Barbie Perkins-Cooper, Author

Tag: mild climate

  • Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge Is Still Closed…


    DSC_0033

    Dearest Readers:

    How are you enjoying these incredible winter storms? I find it interesting that the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia is having temperatures in the high 60’s while the USA is freezing in many locations, including the mild climate of Charleston, SC. Early Wednesday morning at 4:00am, our signature, landmark bridge, Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge was closed due to the inclement weather — ice on the bridge. Today, it is Thursday, my Weight Watchers meeting day and the bridge is still closed; in fact, according to Governor Nikki Haley, it is the only bridge in South Carolina that is still closed.

    What is the problem? Why can’t this bridge be opened. SIMPLE! The bridge has two diamond-shaped twin towers with approximately 128 cable stays. On the cables ice is falling onto the bridge. Would you want your car to be at risk due to unguided missiles falling from the cables? I think not. Two weeks ago we experienced this ice situation. Engineers and the SCDOT decided to open the bridge because if and when the cable stays thaw out, the ice will fall away from the roadbed. NOT!

    After the bridge opened, the ice thawed, dropping onto several cars. Some of the windshields exploded. One woman reportedly suffered an eye injury when shattered glass fell into her eye. Thank God no one was killed! I can only imagine the lawsuits that will occur.

    And so, we the residents of Charleston, SC await to hear the bridge has opened again. Many people are furious about the situation. Well, I’ve said it for years, and I will continue to say it here and in public — the antiquated city of Charleston, SC needs to build more bridges. We are having an amazing growth spell in Charleston now, but with growth we need more roads and that just isn’t happening.

    According to news alerts I receive, the bridge is still closed at this moment, due to the ice falling from the cable stays.

    I have lived in Charleston for many, many years. I haven’t seen many new roads built, and I doubt they ever will, but we definitely need more bridges. The only way out of Mt. Pleasant into Charleston is thru the I-526 highways, or if you take the back roads, you can travel on Highway 41. Just make certain you have plenty of gas because it is a long way to travel, just to get to your destination. Or, if you are in a hurry — just face the reality of the situation…You are in Charleston, SC — where things move at a slower pace. Yes, I love the city and the beauty, but we really do need to modernize and build more roads.

    Somehow I doubt it will happen. People here are still fighting over the cruise ships in the harbor. So, fellow residents if you are looking for a way to cross the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge — just stay home, or take the Charleston Water Taxi, http://www.charlestonwatertaxi.com/

    You will not be disappointed. The view from the water taxi is spectacular!

  • Welcome to The Beautiful City of Charleston


    Dearest Readers:

    As stated in the headline, The City of Charleston, SC is crippled — all due to a freak ice/snow storm. The signature bridge of this beautiful city, The Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge, closed last night at 8pm. At this moment, the bridge is still closed. A few curious pedestrians actually chose today to walk the bridge, only to fall down. A few minutes later, the news media announced the Arthur Ravenel Bridge was closed to pedestrians and bicyclists too. Duh. Why wasn’t that announced last night??? I suppose they forgot to remember that in the South, we do things our way! I awoke early at 7am knowing that everything within my neighborhood will be crippled!

    Those of you reading this accustomed to snow are probably laughing. You must understand, people in the South do things a bit slower. It takes quite a bit of time just to get the roads cleared. Normally they are cleared after the weather melts the snow. It would not surprise me if some foolish person decided to head up the bridge and ski down it. Only in Charleston! People here do not exactly think at times. Yes, we are a bit spoiled because our beautiful city is marketed as a ‘mild climate.’ This winter has been the exception! We’ve had many bitterly cold days where I’ve actually worn my long fur coat. Last week, I prayed for snow, so I could make a snow angel. Well, there isn’t enough snow to make a snow angel, so I’m still disappointed. At least, when I walk outside, I feel the crunch, crunch, crunch of the snow/ice under my boots. I struggled to open the gate to outside, but it is frozen shut, so I suppose I will just stay warm and toasty inside my home. We haven’t lost our power yet. The trees are actually beautiful with ice on the branches, and icicles dripping a slow drip.

    My silly four-legged boys are barking outside. They insist on going outside, over and over again. I suppose they are enjoying this refreshing mild climate and the snow crunching under their feet. They really are funny outside — our little snow bunnies! When outside, they rush to sniff their areas, only to kick their feet and run around. They frolic from one side of the back yard, to the other side, sometimes kicking their rear legs and grunting! I suppose they are claiming new territory now. Then, we go inside again, only for Prince Midnight Shadow, our giant, to demand to go outside again. He is enjoying running around like an overgrown bunny rabbit, barking, and playing. I don’t think he is chasing squirrels today! Silly guy. I laugh while watching them. They are so silly today!

    When I got up this morning, the temps continued to decrease as the ice fell. I heard the ice pounding onto my garden window. Quickly, I went outside to see if it was really ice, or snow. The droplets of ice that filled my head reassured me this was most definitely ice. My mimosa tree was covered in ice. How I pray that all of my plants will survive this bitter cold. I confess, I did not prepare them. Walking back inside, I reach for a fresh warm cup of coffee, flopped down in the rocking chair and listen to the morning weather reports only to notice my back yard was now semi-blanketed with a soft thin layer of spotted snow. I am disappointed. I wanted enough snow to make a snow angel!

    What an interesting day this is! Only in Charleston, a city with mild climates???!!!???