Day 38: South Carolina

Not a lot to report today, it was only 40 miles from Savanah to my overnight in Hilton Head.

It was nice to have an easy day and the hotel let me in early, which enabled me to get laundry done. Sometimes it’s the small things that bring joy when you are travelling. I think today is the shortest day of this trip. I added another 20 or so miles driving from one end of the island to the other, but still easy. It’s also the first time I have seen the Atlantic Ocean since Day 1, when I drove through Portland, Maine.

Hilton Head is nice and like other tourists’ spots, it is unusually busy for this time of year. The waiter last night in Savanah told me his restaurant is up 19% in sales this year, even with the brief shutdown they had and the extra space requirements.  The waitress at lunch said they are usually not this busy in October and it was a 30-minute wait for lunch on a Thursday, at least to sit outside.  The beaches here are also busy.

I understand that some people that read this blog like my mask report, so today’s story is how the island of Hilton Head has huge mobile signs up as you drive on to the island that there is a mandatory mask order in place.  It does not say just indoors and not just when you can’t social distance.  Driving around I saw very few masks, nobody riding bikes were wearing masks, and even at the hotel I see guests walking in and out without a mask, despite the signs on the door.  My favorite look is of the couple, walking hand in hand with one person (usually the women) wearing a mask and the other person not wearing a mask. If your partner is not wearing a mask, it kind of defeats the purpose of wearing one yourself.

Song of the Day: Strong Enough, Ray LaMontagne (mentions South Carolina)

Podcast: Smartless, Today Adam Sandler

Book on Tape:  No time today

Beer of the Day:  River Dog IPA, River Dog Brewing

total miles: 60