Colearn Fieldtrip - Darlington Raceway

I had always wanted to see the Darlington Raceway so I was excited when a fieldtrip was scheduled for there. It was pretty cool, but underwhelming. It probably wasn't worth the drive just for the fieldtrip. It would be cool to see on the way to somewhere else. I'd also love to go back and watch a race. Even so, it was interesting and I didn't regret going.

While Darlington isn't mentioned in the Cars animated movies, it does seem to inspire them. Days of Thunder with Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise was filmed there.

It used to be a major track and then wasn't used as much. It's making a bit of a resurgence.

Alee Bailey, Jalen Batchelor, Jay Brusin

Gideon Bailey, Declan Evert, Maggie Nymeyer, Riley Evert, Navey Nymeyer, Oakley Nymeyer, Charlie Evert, Capri Nymeyer

Alee and Gideon with the Fabulous Hornet

A look inside at the framework.

Creepy baby story

Racers I knew the name of

They were doing some work on the track so we couldn't even get a look at it, which was disappointing.

Gideon, Oakley, Navey, Declan, Alee, Riley, Avery, Maggie, Capri, Charley, Jalen

As close as we could get to the stands.

And of course, we were close by, so we had to make a trip to Buc-ee's.

I'm glad we got to go, but unless we go to a race, I won't go back.

Snow Day 2026!

The night of Saturday, January 31 we had an unusual South Carolina snowfall. Church was cancelled for the following day.

We got almost two inches of snow.

We decided to wake up the kids to share in the excitement. 

They were thrilled.

Snowball Fight!!!

Our kids have not seen a lot of icicles, so this was exciting.

This kids did the snow faceplant challenge.

Snow Queen

and King

and Man

Front Yard

Back Yard

Ice Cigar

Baylie and David made snowangels, but the video was too long to upload. You can view it here.

Patriot's Point Field Trip 2026

On January 30, Jalen and I joined a Colearn trip to Patriot's Point in Charleston. It's a place we had wanted to visit for a long time and it did not dissapoint.

Patriot's Point is home to the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, the tenth aircraft carrier to serve in the United States Navy. It was named in honor of the ship that was lost at the Battle of Midway.

It's huge!!

It is also home to the USS Laffey, the most decorated World War II era Destroyer still in existence. The Laffey provided support to the D-Day invasion at Normandy at the Utah Beach landing site. 

It's really affordable and one ticket gets you into all the sights. The Yorktown is overwhelmingly big. This giant mural is on the initial deck.

Ship's Bell

I don't remember the stories or types of all the aircrafts. This was one we could actually get inside.

The wings fold up so it's easier to fit them on a flight deck.

The flight deck was enormous and fit several different airplanes.

I was fascinated by all the insignias.

Captain's chair with a view of the Charleston Bridge.

Inside the ship. (Honestly, I don't know which pictures are inside which ship.)

Top Gun flight instruction.

Surgery

Mess Hall

1938 Packard

Missile

There was also a Vietnam Experience

MK1 River Patrol Boat

Helicopters

Inside the copters

Mess hall

Look out tower

The entire experience was very cool and definitely worth the drive to Chalreston.