We checked into what was arguably the best RV camp of our three year
trip "James Island County Park" – since having had www.rvparkreviews.com
recommended to him last year and now that we are almost finished our odyssey Tom
has selected some great parks to stay at. As we drive in – almost a mile to the
check-in registration – we pass through Christmas lights all along the roadway.
That weekend marked the beginning of the annual "Festival of Lights" what
luck? Adele pulls her bike off the back of the RV and heads off for a cycle around
the many paths in the park passing workers busy putting the finishing touches
to their designs.
The weather forecast for the next day was for 20% rain so we set the
alarm to take the 9am (yes 9am!) shuttle bus to the Charleston Visitor Center,
as we were walking around town we happened across the "Dixie Supply Bakery
and Café” off the beaten track on State Street. There was a long line of people
waiting to order but as the weather was getting cold and we were hungry we decided
to wait our turn. As we were discussing what we would order the owner Allen
Holmes heard our “accents” and came over to chat with us. His family history
fascinated us; the Holmes have been in America since the 1600’s, Allen knew
that they came in someplace up north and ended up in Charleston in 1698. The Café is situated about 100 feet
from the original family business location, first called Holmes & Calder
Leadworks, then William E. Holmes Paint Company and eventually Dixie Supply
Hardware. There was a photograph of Allen’s father and his brother outside the
hardware store, the back door to the hardware store is now the back door to the
café. Allen’s grandfather opened the Holmes
& Calder Leadworks. Allen
and his wife Kris owned Terrible Tom's Bakery & Café in the historic
Charleston's City Market for nine years then in 1993 they sold the bakery and
traveled throughout Europe and all around the United States until July 2007. Then
it was time to return home to Charleston and the Dixie Supply Bakery & Café
was born. Later on in the day Tom was asked by two ladies if he knew where
the café was located and he was delighted to assist them; seemingly it’s a
famous tourist spot.
Afterwards we toured the Edmondston-Alston House on the Battery which
was built in 1825 by Edmondston; after the panic of 1837 (there was a
depression in the 1820s and 1830s) he had to sell the house. Charles Alston who
hailed from one of the successful rice plantation dynasties bought the house;
his descendants still own and live in the house. By the time the tour ended the
20% rain had turned to 100% drizzle accompanied by a bitterly cold wind, so after
a long and cold wait for the free bus that transports tourists around Charleston
we returned to take the park shuttle back to RamblingRover.
That night we stayed with Eva and Bernie so that we could be up early the
following day to start on the very full day they had planned. The sun was shining
and it was hot outside as we drove to a bakery where we had the most delicious
chocolate croissants for breakfast. Afterwards we walked across the new Arthur
Ravenel Jr. suspension bridge and then drove out of town to
see the Angel Oak Tree; a 2000 year-old oak tree which is enormous and quite
impossible to describe its size, turns and twists of its branches - the trunk
tells a story by itself. We then went to the Charleston County Fair where we
just walked around trying to keep out of the hot sun. Rabbits and chickens were
mostly the animals being shown, there were lots of rides and even more food
stalls; we didn't stay long.
That evening James Island County Park was hosting a 2mile run/walk
preview through the holiday lights so having earlier secured tickets for the
four of us we bought dinner on our way back to the park and dined in the RV. At
dusk 6.30 we joined several hundreds of people in the park and walked the 2
miles around the park marveling at the massive Festival of Lights – well over
700 displays and more than 2 million lights - it was spectacular and very
enjoyable. From there we went to the cinema to see the Rolling Stones “Sweet
Summer Sun” concert filmed in London’s Hyde Park London in the summer; one long
enjoyable day for 4 seniors!
When we returned to the park even the Christmas Lights had been turned
off! 
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