DAY 12 - TUESDAY 14TH AUGUST
We’ve decided
on a more relaxing day, or at least as relaxing as it gets when
you’re on holiday with the Stringers.
Tam and I get up at 8.00am. Tam reads on the balcony while I walk
around the resort and take some video, especially on the little
walkway that juts out into the marshes. This is probably the
prettiest part of the resort. I’ve been wondering what the
large barge that is moored in this area is for and I hear a man
telling his son that this is where they launch the fireworks from
later this evening. Ah, that makes sense now. I also enjoy a
swing in one of the hammocks dotted around the resort.
Back in the room the girls rise and we all have breakfast. We
decide to look around Hilton Head Island a little more before
going to the beach house in the afternoon.
We jump in the car and head towards Harbour Town I didn’t
realise that you have to pay $5 to enter the Sea Pines area of
the island, but at least parking is free after that.
Harbour Town has a lighthouse and a marina with some very
expensive yachts. There are also some shops and restaurants as
well as the seemingly compulsory golf course. You can barely move
in Hilton Head without falling over a golf course. I hope I
don’t sound bitter; it’s just that I will not get to
play until we get to WDW.
On to South Beach marina. This is much more rustic in appearance
and has a number of fishing boats moored up. Again, there are
shops and restaurants. There are many miles of bike paths around
the island; I think we would certainly rent bikes if we were
staying here.
It’s time to check out Disney’s beach house. This is
about a mile from the resort and you can drive there or take the
shuttle, which is free. As we’re already in the car I decide
we’ll drive. This proves to be easier said than done as the
car park is packed and there are a couple of cars looking for
places.
Being the selfless and decent human being that I am, I offer to
drop the ladies off and take the car back before catching the
shuttle, expecting the women to show a modicum, of solidarity and
say ‘That’s ok, we’ll come with you’. Instead
I get ‘ok’ and they exit the vehicle in indecent haste.
And what are the thanks I get for my act of kindness? Tam says
‘Get the washing out of the dryer while you’re
there’. There are times when I think this family
doesn’t deserve me.
As I drop the car off there is a shuttle bus waiting, but of
course I have to do my laundry duties first. By the time this is
finished the shuttle has left. Sigh, it just doesn’t pay to
be kind. I take the opportunity to go to the room and pour a beer
into a plastic cup and then walk down to the shuttle bus stop
where sitting and drinking in the sunshine makes the whole world
seem fine again.
The bus only takes a few minutes and the kind driver allows me to
bring my cup of beer onboard.
Disney’s beach house is an area with a swimming pool, bar,
snack bar and seating areas. It’s pleasant enough, but
packed. The ladies have procured sun beds, but we decide to get
lunch before we settle down. This is the usual fare of
hamburgers, Philly steak sandwich and chicken caesar salad.
Just as we start to eat the music starts blaring out really
loudly, which is ok in itself, but then a voice announces they
are going to start pool games. Saints preserve us. I could get
this sort of entertainment a whole lot cheaper at Butlins.
They are still at it when we sit down after lunch with a
cocktail. They are passing water filled sausages along a line
between their legs. Is this a suitable game for children I ask?
After an indeterminate length of time (it seemed like hours, but
was probably only minutes) the 2 teams are declared to have tied
and there needs to be one more game to determine the winning
side. Oh joy, my enthusiasm knows no bounds. This game involves
each team doing a sort of war dance at each other. It’s a
bit like watching the New Zealand rugby teams Haka, but a damn
sight more frightening. The winning team gets congratulated and
the losing team gets packed off to darkest Siberia or a monastery
or something.
Now you may get the impression that I’m not too keen on
children. You’d be right, nasty, noisy little beasts. Thank
the lord mine have grown up into nasty, noisy little teenagers.
We decide to beat a hasty retreat to the beach. The sand is quite
powdery up the top end, but the tide is out so it’s quite a
trek to the water. We set our towels down on the sand and me and
Inds go for a swim. I really can’t believe how warm it is. I
know the Gulf Coast of Florida is often warm, but I thought the
Atlantic would be much cooler. It’s like tepid bath water
and you certainly don’t get that bit where you start to
stand on tip-toe when the waves lap around your unmentionables.
