cruise-o-matic
09-21-2005, 02:41 AM
Woohooo....the very first post (well second if you include Kim's Welcome post).... :D
Anyway, here's my 1st trip report.....
From Greensboro to HHI, it is just over 350 miles via 85/77/26/95. We stopped twice, once at the SC Welcome Center and then again in Orangeburg. (Note to self: If you are slightly hungry in Columbia, STOP! Once you get on 26, there is nothing until Orangeburg.) The trip took right at 6 hours, going at approx 75-80 mph pace. Once you turn off 95 onto 278 (exit 8), it's about another 1/2 hour to the resort with light to medium traffic.
When we checked in, we were assigned room #1814. In the words of DD, it was "awesome". Building 18 is located about midway between the Lodge and the pool. Excellent marsh view (much better than "hammock view" or "horseshoes view"). From what I could tell, all but 5 studios (& 1 BR's) are located outside of buildings 11-15. If you look on the map, these building are larger than the rest b/c they have a middle set of steps that lead to a studio & 1 br on the 1st level (Note: The 1st level is elevated and there are no elevators in buildings 16-31.) and a GV on the 2nd level. The outer sets of steps lead to dedicated 2 BR's. Studios/1BR/GV's are also in 16, 19, 28 and 30. So if you are in a studio in 28 or 30, you have a long hike to do laundry, since the only laundry room is in building 12 next to the Lodge. The rest of the buildings in 16-31 consists of 4 dedicated 2 BR units.
The luggage carts are huge and it only took 1 trip to ferry all our cr..., I mean, stuff to our room. Once we got settled and changed, we hit the pool. And according to DD, the pool and slide were "awesome". After an hour or so at the pool we took our showers and had dinner at Giuseppe's. Most excellent pizza and you get a 10% DVC discount.
Then it was time to go back to the resort for the campfire. (Note to self: Do NOT sit on the "pool" side of the campfire. The wind blows from the other direction, so not only is it hot, you get ashes blown on you.) If you've taken part in the campfire, then you know what the "Cheeky, cheeky dance" is. They also told the Peter Pan story. We were the crocodile...."Tick, tock!" And of course, there were the "Tinker Bells". So those in the know, will know what I mean when a CM yells "Tinker Bell!". So after roasting for about 30-40 minutes, we finally got to cook our smores...yum. DD slept on the fold out couch. It was tough to open and close....as Tigger would say, it was a "B double O Grrr".
On Thursday, we spent about an equal time between the pool and the beach. The ocean was eerily calm and the pool water at the beach house was much colder than the Big Dipper. DD & I "played" ping pong. Her objective was to hit the ball as far as she could. We originally had planned to stay 3 nights to use up our banked points, but we liked the resort so much, we decided to add on Saturday as well. Luckily, we were able to keep our room and get the 25% member discount. :)
We had hoped to go to the outlet mall before dinner but we hit rush hour traffic trying to get off the island. It seems that if you work on the island, you don't live on the island. Instead, I turned around just before the bridge and went to eat at the Old Oyster Factory, which DD enjoyed since whe could walk down the dock and check out the crabs in the water. Food was excellent again (and 10% DVC discount too). (Note to self: Do NOT make eye contact with the timeshare reps outside the front door.)
Friday, I decided to run to the Sea Pines Circle and back, about 6.5-7 miles. (Note to self: take some $ to buy water at the 1/2 way point.) We did the pool and beach thing again. DW left early to go shopping, so DD & I did the "gyotaku" or in other words "paint the dead fish and transfer it to a T-shirt". I did a rainbow fish and then went back and put a "Mickey Head" on it. We ate at San Miguels (very good too and 10% DVC discount too). They had a musician and DD requested "Sweet Home Alabama". On our way back to the resort, Scott's also had a musician and they were rockin'. We did the campfire again. We learned our lesson from before so this time, we sat up on the deck outside of Tide Me Over. We were now the seagulls...."Mine! Mine! Mine!"...and more smores too.. :p
Saturday morning, we went horseback riding. (Note to self: Bring bug spray and wear long pants or the chiggers and mosquitoes will get you.) The trail took us right by the Indian Shell Ring. Next time we go to HHI, DD wants to help them with their pony rides. After that we went to the South Beach area and had lunch at the Salty Dog Cafe. Service was slow but the food was good. When we returned, the Desk Cast had delivered us a card and balloons for out Anniversary. Then it was more pool action and finally Scott's Fish Market for dinner. Enjoyed the dinner, especially the coconut shrimp...but I forgot to ask for the 10% discount...Had the musician play "American Girl" and "Two Tickets to Paradise". There wasn't nearly the crowd Saturday as there was Friday night.
Drove back Sunday...hopefully those lottery tickets we bought in SC will pay off tonight. :)
Notes:
*Gas was 10 cents cheaper on the island than the rest of SC.
*The water tastes really, really bad...makes Orlando h2o look like Perrier. Use bottled water to make your coffee.
*Bring your own TP. They have "John Wayne" TP at the resort. PM me if you don't know what I mean.
*SC has some funky alcohol laws. No alcohol sales on Sunday (bars and restaurants may get a special permit). If you get a mixed drink, they pour in the contents of a whole mini-bottle. Also, they still have Happy Hours (NC outlawed them years ago) but the same beer or mixed drink may have different price depending on whether you get it from the bar or if your waiter brings it to you. Be sure to ask or you could wind up paying 2x's as much.
