High Falls County Park July 30, 2015

Another outing after finishing work...this time to High Falls County Park, about 1/2 hour from here on Lake Keowee.  Oconee County really has some beautiful recreational areas.  This 44 acre park has picnic tables, camp sites, miniature golf, ball fields, a boat ramp, and boasts the best sand beach on Lake Keowee.  We packed a picnic lunch and my bathing gear and spent a couple of hours enjoying nature.  I'm not sure why the park is named High Falls since there weren't any falls that we could see.

We selected a table close to where Bob had parked the truck so he didn't have to walk too far.

Looking out toward the boat ramp area

The sandy beach...better than the red clay at some of the other sites

The lake is in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains

Looking at the park from the fishing pier.  The boat ramp is on the left and beach on the right.

Armed with funoodle and water shoes, I'm ready to head down to the beach and cool off in the lake.

 

 

 

Devil's Fork State Park July 22, 2015

Work went by quickly knowing we had a little road trip planned for when I was done.  After lunch, we took a ride to Salem, SC, about 40 miles from here, to see Lake Jocassee Gorges at Devils Fork State Park. The park has picnicking, tent and RV camping, villas, and a small beach, but was not as impressive as other state parks.  Its strong suit is that it is the only public access to the lake.  The "gorges" and waterfalls are accessible only by boats or hiking trails. Lake Jocassee encompasses 7500 acres, and has clear water, making it one of the world's best fresh water scuba diving havens.  The lake is fed by 4 mountain streams and several waterfalls. One fella told Bob that storms can form almost without warning and can be very dangerous when in a boat on the lake.  Although the lake and mountains were beautiful, we were disappointed that we couldn't see more.

 

Part of the lake's swimming area in the park

 

Some paddle-boarders coming in to shore.

They are probably trying to beat the storm that's forming.

Unfortunately, we didn't beat it on the way home.



Boating on Lake Hartwell July 2015

Two weeks ago, cousins Cindy and Wally once again drove from Snellville, GA to visit us and go for a boat ride.  Weather was great, as was the company, and more of their fresh garden produce.  This past Saturday, Ruth and John, two folks we've met at the campground, invited us out in their pontoon to explore some of the lake we hadn't seen yet.  We had another wonderful day on the water with nice folks.

We launched at the Friendship Access boat ramp, thinking there would be less boat traffic than at the campground, and we were right.  Here,  Bob tries another cast while Wally takes a water break.  Cindy was content to sit under the bimini top and enjoy the scenery.  Unfortunately, the bimini top ripped on the way back home...dry rot. Bob will have another project on his To-Do list  making a new one.

When Wally's pole bent, he was sure he had caught a lunker.  But, this is what he had snagged.  Guess Wally will speak softly and carry a big stick.



John & Ruth tie off their pontoon at the point around from the camp dock. It's more convenient than towing it  and launching at the boat ramp.





John is acting as captain and tour guide, telling us about points of interest along he lake, such as some lagoons with beaches and Cemetery Island.   John and Ruth have been at the park for four years.  He is a work camper, and has been the owner's right arm,  taking over when Jamie (owner) is not there.  Ruth recently "retired" from working at the park office in order to concentrate on writing her novel.

We're heading north to a marina and grill in Clemson.

Clemson University, or at least part of it, is behind the trees in the distance.  

The grill is a very popular place, and one of the few lakeside eateries accessible by boat.

We sat at one of the picnic tables until a seating was available on the grill's canopied deck. 

After lunch, we headed south to the Portman Marina.  It is about the same distance from the campground as it is to the Clemson Marina.  There is a restaurant there called the Galley, but it doesn't open until 5 pm.  The bridge in this photo is part of SC24, the road we take into Anderson. We get a beautiful view of the lake each time we head into town.  Just as we got to the marina to gas up, we could see dark storm clouds forming.  John wisely headed back to camp as soon as the gas tanks were filled. We had no sooner docked and got off the boat when the thunderstorm hit. Good timing, John.





Hagood Mill July 15, 2015

In recent newspaper articles, we read about three accidents that occurred at places Bob and I had visited: a sightseer fell to his death on the Twin Falls trail; another had to be rescued when he fell off the trail at the Issaqueena Falls and landed on a ledge; and a young Florida girl  fell to her death from a zip line swing at a camp on Sassafras Mountain.  We realized how lucky we've been, and how we need to be more mindful about our adventures, particularly since both of us are not in the best condition.  So, this week's journey was to the historic Hagood Mill in Pickens.  The mill was built in 1845 and continues to be one of the oldest gristmills still producing grains in South Carolina.  Every 3rd Saturday, there is a music festival and "living history" featuring potters, blacksmiths, and milling.  Recently, petroglyphs were uncovered on the site.  An Interpretive Center was built over these finds, and will soon open to feature the pre-historic carvings.

 

When I entered the office, I could hear music coming from behind a door.  The manager told me amateur musicians gather for a hootenanny every week.  I wouldn't have minded joining them.

