Charleston, SC

A day at the beach

It's a good thing we changed our plans to visit New Orleans. We had reservations at Bayou Segnette State Park, just a ferry ride across the Mississippi River to NOLA. The state of Louisiana closed the park, canceling reservations making it available to isolate Corona virus patients if needed.

We pulled into Oak Plantation RV Park in Charleston, SC. When we called 10 days ago, they only had a couple of open sites. As we were checking in, the desk clerks kept answering the phones for cancellations.  On Monday, the park was half full but by Friday only 10% had RVs.  Walking around the RV park to get in our 10,000 steps, we would pass other people but everyone is keeping their distance but still friendly with a wave. We are fortunate to be in a place that we can get outside and not feel cooped up while keeping our distance. 

Snowbirds from Canada are returning early. Most of them carry additional medical coverage while they are out of Canada and most insurance companies have given them until March 23 to be back in Canada due to the Corona virus, at which time the coverage will expire. There is some leeway if they have a valid reason for not making it back. But let’s face it, who would want to battle an insurance after the fact?

We were scheduled to camp host at Table Rock State Park in northwest South Carolina starting April 1 but have decided to cancel and to avoid interacting closely with people. We found a campground near Greenville to use as a base to hike and cycle in the state parks nearby for the next month.

Foley Beach was a treat on the edge of Charleston. The town had a big St Patrick's Day street party over the weekend before the bars and restaurants closed.

The beaches weren't very busy but the bars had lots of young people enjoying spring break. The drive up windows at chain restaurants have long lines. 

It was good to spend time with Mike's daughter and her family in Lexington, South Carolina. She has been going through treatments for metastatic breast cancer which has been tough on all of them. She looks great even though she just went through a rough patch.

It was fun seeing his grandchildren. We watched Mia play soccer, Peyton play his cello, TJ was sworn into the Navy and Bryceson as he is buying his first home. Where did they time go?

We found many tourist sites we had planned to visit closed. Many guided bike tours go through this area. We saddled up and loved the ride from Sullivan Island to Isle of Palms and Fort Moultrie 19 miles from our campground on Johns Island near Charleston. 

A barrier island and closest beach to Charleston with a kick your shoes off feel with golf carts to get to and from the beach.

Our 20 mile ride under the trees and along the Atlantic Beaches.

The British Royal Navy attacked Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island it on June 28, 1776 during the Revolution. Standing on the Fort overlooking Charleston, we can imagine the battle.

Cannon Row at Fort Moultrie is home to eight pieces of heavy artillery original to Charleston Harbor. Each piece has a story to tell.

So many colonial type of homes to ride by.

The bridge from Charleston to Sullivan Island has a bike/walking lane overlooking the bay that the  cycle tours ride across.  

Carnival's Sunshine is in dock for 14 days with the crew that will be quarantined for 14 days. The passengers were all released.

An old oak with Spanish Moss blowing in the breeze.

We should have plenty of hiking and cycling while in Greenville, South Carolina while we figure out what is next. Everyone stay healthy out there and 6 feet away.

Lexington,SC and Willimington, NC

We made it to Lexington, SC to visit with Mike's grandkids and get some downtime from moving so frequently. Of course, they are growing up.

The area where we were staying didn't have good walking or bike riding paths or roads. Also, the heat and humidity will make a person want to sit in front of the air conditioner. The first day we drove over to Lake Murray and walked along the dam. The next, we went to the local gym and asked to pay for a day pass. The fellow at the desk gave us a day pass. It was good to get some exercise.  

The strawberries at the little market were in season and tasty.

We had a good time visiting with the kids and got to watch Mia play soccer. It was a 1pm game and very hot and humid. I wasn't sure how those girls kept going.

Bryceson is 17 and taller than Mike. TJ managed to avoid my picture taking.

 Our last morning, we headed to Columbia's zoo and botanical garden. We seemed to have beat the rush. As we were leaving the crowds were arriving.

Feeding the Rainbow Lorys

Peyton was enthralled with the birds.

Mia had to hit the Climbing wall before we left.

 We were fortunate on the day we left that the predicted storm was delayed. There were mostly tailwinds but fortunately for me, the side winds came when Mike was driving.

