We had another fun filled day in beautiful Charleston, SC.
Bruce was up and out early this morning. He helped cook and serve breakfast. I stayed in the RV to do laundry (and drink my coffee and watch tv in peace.)
By 10:00 we at the "Angel Oak Tree" helping set up for a picnic lunch. This lovely woman is Eva Wright and she makes Sweetgrass Baskets. Sweetgrass basket making was brought to the area by slaves who came from West Africa and the art has been passed from generation to generation. Today, it is one of the oldest art forms of African origin in the United States. This part of South Carolina enjoys the distinction of being the only place where this particular type of basketry is practiced. There aren't more pictures because the store owners didn't allow pictures of Eva. They don't want anyone promoting her business. I snuck one in anyway! We are the proud owners of a beautiful basket. These baskets are coveted by art collectors throughout the world, such as the Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution. The baskets are made of sweetgrass, bulrush, long leaf pine needles and palmetto leaves.
We set up the lunch line and all posed for pictures. I may have forgotten to mention that we are in this area on a rally with other RVers. We are part of a group called Spartan Chassis International Club. Spartan is a company that builds chassis for fire trucks, ambulances, motor homes and war vehicles. As you can imagine, the division that is keeping the company alive now is the war vehicles. Anyway this next picture is Scott and Wanda Brady. They started planning rallies and events for this group 22 years ago, 2 years prior to the real formation of the club. They are absolutely wonderful people in every sense. If you looked up "service" in the dictionary I am sure you would see their picture. They both live to serve others. They plan rallies, they cook food, they host events, and they travel all over the United States representing Spartan. However, their main goal in life is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. At the present time Scott is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. The cancer is eating his body but it is certainly not eating his spirit. Wanda has all kinds of health issues herself but she still goes like 90 all day long. We are truly blessed to be able to know these two people. They have friends spread far and wide and they treat each and every one of us like we are the most important people in the world.
Here is the "chow line" and look who is serving food. The rest of us could all help but Scott and Wanda want to do it themselves.
Look at the beautiful angel oak tree. It is 25 feet in circumference with 86 ft long limbs. 
The tree has Spanish moss hanging all over it. Actually, every tree has Spanish moss hanging all over it. We were told that the bugs and ticks love to live in that stuff. It is pretty to look at but I sure don't want any of it in my RV.
The tree has Spanish moss hanging all over it. Actually, every tree has Spanish moss hanging all over it. We were told that the bugs and ticks love to live in that stuff. It is pretty to look at but I sure don't want any of it in my RV.After lunch we headed to the Charleston Tea Plantation which is the only tea plantation in North America. If you would like to read the very interesting story of this "plantation" go to http://www.teamuse.com/article_011201.html The "tea" plants are planted in rows that look like very close "hedge" rows. 
This machine goes down the narrow rows and shaves off the top leaves on the bushes. They get 7-12 pickings a year and the season is from May - September. Those little "hood" things over the wheels spread the bushes apart without breaking any limbs. The green roller looking things are blowers that start the drying process while the leaves are being blown into the back of the picker. A human walks in front of the picker to be sure there are no weeds that will be cut with the tea. This must be a very labor-intensive process. 
If it weren't so late at night and if I had a better memory I could tell you the whole story but I can't. This tea is under the label American Classic Tea and is sold in the local area only because there isn't enough tea for nation-wide sales. It is also available on the internet.
Tonight we had yet one more seafood buffet in Charleston and we celebrated:
Bruce loves to listen to Scott and Wanda's stories.
The chapter honored Scott and Wanda with new aprons as a thank you for the great rally. Tomorrow we are off to Little Mountain, South Carolina, aka. Scott and Wanda's home.
If it weren't so late at night and if I had a better memory I could tell you the whole story but I can't. This tea is under the label American Classic Tea and is sold in the local area only because there isn't enough tea for nation-wide sales. It is also available on the internet.This is a view of the lane as we exited the tea plantation.
Tonight we had yet one more seafood buffet in Charleston and we celebrated:
Bruce loves to listen to Scott and Wanda's stories.
The chapter honored Scott and Wanda with new aprons as a thank you for the great rally. Tomorrow we are off to Little Mountain, South Carolina, aka. Scott and Wanda's home.
Tonight we ate at Hyman's Seafood in Charleston. First we tried boiled peanuts. Believe it or not, we actually liked them. They tasted like kidney beans.
