In the spirit of being back in the “Dirty South,” this week’s entry is gonna to be a little more informal than usual ya’ll

Sloan and I (Carmin) both hail from the South; Sloan from Florida, me from North Carolina. Liz calls Oklahoma home, she swears Ok bears many of the same “Southernisms” as the states in the Southeast but until she can prove chitins and butter beans make “fancy” restaurant menus, Sloan and I will continue to argue with her claim. Regardless of who’s from where, the three of us are here- in the Deep South.

Today we’re spending time with my grandparents in Charleston, South Carolina. We were greeted with a stocked refrigerator, fresh sheets and brand new towels. Grandma was also raised “down here” and always puts her best southern-hospitality foot forward when guests are in town. Before Charleston it was Savannah Georgia where we made retail stops and walked along moss-laden streets, tomorrow we’re headed for Atlanta, Georgia.

So far, life in the South has been easy going. The skies have been clear and the weather warm. Everywhere we go, we’re greeted with bright smiles and big “hey-yall’s.” But travel the world as we may, I’m fairly certain we will never again stumble upon a place like Sloan’s (little) Heaven-on- Earth-home-town a.k.a Palatka, Florida. Palatka bears the same Southern charm as many of its bigger Deep-South counterparts but if you ever visit do not be surprised if instead of cars people wiz by in 4-wheelers, hemi trucks, even air boats. That’s right I said air boats, apparently they too function on land.

Since we’re on the Air-Boat topic I’m pretty sure it’s Liz, Sloan and my post-Palatka civic duty to explain these one-of-a-kind everglade-coasting, water-gliding, land- loving machines to you. An air boat is a mechanical creation that celebrates the marriage between all things countrified. This thing is a flat bottomed bass boat, a jet airplane, and a 4-wheeler all in one.

Ok so obviously I’m poking fun at this amazing apparatus I’ve just discovered, but do not be surprised if one day when you’re retired and vacationing near the Florida everglades you see Sloan, Liz or myself buzz by you (fanny-pack and sun visor intact) on air-boats of our own (we’ll wave of course).

Why are we so emphatic about this contraption? Well, let’s just say that later in life when we’re telling tales of our Vaga-adventure, one story that will top the list will be about “That one Saint Patrick’s Day in 2009 when our lives were changed forever.” On this day Sloan’s Dad probably could have gone huntin’, or fishin’, even mud-boggin’ with the boys but instead he spent his late-afternoon with the ladies. He took the three of us down to the water, put the boat in, cranked the 6-foot-tall jet propeller and told us to hop on. What we thought was going to be a slightly-dull joy ride, turned into an adventure that made our wildest dreams come true. Each of us got a ride and one-by-one witnessed baby alligators swimming, birds flying, turtles and fish jumping, even the sun setting without a building in sight or a car to be heard.

For three girly-girls we sure have done our fair share of outdoor events down here in the South. Air boating, 4-wheeling, dirt-biking, yup, we’ve done it all. The South is big, and being that we’re only four weeks in, I’d dare you to put money on the fact that this is only the beginning. We’re havin’ a blast ya’ll! Guess this is all for now. Not too much more to say. We’ll be reportin’ back in next week, but for now, over and out good buddies. Mucho amore–Carmin, Liz, Sloan.

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Tags:   4-wheeler · air boats · Charleston South Carolina · chitlins · Florida Everglades · Oklahoma · Palatka Florida · Savannah Georgia
Categories: Vagabond Tour Spring 20092 Comments