Living Rural

With the cost of gas and the state of the economy - vacations are not a priority this year; however, vacations can be Enjoyable AND Affordable! Living in the country adds to the decision simply because we are a minimum of  twenty miles from everything. Here are some ways we have saved money yet still considered ourselves having a vacation.

STAY CLOSE: Research your state or region for attractions and accommodations that are CHEAP!

PICK THE RIGHT DAY: NO holidays or weekends. Hotels and flights are cheaper during the week.

MAKE THE DRIVE: To larger airports where flights might be flexible with times, carriers, and price. Don’t forget to figure in gas, time , and parking for your car.

PACK LIGHTLY: Check with airline for restrictions, rules, and regulations.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Bus and rail systems are designed to get you where you want to go and cost much less.

LOAD UP AT LUNCH: Eat your largest meal at lunch. This time of day, also, lets you sample local fare at a reasonable price.

PACK A SNACK: Request a refrigerator in hotel room, shop at local grocery store, and save $$$.

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS: Take advantage of free museums, historical sites, go for a hike, swim, park, or beach for a “thrifty” way to spend the day.

GO HOME EMPTY HANDED!: DO NOT GO HOME WITH OVER PRICED SOUVENIRS - PICTURES AND MEMORIES ARE FREE!

PHONE WISELY: Use a calling card, limit cell phone use while roaming..

“SMART TRAVEL MAKES for SUCCESSFUL TRAVEL.”

Remember, “Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

Twenty miles is not far in today’s ‘global society’, until you realize with gas at $4 a gallon and a vehicle that has a 12-14 gallon tank, that you will spend $48 for each full tank and average 28-31 miles per gallon  giving you 7.8 round trips from your house to “town” on one fill-up …

Add the soaring heat to the mix …

And most folks in the ‘country’ will be staying home enjoying the air conditioning!

Tourism is in for a long, hot, dry, quiet summer … to bad, too - lots of really ‘cool’ places to visit here in the rural part of SC.

Yep, it will take at least one of those “$100″ bills to fill up most autos this July 4th for that holiday trip, but it will be worth it - especially if you are coming to South Carolina!

Remember, “Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

The much anticipated  HARD ROCK PARK  is officially opening today, Friday, May 9 in MyrtleBeach, SC. This is the world’s first rock ‘n’ roll theme park on 55-acres with 50 attractions for all ages. ‘It is all about the experience – where rock comes to play.’  A huge success with the pre-opening crowds of the past several days helping to check that all systems were on GO … HRP passed with flying colors.

            Season passes are available. Check out prices, entertainment scheduled, and availability here. 

Fans are pouring into Darlington, SC for the big RACE on Saturday, May 10, the Dodge Challenger 500 NASCAR SPIRIT CUP Series, 367 laps, 501.3 miles. To warm the fans up, the racecars, the drivers on the new surface at the famous track will be the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 NASCAR SPIRIT CUP Series Race, 147 laps, and 200.3 miles on Friday night, May 9, 2008. *  Race fans will pour $millions$ into the small southern town and surrounding area, the PEE DEE, over this race weekend. Especially advantageous with the rise in gas prices and the slump in our economy, welcome Race fans!

 And for BIKERS and fans … today is the start of the annual Myrtle Beach Spring Bike Week, May 9 – 18, 2008, with thousands and thousands expected to descend upon the Grand Strand for “Jack Daniels’ CRUISIN’ the COAST Spring Bike Rally. Traffic will be a nightmare for the locals, but tolerated, grin, as the $mullah$ pours in to local restaurants, hotels & motels, shopping venues and entertainment scheduled! WTG, HARLEY DAVIDSON!

What fun this weekend and next week in South Carolina!

Remember, “Y’all come back, ya’ hear!” 

*Due to problems today with our server at 451Press, this event will be over by this posting. I apologize for any problem this might cause.

Well, Friday was the day we took our youngest to the airport to fly back to school in the frozen tundra, Maine. Now with the security systems in place, you can no longer watch the plane take off, which somehow makes a mom worry just a bit - I liked seeing the plane disappear safely into the clouds . It is reassuring . Now, I wait for the phone call that she is safely back in her “home-away-from-home” .

The traffic was awful. Naturally we did not allow enough time for Friday afternoon traffic in a large southern city and arrived at the airport 40 minutes before take-off - not good, but it all worked out. Thank goodness!

So, once again our “nest” is EMPTY.

I miss the laughter immensely, but school starts again on Monday for me. I am looking forward to studying, writing, research - brain growth!

It is almost morning. I must get some sleep now.

Remember, “Y’all come back ya’ hear!”

The post today is an article from our area paper, Morning News. It was written by Jamie Rogers. Thank you for a well written warning for all drivers during this hunting season.