Anyway, here's my 1st trip report.....
From Greensboro to HHI, it is just over 350 miles via 85/77/26/95. We stopped twice, once at the SC Welcome Center and then again in Orangeburg. (Note to self: If you are slightly hungry in Columbia, STOP! Once you get on 26, there is nothing until Orangeburg.) The trip took right at 6 hours, going at approx 75-80 mph pace. Once you turn off 95 onto 278 (exit 8), it's about another 1/2 hour to the resort with light to medium traffic.
When we checked in, we were assigned room #1814. In the words of DD, it was "awesome". Building 18 is located about midway between the Lodge and the pool. Excellent marsh view (much better than "hammock view" or "horseshoes view"). From what I could tell, all but 5 studios (& 1 BR's) are located outside of buildings 11-15. If you look on the map, these building are larger than the rest b/c they have a middle set of steps that lead to a studio & 1 br on the 1st level (Note: The 1st level is elevated and there are no elevators in buildings 16-31.) and a GV on the 2nd level. The outer sets of steps lead to dedicated 2 BR's. Studios/1BR/GV's are also in 16, 19, 28 and 30. So if you are in a studio in 28 or 30, you have a long hike to do laundry, since the only laundry room is in building 12 next to the Lodge. The rest of the buildings in 16-31 consists of 4 dedicated 2 BR units.
The luggage carts are huge and it only took 1 trip to ferry all our cr..., I mean, stuff to our room. Once we got settled and changed, we hit the pool. And according to DD, the pool and slide were "awesome". After an hour or so at the pool we took our showers and had dinner at Giuseppe's. Most excellent pizza and you get a 10% DVC discount.
Then it was time to go back to the resort for the campfire. (Note to self: Do NOT sit on the "pool" side of the campfire. The wind blows from the other direction, so not only is it hot, you get ashes blown on you.) If you've taken part in the campfire, then you know what the "Cheeky, cheeky dance" is. They also told the Peter Pan story. We were the crocodile...."Tick, tock!" And of course, there were the "Tinker Bells". So those in the know, will know what I mean when a CM yells "Tinker Bell!". So after roasting for about 30-40 minutes, we finally got to cook our smores...yum. DD slept on the fold out couch. It was tough to open and close....as Tigger would say, it was a "B double O Grrr".
On Thursday, we spent about an equal time between the pool and the beach. The ocean was eerily calm and the pool water at the beach house was much colder than the Big Dipper. DD & I "played" ping pong. Her objective was to hit the ball as far as she could. We originally had planned to stay 3 nights to use up our banked points, but we liked the resort so much, we decided to add on Saturday as well. Luckily, we were able to keep our room and get the 25% member discount. :)
We had hoped to go to the outlet mall before dinner but we hit rush hour traffic trying to get off the island. It seems that if you work on the island, you don't live on the island. Instead, I turned around just before the bridge and went to eat at the Old Oyster Factory, which DD enjoyed since whe could walk down the dock and check out the crabs in the water. Food was excellent again (and 10% DVC discount too). (Note to self: Do NOT make eye contact with the timeshare reps outside the front door.)
Friday, I decided to run to the Sea Pines Circle and back, about 6.5-7 miles. (Note to self: take some $ to buy water at the 1/2 way point.) We did the pool and beach thing again. DW left early to go shopping, so DD & I did the "gyotaku" or in other words "paint the dead fish and transfer it to a T-shirt". I did a rainbow fish and then went back and put a "Mickey Head" on it. We ate at San Miguels (very good too and 10% DVC discount too). They had a musician and DD requested "Sweet Home Alabama". On our way back to the resort, Scott's also had a musician and they were rockin'. We did the campfire again. We learned our lesson from before so this time, we sat up on the deck outside of Tide Me Over. We were now the seagulls...."Mine! Mine! Mine!"...and more smores too.. :p
Saturday morning, we went horseback riding. (Note to self: Bring bug spray and wear long pants or the chiggers and mosquitoes will get you.) The trail took us right by the Indian Shell Ring. Next time we go to HHI, DD wants to help them with their pony rides. After that we went to the South Beach area and had lunch at the Salty Dog Cafe. Service was slow but the food was good. When we returned, the Desk Cast had delivered us a card and balloons for out Anniversary. Then it was more pool action and finally Scott's Fish Market for dinner. Enjoyed the dinner, especially the coconut shrimp...but I forgot to ask for the 10% discount...Had the musician play "American Girl" and "Two Tickets to Paradise". There wasn't nearly the crowd Saturday as there was Friday night.
Drove back Sunday...hopefully those lottery tickets we bought in SC will pay off tonight. :)
Notes:
*Gas was 10 cents cheaper on the island than the rest of SC.
*The water tastes really, really bad...makes Orlando h2o look like Perrier. Use bottled water to make your coffee.
*Bring your own TP. They have "John Wayne" TP at the resort. PM me if you don't know what I mean.
*SC has some funky alcohol laws. No alcohol sales on Sunday (bars and restaurants may get a special permit). If you get a mixed drink, they pour in the contents of a whole mini-bottle. Also, they still have Happy Hours (NC outlawed them years ago) but the same beer or mixed drink may have different price depending on whether you get it from the bar or if your waiter brings it to you. Be sure to ask or you could wind up paying 2x's as much.