The beach stretches for as far as the eye can see in both
directions and is certainly better than the one we went to on
Tybee Island yesterday, but there are also people as far as the
eye can see. It’s certainly no Captiva.
After a couple of hours we get the bus back to the resort. While
chatting with the bus driver we discover that the fireworks are
paid for by all the businesses in Shelter Cove, not just Disney.
It’s coming up to 4.30pm so we go to the pool for a
refreshing dip. Me and India go down the slide, which is fun. I
say to her ‘Again,again’, so off we go. ‘Again,
again’. After the 5th time she’s starting to get fed up
with me.
Just after 5.00pm we head back to the room and on the way we have
a go at one of those things where you have to throw a horseshoe
around a peg sticking out of the ground. I know you like me to
get things right, so I looked on the internet and its proper name
is Horseshoe Chucky Peg.
Back at the room we all get showered and ready to leave as
we’re eating at the Ocean Grill overlooking the marina
tonight. We booked a table for 8.00pm as it’s supposed to
give a good view of the fireworks at 9.00pm.
By 7.00pm the women are ready after only brief shouting on my
behalf. There are many more people about in Shelter Cove tonight,
the driver of the shuttle bus told us they can get a couple of
thousand people watching on a good night. I think this might be a
slight exaggeration, but there are lots of people and some stalls
selling knick-knacks.
We go to the bar in the San Miguel first where Tam and I enjoy a
margarita. There are two blokes playing guitar and bongos and
it’s quite laid back, it reminds me a bit of Captiva except
it is a lot more crowded. Still, we enjoy it a lot.
On to the Ocean Grill at 7.45pm where we ask for an outdoor table
in order to see the fireworks. The guy on the desk tells us it
will be an hour before the table is ready. We’re in no hurry
so we say ok. We get a drink from the bar and sit and wait. In
the end it is no more than 30 minutes before we are seated in the
perfect position to see the fireworks. It’s a hot and sticky
night although I am surprised again at how little this bothers
me.
Our server is a really great guy, our guess is that he is of
North African descent and he tells us he spent 3 years in London.
When I ask him how he landed up in the States he tells us that he
spends a few months each summer working and then travels to new
Zealand, Australia and other places meeting up with friends. I
think maybe this guy has got his life sorted.
Our food is fine. I have lemon chicken, Tam has lobster pasta and
Georgia and India have the pork tenderloin. We also enjoy a
bottle of Australian Shiraz, mainly chosen because it has the
name Woop Woop. This cause Tam to whoop in an alarming fashion
every time she takes a sip.
The fireworks start at 9.00pm and are pretty good. The problem
is, once you have seen the fireworks in WDW you are always
comparing. The most noticeable thing is the lack of music.
As soon as they are finished you see all the little boats return
to harbour. There are even some kayaks with little lights on
paddling back.
The girls have a crème brulee to finish a meal that costs us
$175 including tip. I’ve actually enjoyed this evening more
than any other evening we’ve had so far on Hilton Head. I
think it’s a combination of having a more leisurely day
along with a very pleasurable evening. Don’t get carried
away with thinking this is a late night, we leave the Ocean Grill
just after 10.00pm and walk back past all the establishments on
the marina that are closing up for the night.
The bridge to Disney’s Hilton Head Resort
We get back to the room and I have to point out to the ladies
that it’s getting quite late. After all, it’s nearly
10.20pm. This sparks the women into action and they get out the
cards while I crack open a beer and write up my trip report. When
I ask the women if there is anything else I should add to
today’s report they make some totally inappropriate
suggestions. The fairer sex? I think not.
Just before I retire for the night I sit out on the balcony (and
I appreciate that this is more information than you require) in
just my underpants. It’s just like being snuggled up in an
enormous electric blanket. I mean it’s hot outside not in my
underpants. Although……
Doubtless it would be far too hot without air conditioning, but
as we have it, it’s wonderful.