We stayed on Pleasure Island at Carolina Beach State Park and rode our bikes around the island for 20 miles of flat riding with plenty of oxygen. Even the ride south into some heavy winds was doable. The 10 returning was at 16mph coasting with the wind to our backs.

The beach homes were painted in bright and pastel colors.

The southern portion of the island is Fort Fisher that has many places to stop and learn about the Civil War.

The boardwalk on Carolina Beach.

The evening on Cape Fear River along side Carolina Beach State Park.

The maritime underground railroad was quite active here helping the 22 Wilmington slaves escape to the north. They hid along Orange Street on the banks of Cape Fear at night waiting for the Union ship to take them past Confederate Fort Caswell for a thirty mile escape. The story was lost until a former slave's diary was found in 2002.

 There are stories of the ice from Vermont being brought south by boat before refrigeration. It was stored in building with sawdust and 16 inch block walls. The stories go on and on as we walked the boardwalk along Cape Fear River.

Cobblestones from the Revolutionary time had to be used for building because there is no bedrock only sand.

Since our time was limited in the historical downtown, we decided to take a tour. Our guide told us stories as we rode around the streets.

Wilmington's boardwalk

 Driving over the intercoastal waterway. Our campground in the background.

Is this really our life?



Blue Ridge Mountain Waterfalls

Oconee State Park

We drove a short 60 miles to this great state park in South Carolina. It has been fun spending time at a place and driving a shorter distance to the next. It has been raining on us a bit every day for a while but pretty heavy the past two days. We still get out in our rain gear.

The lake is peaceful now in the shoulder season but has to be crazy with families in the swimming areas and boats that can be rented in the summer are many cabins for rent and over 140 campsites. Right now, there are less than 20 sites in use.

I love the fog over the lake in the morning. South Carolina has quite a number of state parks in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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3. 1930s CCC flag. Of course, they were involved in building this park too.

The park has several places with internet. Saturdays in the summer, they have square dancing lessons.

Old water wheel

Many miles of hiking trails from the campground.

 The 1,617 foot long Stumphouse Tunnel is an oddity. Started in 1852 to connect the railways from Charleston to Knoxville and on to Cincinnati, the Civil War—and lack of funds—brought construction to a halt. There were various efforts by the Blue Ridge Railroad to revive the tunnel, none of them came to pass and it stands today as a monument to the efforts of pre-Civil War engineering

In 1951, Clemson University bought the tunnel and used it to cure the South's first blue cheese with its constant temp of 50 degrees and humidity of 85%.

Many tunnels we have been in have been damp but this one was really wet.

Around the corner from the tunnel and over the bridge was a trail to the falls.

Issaqueena Falls

Legend has it that the falls is named for an Indian maiden, Issaqueena, who warning the white settlers of an Indian attack, was then chased by Indians and she appeared to jump over the falls. By actually hiding behind the falls (or some legend-tellers say she hid behind a stump, hence Stumphouse Tunnel), she tricked her pursuers and survived.



Oconee Station

Originally a military compound and later a trading post,



Mountain Laurel lining the trails

Station Cove Falls

 A 50-foot high ledge at the end of a .7 mile trail in Oconee Station State Park near Walhalla, SC. It's an easy and peaceful 20-minute hike on a wide, rolling trail after walking along the pond.



Walhalla, SC

 After our morning of sightseeing, we found a place that served home cooking. An older lady sitting next to us made some suggestions as to what to order. Once our meals came, the waitress asked if we needed vinegar or butter for my turnip greens and cornbread. I said that I was fine. The lady next to us said "She's not a Southerner". I then told the waitress I would take some vinegar and butter after all. The lady gave me her Pepper Sauce and told me to try it. I felt obligated to try it and liked it. This little lady eating alone made our day. She was a hoot as she told us her stories.

Hidden Falls on the Foothills Trail



There are so many waterfalls in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We set out to see more and this time it wasn't raining. But all that rain made for some nice falls even if it makes me sweat something fierce.

The forest was such a pretty color of green.

We made it.

 This trip continues to provide so many varied experiences with interesting people. No wonder we need a nap at times.