Claire Pomeroy and Bill Robertson, whom we knew from Minnesota and hadn't seen in 5 years. In each instance, I had never visited their current homes before. This is one of my favorite aspects of this trip: seeing where people live, learning about their daily lives, and gaining a deeper understanding of how life's joys and sorrows have shaped them. This part of the journey did not disappoint.
Darren and Jen in Alabama
Robert and Ginger at the Georgia Aquarium - Robert, an old college friend of David's, met him in 1976. Robert and Ginger got married in the same year as we did (1987). We have been friends as couples for almost 40 years.
Breakfast with Claire and Bill on Edisto Island, South Carolina. David knew Claire in college and met Bill in the late 80's. We have been friends since that time.
The first stop was Pell City, Alabama, near Birmingham, to visit Darren, Jen, and their daughter Kirstin and her family. Two years ago, Darren's cancer diagnosis prompted him to relocate from Las Vegas to Alabama to be near his daughters. Jen followed him later that year. Darren purchased a beautiful piece of land spanning several acres with a river flowing through it. Despite feeling rather crummy due to the cancer, he continued his trade as a builder and constructed a house for himself and his wife, a large garage with an apartment for his daughter Brooke, and a house for his daughter Kirsten and her family. As if that weren't enough, he also added a swimming pool with a charming cabana.
Darren had worked as a builder in many states. He was amused and a bit alarmed to learn no permits or inspections were required to build in Alabama.
The river that runs through the property is quite stunning.
Headed to Marietta, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. Robert and Ginger's place was the first with a driveway large enough for our camper. Maneuvering the camper into the driveway felt like a game of Tetris, but we succeeded and enjoyed four fantastic days there. Having all recently retired, we had fun sharing stories about our bucket lists and how well retirement suits us. Conclusion: retirement suits us all perfectly!
Our time in Atlanta included fun dinners, a trip to the Georgia Aquarium and hiking. It was a beautiful time of year to be there and we secretly enjoyed watching the temperature drop back at home.
Robert and Ginger recently acquired this cute convertible a 90's vintage Mazda Miata.
A bonus meeting! We had dinner with David's college pal, Drew who was just delightful. I had never met him and David has seen Drew only a couple of time since college.
Robert and Ginger at their home with their sweet dog, Charlie.
A trip to the amazing Georgia Aquarium did not disappoint.
Absolutely gorgeous hiking just minutes from their home.
Heading to Edisto Island, one of the barrier islands located south of Charleston, South Carolina. The diverse and fascinating plant life and geology captured our interest. We gained considerable knowledge about the island's history, including the culinary traditions and language that emerged due to the tragic slave trade in the area.
Bill and Claire built a beautiful home on the beach and due to the shape of the island, their property faces west and offers stunning sunsets.
A wonderful museum, where we learned about the history of the region.
A visit to Botany Bay Shell Island, where trees drift ashore, carrying shells with them.
At the Botany Bay Preserve, we had the luck to see a couple of alligators sunning in a small pond.
We enjoyed delightful meals and conversations with Claire and Bill. They've led incredibly fascinating lives, and it's always enjoyable to hear about their latest projects and gain life insights from them.
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