Charleston, SC 10/17 25 driving miles; 9.9 walking miles

I was so excited to see my Bunny, my eyes peeped open about 2:15 AM, and I'm sure I woke up because Eduardo was padding around. In reality, we roused ourselves about our normal time (Seven). I did the form on the veranda (Front porch), my concentration tested by a scurry of squirrels that were jumping from tree limb to palm frond to power wire and back again. One even stopped to look at me as if to say, "Far chuan shiou twe" which means "Flower fist and brocade leg" (You're weak like a flower and soft like brocade). I ignored his chattering insults as best I could. After the form I took Ed on the bakery tour that I discovered on my walk yesterday afternoon. First, a cup of ambition at the Wild Flour Pastry; then a breakfast sandwhich made with good ham and a fresh English muffin at the Brown's Court Bakery; then a mild disappointment because the Sugar Bakeshop was closed. But by then it was time to go get our girls, so who needs sugar? (Obvious answer: We do). On the way back from the airport, I was as loopy as a punch drunk boxer. I missed two exits and made three South Carolina turnarounds before I finally got us safely back to the inn. I think it was the heat being generated by Judy's presence in the back seat. We were probably lucky just to survive. The girls were tired but eager and hungry so we ate brunch right across the street at the Hominy Grill, which just happens to be a local favorite as witnessed by the half hour wait for a table. Brunch was fabulous: perhaps the best pork chop I've ever had, surely the tastiest grits, the flakiest biscuit, a perfect egg, all made better because the closeness of my Bunny was more welcome than the Southern sun. After lunch, we kept the girls going and marched them through the market down Meeting Street to the Battery and back up King Street stopping at Charley's Grocery for a late lunch (No dinner tonight). The we rested: the soothing roar of cheering playoff baseball fans in the background causing our rhythmic breathing to pair until we nodded off. Really, really nice; Really, really warm, which leads me to conclude that life is good, especially today.

The coffee here (Among other things) is delightful.

Bread of all sorts, both sweet and savory, is the specialty here.

 Hail! Hail! The Gang's all here.

She Crab Soup for starters. Just outstanding!

Pork Chop baked in Onion Gravy, served with seasoned Grits, a Buttermilk Biscuit, and a perfect over easy Egg.

The Charleston Market where humans were traded more than one hundred years ago. Today, the space is filled with trinkets of all kinds and customers of all ilk. The times they are a changin'.

The park bordering the battery, a place of grace and ease, despite the fact that hanged pirates used to sway in the breeze as a warning to thems that needs it.

The stone read Nathan Keene and was dated 1734.

Selfie of the day: Me and my Bunny in front of Charley's Grocery.

Joe, "best" human of the day: A first generation American whose parents are from Palestine. He's working the dream, having not had a day off in the last four months.

 We had one of his store specialties: the Shark Attack. Thin Gruel for sure (Honest, Bill).