The great getaway from Bluffton: The Big ‘A,’ Krispy Kreme and The Varsity hot dog

I recently took a three-day jaunt to Atlanta with three charming traveling companions. We tootled off to the big “A” for various reasons and I must admit we did a lot of shopping ... strange as it may seem.

Everything under the sun was discussed during our four-or-so-hour journey. The chitchat made the trip much less tedious — Interstate 16 can be a tad dreary, long and boring — but if your shipmates are top-notch fun ... no problem.

In Macon we stopped briefly for lunch at a fast food emporium I won’t name. It was not good but we muddled through. For dessert a quick pause was in order at Krispy Kreme for freshly made doughnuts, which smelled and tasted divine. On a road trip, waist lines are ignored. Then it was back on the road headed to our final destination.

We arrived at our hotel and unloaded our bags, then it was off to shopping. Laura, our chauffeur, Kitty, and Tara were real troupers all off in different directions to bag their “game,” which they did splendidly.

Guess what everyone everywhere was talking about ... .Meghan and Harry. I met several people from England and all were beside themselves in astonishment and shock. I feel sorry for the queen, who has endured more than most could ever imagine and has done so with a really stiff upper lip. “God save the queen” has new meaning.

The famous Varsity drive-in was on tap for our departure lunch. If you go to Atlanta, this is a must visit. Chili dogs are the best sellers, slathered with it and topped off with chopped onions.

After downing those, most people would be up all night, but not the hard core patrons who grew up on them. You can eat inside or get the real treat of being waited on by the car hops, who are fabulous.

After a stop at the gift counter to buy a souvenir to take home, we were off to Bluffton — weary but happy that we really had fun and really shopped till we dropped.

Protect the birds

Do you know what “ghost worms” are?

I didn’t until I recently read an article about them and migrating shorebirds. When you go to the beach, you have noticed I’m sure the adorable little birds running hither and thither along the shore. They look as though they are pecking nothing, but guess what they are doing. They are eating translucent marine worms called ghost worms. They are very small and are the main food for migrating birds and give migrating species the energy they need to fly great distances.

Now all may change along the birds’ Eastern Flyway because of beach renourishment, which has a very harmful effect on the tiny worms in the sand. This threatens the survival of protected species like red knots and plovers that migrate great distances and rely on this food source. Beach renourishment is on the rise because of development and the rising sea along the East Coast.

The more widespread beach nourishment becomes, the more birds and other creatures that rely on the beach for food will be affected.

Permit approvals for renourishment must take all of this into consideration to lessen damage to these creatures, and avoid it altogether in areas that are protected and less developed.

Now I know why the adorable birds are scooting around along the edge of the water and I would hate for them to disappear.

’Loved by all’

Jeffrey Robinowich loved and was loved by all of Bluffton. Jeffrey was a kind soul who had a huge heart for his fellow man. Jeffrey was a wonderful human being and we will all miss him.

This story was originally published January 21, 2020 at 4:35 PM.