Flat Rock, NC Dec 21, 2016

Most of the "getting ready for Christmas" is done, so we thought we would continue our weekly road trip outings.  An article appeared in the paper about Flat Rock, NC, and it looked like a good place to visit.  The noted poet, Carl Sandburg, moved there from the Midwest in the late 1940's when he was in his 60's.  He bought a 200+ acre farm, and lived in a a beautiful home built in 1830 on the hill top, and his wife started a goat farm.  Descendants of the original goats are still cared for there.  The town also boasts a historic church, St John in the Wilderness.  The area is also noted for its apple orchards, when in season.  It was about a two hour leisure ride through pretty countryside, and worth another visit when apples are ready for picking next year.



 A distant view of the Sandburg grounds and house from the park entrance.

According to the news article, tours of the home and farm are available, but we didn't see any information about them.  We didn't intend to take a tour today, so that was just as well.

 There was no charge to walk the grounds

It's easy to see how a poet could be inspired in an idyllic setting such as this.

Not far from the Sandburg home is St John in the Wilderness.  First built in 1834 as a private chapel for the Baring family, the church was deeded to the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina in 1836.  Flat Rock, nicknamed the Little Charleston of the Mountains, grew as the low country folk came to the mountains to escape the heat and malaria found on the coast, and soon became "the" summer meeting place for prominent families from South Carolina, Georgia and New Orleans.  

 



Many famous persons are laid to rest here including 3 signers of the Declaration of Independence and the general who lead the Bataan death march in World War II.

 Red velvet covers seat cushions and is used as floor runners.  The box pews bear engraved plaques claiming seats for the prominent families  who were the early parishioners. 

Beautiful chimes and wood beamed ceilings adorn the old church.  Although a historic site open to the public, the church still has an active congregation of about 400 members.

Next, a look-see in the Wrinkled Egg Emporium...

a photo with Santa...

and

and a bite of lunch at the Village Bar and Café (where we learned of hangover cures around the world)  made for the end of a delightful visit.   By the way, the Polish cure is to have "a beeg glass of peek-el juice".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early December 2016

Double Springs Fire Department hosted a pancake breakfast with Santa Claus the first weekend in December.  Gifts for the kids lined tables.  It was a very heartwarming time.   Unfortunately, the man responsible for making this event possible passed away recently and no one has as yet picked up the reins to keep this tradition going.

 

Double Springs is in the south west portion of Townville

Breakfast consisted of two pancakes, a sausage patty, oj and choice of coffee, hot cocoa or milk for $2.50.

Each child could pick any toy or his or her choice. None of the kids were rude or greedy.

It will be a shame if this event won't be continued.

 

After breakfast, Bob and I checked out a new indoor farmer's market near Double Springs.  Perhaps it was because it had just opened, or because there were so many other things going on around town, but there weren't many vendors and even fewer lookers.

 

That evening, Bob and I went back into old Anderson to celebrate the 31st anniversary of our meeting each other (which was actually December 4th).  It was a rainy evening, so we didn't walk around much.  We first went to Earle's Place, but we didn't like the bistro like décor and menu, so we went across the street to McGee's Irish Pub and Grill.  It wasn't very crowded, and had a nice warm atmosphere.  To our delight, caroler's came through and sang a few Christmas songs.

 









 



Townin' Around November 2016

After our trip to Georgia, Bob once again had a flare up of "indigestion".  After a trip or two to the ER, it was confirmed that his gall bladder needed to be removed.  It was severely infected which resulted in ecoli bacteria in his bloodstream.  Luckily all was caught in time.  He spent Veterans Day under the knife and the next day in the hospital with heavy doses of antibiotics.  It took a while for him to recuperate, but he is back to his usual busy self. With that and Thanksgiving and then Christmas on the horizon, we did not do a lot of exploring.  But here are some photos of this and that.



  Thanks to Roscoe and his daily walks, we get to enjoy the beauty of the campground.

The drought and the need for water for the power generators have dropped lake levels by 10 feet.

Roscoe doesn't care about the leaves or lake.  He wants to know where the squirrels are!

Well, Roscoe, while you are out for a stroll, they're on our deck...

using the covered bbq grill like a tanning bed!

 

For my birthday,  Bob treated me to a night on the town in Anderson.  By then, Christmas lights and decorations lit up Main Street in the old downtown section.

  We had not been into town at night.  It felt kind of magical, kind of like the feeling of going into New York City....

....like stairways leading down  into subways...

and ice skating at Rockefeller center...if you use your imagination, that is. 

 

Weekend in Georgia Nov 4-6 2016

Friends we had made at Lake Hartwell, Jackie & Carl, had moved near Waynesboro, GA, earlier this year when Carl's job relocated.  We had promised to visit them, so we made reservations to camp for the weekend at Magnolia Springs State Park, about 20 miles south of where they lived.  It was our first outing with Roscoe, and he did really well.  Friday Jackie & Carl came to the park for a brat cookout.  Saturday Carl drove us around to see the nuclear power plant where he works; we stopped at an antique mall in North Augusta; and that evening they treated us to dinner at a sportsmen's lodge called Flat Creek.  Sunday morning, we drove back home.  We were able to take state roads most of the route, so it was pleasant traveling, and less than 200 miles each way.

