Comfort Inn Greer

The rainy remnants of Ida continued to follow us North to Greenville, SC. It was so gross out that I refused to leave my somewhat unsanitary feeling hotel room. The next morning we loaded into a pretty nice theatre at Furman University. Mixed among our regular collection of middle-school and high-school students was a small band of 11 local university students. But ...

My daughter, Julie, her friend, Heather, and I went hiking at Table Rock State Park July 31. We hiked all the trails. It took 6 hours to do to the Pinnacle Mountain Trail, Mill Creek Falls Spur, Mill Creek Pass Trail, Ridge Trail, and the Table Rock Trail, plus 3 falls, 1 cut chin, and 1 bee sting, but we made it.

Planning Trip-4 weeks til we leave on Trip, Planning how long at different segments of trip.
Itinerary as of today:

Week 1- Arizona and Southern Utah including Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Bryce and Zion Canyons.

Week 2- Eastern ...

I've been 'back home' now for two full days. Weird. I haven't really been 'back home' for going on eight years, so its a bit of a time warp feeling. What's worse is that besides today (since I've borrowed Mom's wheels), I'm still carless. I haven't been carless in this town for going on eleven years! Talk about a strange feeling. Luckily, I've got this upcoming trip to focus on and plenty of unpacking, packing, rearranging, throwing out and donating to do in the next four days to keep me ...

... few wild flowers along the path which gave added colour. We had taken a packed lunch with us, we ate this sitting on the rocks of the falls and it gave us renewed energy for the 4+ mile trek back. Once back at 'Camp on the drive' I took up the offer of a soak in the indoor bath- one luxury that I have come to do without. It was wonderful - without it I probably would not have been able to move at all on Sunday!

Overall, this was a pretty good visit. The people were hit or miss in both the company I went to visit - as well as the hotel staff. The hotel staff front desk initially was very good. I was asked by the front desk person who greeted me "how was your day?" to which I replied "where is the bar?" He (after checking me in) told me to tell the people at the bar that the first drink was on him! Very nice. The room was okay - semi modern in some respects ...

... Main Street which reminded me of a European villa. The Hyatt is very nice and we all went to a Wings restaurant in the evening. I think it was the most fun all of us have had whilst on the trip. The Blood Connection people were very nice and entertaining. I met the CEO and his wife and had a great time with my co-riders- we all had a relaxing evening. I am so fortunate to have this oppurtunity and am enjoying it very much.

... went back to the hotel to do some washing. Later we had a meal and then went into the city to see some of the entertainment put on for us at the Bi-Lo Centre (the local entertainment centre). There was a good band ...

... If not for her, we might all have to worry. Thank goodness she does the worrying for us (and the packing, and okay, everything). So, on Friday, check your inbox (or maybe even spam filter) for proof that we have actually left. We hope to have a wonderful, safe flight. Talk to you later!

We had been, sort of biding our time, for our friend Jessica Rolfe to get back from a visit back to Maui. Jessica had worked for our reservations service years ago, she had also been my daughter Sandi's roommate for a while, then she got her Captain's license and worked on the Cinderella and Flexible Flyer sailboats before becoming a Concierge at the Four Seasons Resort on Maui. She and her boyfriend, Steve Wilcox, who had been a pilot for Sunshine and Blue Hawaiian ...