America 2015: Day Thirty-Four (1 September 2015)

Born down in a dead man's town
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
End up like a dog that's been beat too much
Till you spend half your life just covering up
Born in the U.S.A., I was born in the U.S.A.

                                                                                          - Bruce Springsteen

Tuesday 1 September

This is kinda it – our last full day in America that doesn’t involve flying or driving somewhere. In hindsight, I wish we’d been at Hilton Head Island longer. It’s easily in my top three favourite places I’ve visited this trip, with an irresistible mix of good food, great scenery and plenty of bike-riding opportunity.

I meant to mention yesterday that we played mini golf on a course that was, according to the pleasant lady who owns it, a real championship course just miniaturised. There was none of the crazy obstacles and props that you often see on these sorts of courses – themed mini golf courses were seemingly on every block in Myrtle Beach – but a lot of scaled-down things that you would see on a normal course, tufts of grass, water hazards etc. It was great fun, even though neither of us is actually any good.

On to Tuesday.

It’ll sound strange to read, but the Island reminds me of Yosemite. Not because they share any sort of landscape similarity, but because here, like at that great national park in Northern California, there are so many great bike paths to be explored. It’s awesome that you don’t need to drive or use the trolley service that makes it’s way methodically around the island. They’ve done a really, really good job of making the entire island accessible by pedal power.

The other similarity between here and Yosemite is the bikes themselves: back pedal and with no gears. At least there aren’t really any hills to climb here, but it’s still hard getting used to the different brakes! Between the warm weather and the extra work you have to do without being able to rely on gears, you really work up a sweat.

We got a great lunch recommendation from Mike, who honeymooned here a few years back. The Salty Dog is a very famous Hilton Head Island institution, and anyone who’s been here is aware of it’s existence. I ate calamari, lightly crumbed, and ominously called ‘Ring of Fire’. Let’s just say, it packed a punch. Tasted great, and with a beer or two to wash it down, and the ride back to the hotel made me feel less guilty for eating so much!

 

Ring of Fire - amazing!!

 

Had a nice swim in the pool this afternoon with the sun out. All things considered, the weather has been pretty good – a drastic improvement, anyway, from when we arrived here on Monday afternoon. The layout of the pool under the palm trees, a stone’s throw from the ocean, is really nice. It’s hard to get out!

There are a heap of great local restaurants and shops just across the road from our hotel, in a complex called Coligny Plaza. We ate lunch at one of them on Monday whilst waiting for our room to be ready, and after returning the bikes tonight, we had dinner at the Market St. Café. Their clam chowder was amazing!

Our last night in Hilton Head – I’m sad to leave. I’d definitely come back here, given the chance. Tomorrow, we drive to Atlanta, and early on Thursday morning begin our long journey home, flying to Los Angeles (via Dallas-Forth Worth) before a late Thursday night departure to Sydney.