Motorists need to keep both eyes out for deer

FLORENCE — S.C. motorists constantly are reminded to practice defensive driving techniques to avoid collisions with other drivers, but during the fall and winter months, motorists also need to be on the look out for deer.
According to the South Carolina News Service, the number of deaths, injuries and accidents because of deer increased last year in the Palmetto State.
Most deer-related accidents are reported during the fall and winter, which are the primary times for deer migration and mating.
Florence resident Amber Hines said several dents on her Honda Civic are the result of a close encounter with a deer one night last winter.
Hines said she was traveling on Enterprise Drive in Florence just before hitting the deer.
“I saw it on the side of the road, so I said to myself, ‘let me slow down until it passes,’’’ Hines said. “It’s one of those pee-in-your-pants moments because you’re not sure what it’s going to do.”
The deer walked into the roadway and crashed into the driver’s side of her car before darting off into the woods.
“I looked at it, and it looked at me, and he just bumped my car; I’m not sure what part of him hit me,” Hines said. “But it was big; it was huge.”
There were more than 3,000 deer-related car crashes reported last year, with about a thousand of them resulting in injury, according to data released by the S.C. Department of Public Safety.
There also were a reported 17 deaths because of deer and other animal collisions last year.
In Florence County last year, there was 1 death and 21 injuries out of the 61 reported deer-related crashes.
Hines said she considers herself blessed because she was not injured or killed by the deer.
“Yeah, it definitely could have been a lot worse,” she said. “He could have jumped in my car and rocked my world.”
News service officials say there are certain precautions drivers can take to avoid hitting deer or, in Hines’ case, deer hitting them.
Motorists should drive with caution in areas known to have a large deer population, especially during early morning and evening hours.
Drivers also should use their high-beam lights to see the eyes of deer that might be standing on or near roadways. If one is spotted, drivers should sound their horn to scare the animal away.
If hitting a deer is unavoidable, drivers should brake firmly and stay in their lane—swerving can make matters worse.
Motorists should call 911 to report the accident, and then call their auto insurance company immediately. Hines said she did not report the crash because she was afraid the accident would cause her insurance premium to increase.
South Carolina News Service Executive Director Allison Dean Love said that is not necessary true.
“There are a lot of factors that companies look at. Such as the number of miles, you drive to and from work. But the most important factor is the type of car and your driving record,” Love said.

By Jamie Rogers

I am sitting inside at the beach on the South Carolina coast … sad, because it is to hot to go outside. Beach. Hot. Wait. It is the end of September … duh? Autumn. Where is it?

I want cool breezes, leaves changing color, and at night a “nip in the air”. Is that to much to ask? No, it is not to much to ask - it is football season, where is the game weather?

I am b.o.r.e.d. When I am bored, I read. I picked up a magazine … on the cover, guess what it says? Autumn in New Hampshire. Since we have no sight of Autumn, yet - I will share a photo of autumn in New Hampshire and a list of places to visit to see what nature has painted in blazing autumn color in NH … road trip!

• Great North Woods
• Moose Alley
• Pinkham Notch
• Prospect Mountain Road Scenic Byway
• Sugar Hill
• Kancamagus Scenic Byway

Don’t they sound rural?

It is, also, apple picking season in New Hampshire. Visit for listing of where to go around the state and the region to do your own picking.

New Hampshire is full of rural areas - green and quiet, with natural flora and fauna and wildlife to enjoy. It is a perfect time to take a road trip and how livingrural looks in New Hampshire!

[tags]beach, South Carolina, autumn, seasons, New Hampshire, apples, orchards, road trips[/tag]

The last post dealt with statistics about Pamplico, SC based on information from the US Census Bureau. I have traveled away from my rural living space in SC by plane from Myrtle Beach, SC (a fun place!) to Boston, MA. Then by car to Portland, ME.

First, everyone north of the Mason-Dixon Line, speaks “Northern”; twangy, fast and not at all like “Southern.” It’s very hard to understand and you’re constantly asking “them” to repeat. It’s much easier to converse with your own kind … just kidding! I love traveling and the North; no, angry posts or emails, please!

Second, gasoline costs MUCH more in the North; $3.10 approximately for regular; $2.79 at home for regular. Of course, being Americans EXPECTING freedom, price of gasoline does not keep us out of cars. Which brings me to number tres.

Third, drivers here in the North are fast and furious! They can whip in and out of traffic, make turns, stop and brake “on a dime” while “flipping you off” all at the same time. Southern drivers are slower by nature. It’s how we approach life … slow and leisurely. We will hold up a lane of traffic, while motioning someone “y’all come on through” and make your left turn in front of us and the lane of traffic next to us, into the on-coming lane of opposite traffic … because it’s the polite thing to do.

Three differences, two groups of people, several states; yet, deep down rural living and “city” living is a lot alike: caring, hard-working, family oriented men and women trying to make it in this world of ours. I like the differences and cherish the similarities. County Gal hears lobsters calling her … until next time … take care.

SC, MA, ME, airports, rental cars, dialects, North, South, drivers, traffic, leisure, gasoline, family, lobsters, rural, city