The next day we stopped early just south of Charleston, South Carolina, having kept to the coast as much as possible. Lake Aire RV Park was a clean and quiet spot on a 32 acre park like setting and we hooked up beside a peaceful swimming pond, home to a mother Muscovy duck and her dozen goslings. We spent a relaxing evening in the pool, talking to some other RVers, in no hurry to leave and drive further north! Staying on highway 17 the next morning and passing just through the north part of Charleston, the French Quarter, we crossed the bridge over the Cooper River and could see signs for the USS Yorktown Naval Museum. Off to the right at Patriots Point the aircraft carrier itself was visible, tied up next to another ship, the Sumner-class destroyer USS Laffey. Marie agreed it would be a great idea to stop and visit the Museum!
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| Marie relaxing on the other side of the pond |
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| Lake Aire RV Park, Hollywood, South Carolina |
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| USS Laffey (DD-724) |
The Laffey supported the D-Day landings at Normandy in 1944 and later transferred to the Pacific Theatre to join the US offensive against Japan. While operating off Okinawa on April 16, 1945 she was attacked by 22 Japanese bombers and kamikaze killing 31 of her 336-man crew, earning the nickname "The Ship That Would Not Die" The USS Laffey was also present at the atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll in 1946 and also earned two more battle stars during the Korean War. She is the only surviving Sumner-class destroyer in North America and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986. She was overshadowed in size by the aircraft carrier but not by glory and as we walked down the pier to these two great warriors I felt proud to be able to appreciate the sacrifices of those who served in them.
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| USS Laffey and USS Yorktown, Charleston, South Carolina |
The USS Yorktown ( CV-10) was named for the Yorktown (CV-5) lost while repelling the Japanese fleet at the Battle of Midway in 1945. The new Yorktown was commissioned in 1943, an Essex-class carrier and played a significant role in the Pacific offensive which began in late 1943 and ended with the defeat of Japan in 1945. Yorktown earned 11 battle stars for WWII service, served in the Vietnam War in the 60's as an antisubmarine carrier and in 1968 recovered the Apollo 8 astronauts, the first men to orbit the moon. More than two dozen historic aircraft are located in the hangar and on the flight deck. On the flight deck we saw a Skyhawk, Crusader, Sea King, Intruder, Viking, Hornet, Tomcat, Corsair, Phantom II, Tracker, Tracer and a Skywarrior. In the Hanger, protected from the sun the older airplanes - a Mitchell, Cougar, Avenger, Hellcat, Corsair, Skyraider, Stearman, Wildcat and a Dauntless. It is the only carrier museum to display all 10 of the most significant aircraft in US carrier aviation history.
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| Corsair (WWII and Korean War) |
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| F9F Grumman Cougar (1959) |
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| F4F Wildcat |
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| Marie in cafeteria and galley, USS Yorktown |
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| view of diesel-powered USS Clamagore from flight deck |
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| me in the Ready Room, USS Yorktown |
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| F-18A Hornet |
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| Sea King |
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| USS Yorktown Flight Deck |
Leaving the Charlestown area we continued on the 17, stopping at a seafood market in Murrells Inlet for some fish for supper, fresh flounder and shrimp. When we decided to call it quits for the day we found what turned out to be one of the most impressive RV camps we have ever seen in all our travelling in the USA - Ocean Lakes family campground, just south of Myrtle Beach. A new water park, outdoor Olympic size swimming pool, heated indoor pool, mini golf, games center, ocean front, lakes, pizza delivery, grocery store, laundry, bike rentals and more. We had no reservations but they were kind enough to give us an ocean view site and made us very welcome. I would recommend this campground to everyone who needs to have some fun and relaxation close to Myrtle Beach. Cabins and oceanfront houses are also available here for rent. Just bring your electric golf cart to get around! Marie cooked up a delicious grilled fish supper and later, strolling on the beach we watched another sunset to end a perfect day. Next stop for us, Cape Hatteras and the Outer Banks!
gws
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| Seven Seas Seafood Market, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina |
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| camping 35 feet from the ocean, South Carolina |
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| Atlantic Ocean, Ocean Lakes Campground, Myrtle Beach, SC |
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| parked alongside the "big boys", Ocean Lakes Campground, Myrtle Beach |
