Well we got here Sunday afternoon, and now it is Wednesday morning. We have not done a lot of structured things, but have enjoyed our time greatly. This will probably be a Sienfieldesque blog, a show about nothing.
Monday morning, no one got moving too early, and those who did, indulged in nothing more than a good book or relaxing breakfast watching the golfers tee off on #4. (which is quite the entertaining pastime) Vickie and I took the complimentary bicycles that came with the condo, and rode down to the beach. Actually twice cause the first time we couldn’t find it, and had to come back for directions. After directions, the second time we made it to the beach and to our surprise found very nice facilities and a pretty beach. They had chairs and umbrellas for rent ($30 for an umbrella and 2 chairs for 1st day and $18 a day after that, payable in advance). The water was cool but not frigid I thought even warmer than Outer Banks in June.
After scoping out the facilities Vickie and I headed back to the condo to report. We checked in with our friends, and after some research found we could hit the main pool bar for a hot dog for lunch. Vickie and I rode the bikes back, and Jerry and Brenda walked, opting for the exercise. We soon were parked at a pretty much deserted pool and pool bar. We ordered (from the very unpersonable bar lady) some of the proffered tropical specialties, to go with some dogs and burgers. In a little while our lackluster food arrived, essentially plain but with a basket containing little plastic packets of condiments. We built some quasi-palatable creations, and washed them down with reasonably good drinks. The whole thing introduced us to the Hilton Head motto: If it isn’t overpriced, then you’re not in Hilton Head. Apparently in this area of the country, the economic downturn is not being considered. (although the occupancy looks to be about 30% but that may be because it is still May)
After our mediocre but at least properly overpriced lunch, we retired to the condo intending to hit the pool. But Mother Nature had pretty much decided that was not to be. The skies began to blacken, while we watched and listened to a thunderstorm roll in. (like we hadn’t had enough rain last week in Martinsville) Checking the weather on the Internet, we found we were in the path of a severe thunderstorm warning. We opened the bar or should I say reopened the bar, and settled down to watch the fun.
Golfers are a curious breed; they just will not admit that it is really going to storm until it is raining so hard they can’t see the ball. And then what is this whole thing of holding a metal rod in your hand on a flat grass field while it is lightening? Seems like a death wish to me, but then this is Hilton Head, and I’m sure they don’t refund those overpriced greens/cart fees once you have paid them.
We watched the golfing ramp down as the rain ramped up. The rain continued to RAMP UP. Pretty soon it was raining literally in sheets. We could look out across the golf course and see sheets of rain moving down the fairway. Then the golf course began to look like a pond, and after a while the whole fairway was under water. I reminded my compatriots that this was a swamp until they decided to fill it in and build stuff on it. We had a couple funny events happen during the storm. It was raining so hard Jerry and I could not resist standing out on the front porch and watching. The lightening/thunder was loud, but by time differential not all that close. All of a sudden the lightening struck something close by and issued forth one of those giant SNAP sounds that scare the poop out of you. Everyone in the condo screamed, and Jerry and I bumped into each other getting in the front door. We had a good laugh about it. It was even raining so hard at one point; I put on my new prescription snorkeling mask just to try it out. After we were back inside from the lightening scare, we were watching the waterfall coming off our upper roof, when we noticed a drink cup Brenda had left out on the patio table. She had had water in it on the way back from lunch, and had left it empty on the table. Well now the cup was full to within 1 inch of the top with rainwater, all in about 30-40 minutes. After the storm abated, Vickie took her bike back down to the beach since it was low tide to look for shells. When she returned we decided to go with a rerun of last nights dinner and polished off the second half of Jerry’s lasagna from the previous night.
Our condo comes equipped with many games, puzzles, and movies. One very cool entertainment feature of the condo is the step on the stairs to the second floor that at the quietest unexpected times sounds amazingly like flatulence when trend upon. This has been the source of untold verbal sparring and laughter. Of course this is from the same crew (missing Jimmy and Judy) that almost laughed themselves silly in a cabin at the North Rim of The Grand Canyon on the last night of the season when Miss Brenda produced a secretly packed whoopee cushion. This same Miss Brenda conned us into a game of Trivial Pursuit for the evening. Only problem was this particular Trivial Pursuit box contained a game based solely on the 80’s. Due to some marital discord and/or relationship issues (for most of us) the 80’s were better forgotten, and that is about what we all did. Therefore trivial questions based solely on events from the 80’s were daunting for us, to say the least. Trivial Pursuit turned into Trivial Pursuit of a Coma. Finally we all conceded and allowed Brenda to win (since she was whipping our butts anyhow). As we carried over our Trivial comas everyone drifted off to the beds with the lure of another relaxing nights sleep.
More later,
Wes
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