 

The spring at the park is supposed to flow about 4 million gallons of water a day.  During the Civil War, the land was used as a prison stockade known as Camp Lawton.  The camp was short lived, being constructed, occupied, and abandoned over a period of 3 months in 1864.  At one time, it housed over 10,000 Union soldiers, who had no more than 44 square feet each in which to live.

RV and tent sites are available as well as rental cottages.  Boating is permitted on the lake.

The campsites were quite spacious.

There are numerous picnic sites and group shelters available.  Hard to believe at one time this place had been a used as a prison. 

Two of the new cooling towers at  the Vogtle nuclear plant where Carl is a crane operator.

Carl and Jackie in front of the antique mall

Bob and I on the back deck of the Flat Creek Lodge.

Part of the lake at the lodge.  

The restaurant had a rustic décor.  Carl joked that it served squirrel stew, but the menu  had steak and seafood dishes.

Jackie couldn't resist a bear hug as we left the restaurant! 

 

 

 

 



Say Hello to Roscoe Oct 2016

We have been pooch-less for over a year.  After Charlie Dog died, I really didn't want to get another one.  But, Bob really missed not having his buddy.  I finally realized that I would be less miserable with a dog than Bob would be without one, so I agreed to getting a rescue pet.  After several visits to various shelters, he came across a little dachshund mix  that captured his heart.   The folks at the shelter said the dog was found around Table Top Mountain, but it took 4 days before he was captured.  They have no idea how long he had been there or how he got there.  Was he abandoned?  Did he run away from his owner?  What was his name?  Well, they took him in; de-ticked him; put a chip in him; fixed his cuts, scrapes, and bites; fattened him up; and offered him for adoption.  We struggled with naming him, but settled on "Roscoe", and he seems happy with that name.  Best estimate is that he is 5 years old.  He's house trained and incredibly well behaved.  At times he cowers when we go to pet him, but we are hoping he will learn to trust us.

 

It didn't take Roscoe long to find his favorite spot.

He loves to walk, and it will do Bob a world of good, too.

No, Roscoe, the geese don't want to play with you.

More of Roscoe to come!

 



    

Signs of Fall - NC mountains Oct 20, 2016

In keeping with our plan of a weekly adventure, Bob and I took a ride along US 64 between Franklin and Cashiers, NC, to get a glimpse of the color changes.  The leaves still haven't peaked, but it was quite scenic in the mountains.

 



The walkway at Dry Falls

The path leads under the falls below

Water levels are very low due to the extreme drought conditions around us. 

 







Townville Tragedy Sept 29 2016

While we were on the road, we were pretty much off the grid.  We can't get tv;  radio,  cell phone and internet service is often sporadic.  Late Wednesday afternoon Carol called us to let us know the breaking news...there was a shooting at the Townville Elementary school.  As the story unfolded, we learned that a young teen (Jesse) had killed his father and then went to the school where he shot 2 youngsters and a teacher.  One of the victims, Jacob Hall,  later died.  Rumor mill was that Jesse had complained to his father and others that he was being bullied, but no one intervened.  There have been no newspaper reports to that effect.  Throughout the town there are now signs honoring the emergency responders.  The Townville exit (#11)  off I-85 will be named the Jacob Hall Interchange.  It will be a small solace to his family, but will serve to memorialize the young boy.

 





The New River Gorge Thurs Oct 6 2016

Thursday we drove about 50 miles south to the New River Bridge and Gorge.  The bridge is the 3rd highest in the country and 3rd longest single span vehicular bridge in the world.  It stands 876 feet above the river below.  The 3rd Saturday of October is called Bridge Day.  The road is closed and the bridge becomes the site for parachuting and wing suit dives; bungee cord jumps are no longer permitted.  The New River is misnamed for it is actually one of the oldest rivers in the country and unusual in that it flows south to north.  A very winding road leads into the gorge.  The ranger advised that Bob's extended cab dualie would probably be pushing the envelope on some curves, but we made it down and back up with no problem (whew!).



The gorge as seen from the visitor's center

On the observation deck

Nearing the bottom of the gorge

Going across the river on a bridge at the bottom of the road 

Under the girders at the opposite side of the bridge on the way back up. 

The next day we drove north of Sutton, but it began to rain heavily , so we decided to get back to camp and pack up for the ride home the next day.  We did get quite a bit of rain from Matthew on the way back, that is until we got to the Spartanburg area when the rain stopped like someone shutting off a faucet.  We are in  severe drought conditions in Anderson County, and could use some of Matthew's moisture, but it wasn't meant to be.  Lake Hartwell is down almost 8 feet of its full capacity.  Thankfully, we got home safely after another round trip of over 2500 miles, and Bob is already making plans for a trip out west next spring.





 



Next stop West Virginia Oct 5-7th 2016

We said good-bye to all and left New Jersey Tuesday morning.  We spent the night at another Passport America campground called Shawnee Sleepy Hollow in PA off I-99, and on Wednesday we pulled into an Army Corps of Engineer park named Gerald R Freeman.  It was a nice quiet spot on what was supposed to be a lake, although the section we were on was not much more than a wide creek.  Due to the drought, the water level was low and one of the streams was bone dry.  However, rain from Hurricane Matthew set in on Thursday and by the time we left on Friday, the creek was full.

The view from our campsite



The still water created a beautiful mirror

Bob tried his hand at fly fishing...something he hasn't done for years.

Towards dusk, a flock of turkeys appeared in the meadow across the lake.