Nags Head to Charleston.

Charleston, SC – Signs warning of bears lined the road along Alligator river as we took a gorgeous drive south from North Carolina’s coast this morning. Alas, we didn’t see any, though the area is apparently one of the last remaining strongholds on the eastern seaboard for black bears.

Their hiding may have something to do with wearing a fur coat in this humidity.

Cutting inland toward South Carolina after making our way through Roanoke Island, we threaded through a series of long bridges – including a draw bridge that stood at full mast to let a pair of sailboats through – that stitch the many islands to the mainland.

We stopped in the former Swiss settlement of New Bern, NC, which is most notable for being the birthplace of Pepsi Cola. The unassuming pharmacy in which Caleb Bradham concocted the fizzy drink during the 1890s exists as a Pepsi shop today and even serves fountain pop.

Reaching South Carolina, we hoped to see some of the old plantation houses, but had our hopes dashed every time we saw the word ‘plantation’ on a sign – it seems the term is used for everything down here: golf courses, communities, shopping malls, hotels and gas stations. Nothing like embracing your history.

We also had our first stretch of poor weather tonight as we appr- oached Charles- ton. Severe storms are flexing their muscles along the coast north of here, but we experienced some torrential downpours along the way, including one that caused the temperature to drop 12 degrees in the span of just five minutes.

Making it into the city later in the evening after some 700 kilometres on the road, some locals recommended Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q and we were very pleasantly surprised by the southern chain restaurant’s offerings. The little cheddar corn muffins they brought out are among the most delectable things ever. It also afforded me the opportunity to finally have some pulled pork on this trip after several days of seafood.

Both of those options, my friends, make me very, very, happy.