Charleston, South Carolina!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

WOW! :)
Made it!!! :)
Barely!!!!!!!!!! :)
After lots of hard riding, grinding through easy terrain but rough weather, with the bike struggling in its hacked-together condition… Lots of little pauses, to adjust the chain, to eat and drink, to duck out of the rain… One charming little pie shop had an amazing collection of Southern foods, cook books, and other delights.
As I was nearing Charleston, slightly later than anticipated, the road shoulder disappeared, traffic was heavy, and the bike was struggling to make headway. So, pushing the bike, I walked along for a bit, thinking, when a truck driver stopped and offered me a ride into town. Now my whole body is in pleasant pain from the long haul up here. I'm tired yet happy! :)
The folks here tend to be very friendly. Also, there's lots of lush greenery, with so much sunshine and water. The architecture and history date way back, and the city of Charleston, like the whole region, has done very well at maintaining the old qualities while still advancing.
I'm planning to spend at least a few days here resting up, repairing, recuperating, …
I love South Carolina!!! :)

By the way, the place where I wrote last post from was at the plantation where Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin. Lots of plantations around here, including some old rice ones. Today the area increasingly does manufacturing, services including tourism, and more modern activities.
More soon….
Rock & Roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)