These are gristmills retired from various mills around the state, including Hagood.

This is Hagood's  St Bernard dog...Bubba with moonshine in his jug.  Charlie Dog was hoping he could have a sample.

Ye olde well

 We loved the stone fireplace

The timbers inside were awesome, too.

As was the log stairway

The tree trunks used as overhang supports can double as hand holds for the step down and even a hat rack!

                                                The water wheel at the back of the mill.



Bob walked up the second story of the mill to get a view of the wheel from there.

 

A view of the mill and homes from where the Interpretive Center will be.  There is a creek and nature trail further back from here, but we did not venture there today.  

Bull Sluice Falls July 9, 2015

Opted to work the afternoon shift (yep, I was asked to work from home by FF again...part time for a few months) so that Bob and I could take a little road trip to the Bull Sluice Falls along the Chattooga River.  The brochure indicated it was an easy 15 minute walk.  Maybe for mountain goats, but not old coots like us.  I don't think there were any falls to see anyway, just rapids.  But, it was again a very scenic drive, and temperatures were in the 70's instead of the 90's in Townville.

 

This road stop area is on the South Carolina side of the river.

Across the bridge is that Georgia state line. The river looks peaceful here, but the Chattooga has a lot of white water rapids.  It runs through very wild country.  The river was used as a setting for the film Deliverance.

Behind Bob is a stairway that leads to a picnic area and the trail to the "falls". We opted to take the road up.

Thanks to trick photography, it looks as though I'm at the river's edge.  I am really inside a pavilion at the trail head where there is a mural on the wall and a spot on the floor marked where you can stand to achieve this picture.  You might have realized it wasn't the actual river since the trees in the background have fall colors.

                The beginning of the trail looks as though it might be the easy hike the brochure described.               









 But the pavement soon ends and the trail becomes winding with several switchbacks.

 

This was probably an animal trail, not one to the rapids.  However, it was at a warning sign that we were entering a wild area of the Chattooga River.  We thought we could hear "Dueling Banjos" in the distance.  At this point, we decided to head back up the hill.

On our way home, we stopped at a general store in Long Creek.

On the bulletin board inside, was a note "Rattlesnakes wanted". Yes, it is really an adventure being here. 

 

 





The grass is greener...

on Lot K5.  Still not finished, but Bob has done quite a bit of work to get our lot leveled and covered.   Those of you who have been following our blog probably remember the muddy mess we had when it rained.

 



We had to wait for the fill dirt to arrive.  The rains had made it too difficult for the dump trucks to get to where the dirt was stored.  Finally a load arrived.  Bob surely has his work cut out for him.  He had already made a barrier wall with landscape timbers.  He will move the fill to cover almost to the top of the wall in order to level the yard.

Bob had shoveled a lot by hand, but then the park owner, Jamie, offered the use of his front loader and work camper, John, to move the dirt in exchange for Bob welding a piece of camp equipment.

 

Bob finished raking and leveling out the rest of the dirt.  He was able to get only a small pallet of sod.  Most of the garden centers don't carry it this time of year...too hot.  But, Bob got the first of the green stuff  and remembered "green side up."

Someone later told Bob about a place where he might be able to get sod.  There were about 150 pieces left over from a construction job.  The grass was almost dying, so Bob got a good price on it.  It still wasn't enough to complete the job.

But, ever resourceful, Bob improvised by adding more landscape timbers and mulch.  At least we have walkways  to the shed and our vehicles where we won't be stepping in red clay.  He still has to put the stones back in for the fire pit.  We will also probably add some plants and maybe a bird bath.





 



More Company - June 30, 2015

My niece, Jenna, her son (my great nephew) Owen (3), and my brother Bobby who was visiting them over his 4th of July vacation, came from Tucker, GA to see our new home and spend a few hours with us.  We took a short ride on our pontoon. When we docked, Jenna went up to Bobby's van to start the a/c to cool it down.  Somehow, she accidentally locked the keys in the van with the motor running.  Bobby was able to get the rear window opened a bit, but none of us could get our arm in far enough to unlock the latch, even using some of Bob's tools.   We finally gave up and called road service.  Surprisingly, one of the responders is a fellow that camps here, so we ended up having help within minutes.  Once the van was opened, we went back to our site and had lunch on the deck.  Just as we were finishing, a rainstorm came out of nowhere and forced us to go inside the travel trailer.  A few minutes later, we lost power.  About 45 minutes later, the storm passed,  power was restored, and the company set out for home.  Despite the locked van and storm, it was a wonderful visit.

 

                                    Owen told us he was happy because he was on "holiday".  Jenna said he  watches a British children's show, which is how he picked up the phrase.

 

                                                           Owen takes the helm

Bobby's not hitchhiking.  He's telling Owen to steer to the left



 

Owen let Bob take over again.  After all, Owen is on holiday!

Back on the deck, Owen checks out Billy Bass, the singing fish.  Maybe next visit we can try catching some real ones, Owen.