Day 2 of trip north Thursday July 21, 2016

We had crossed into the central time zone going from GA to TN, so Thursday we had an extra early start.  Anxious to keep moving, we packed up and once again took scenic highways to our next stop at the Rough River Lake recreation area.  Although we had our GPS and directions from the website, I doubt if we would have ever found our actual campground if we hadn't stopped at the state park lodge and got a map.  Once situated at our site, we drove around a little to get a feel for the area.  The campsites at this Corps park are not as generous as others we've been to, and had very limited lake sites, all of which had already been reserved.

We thought the Kentucky countryside was beautiful with its farms and pastures.

It looked so green everywhere.

This is a view of the Rough River lake after crossing the dam's bridge.  The lake encompasses 5100 acres.  The Army Corps maintains 6 different recreation areas on the lake.  Construction on the dam began in 1955 and was completed in 1961 as part of the Ohio River Basin flood control plan.

 

 Maintenance work is being done on the dam.

We arrived at our site about 3:30 CST, taking 6.5 hours to go about 220 miles.  While nicely maintained, the spaces are a lot smaller than most Corps parks we've been to.

After setting up, we decided to go back to the state park, where there are many recreational activities, and admission to the park is free.  However, the swimming beach there was closed.  Due to construction on the dam, water level on the lake side is extremely high, making it too dangerous to swim at this beach.

Trees that normally would be on land are now several feet under water.

 

The main walkway to the park marina was also submerged.

I took the ramp in the background to get to the marina to ask about boat rentals and fishing licenses, despite what this sign read.

These are just some of the many pontoons moored at the marina.

The carp swimming at the back of the marine shop were enormous, and begging to be fed.  With the "no fishing" restriction, they've gotten to be quite big.   We are pretty sure we will just do our usual drive around sightseeing.  For today, though, it was time to get back to camp.

 











   

 

 

 

Heading North July 20, 2016

Now that we have our new little travel trailer, it's time to hit the road and visit some family.  We plan on seeing my brother Joe, his wife Bev, and their family in Michigan; visit with Bob's sister in Ohio; and then connect with his daughter in Georgia before heading home early August.  Rather than drive straight thru to Michigan, we decided to make a couple of stops along the way.  First night's destination was an Army Corps of Engineers Park called Seven Points Campground on J. Percy Priest Lake outside of Nashville, TN.  It was about a 350 mile trip that we made in around 6.5 hours while managing to avoid the busiest of interstates. We crossed over the Tennessee River and drove on byways carved through granite mountains.



 

 

 

 

 



Seven Points Campground was established in 1968.  It was one of the first Army Corps projects to be designated as a recreation area.  The lake is 42 miles and encompasses approximately 14,2000 surface acres.  There are 59 camp sites at this facility within 19,000 acres of woodlands.

Our site was very spacious, private, and right on the lake.  

There was a small beach and swimming area to the north of us.

But with the rocks and plants, it was a better place for the ducks and fish

Even though it was over 90 degrees, Bob couldn't resist building a campfire, especially since wood had been furnished for one.

 In the early evening, breezes crossing over the lake dropped the temperature...

...and made it comfortable to enjoy a beautiful sunset. 

 

 

 









Day trip into Georgia - Friday July 8 2016

Temperatures have been in high 90's, and today it is supposed to hit 100.  We thought it would be a good time to take a ride to Tugaloo State Park near Martin, GA.  It was about a 45 minute drive.  The park is along the south end of the Tugaloo river that forms an arm of Lake Hartwell. The river was named after a Cherokee town that was once on the banks of the river.  The park has 393 acres, several boat ramps and picnic areas, a swimming area with sandy beach,  tent, yurt, and RV camping sites, and rental cottages.  There were about 105 RV sites, but they were not as spacious as the ones at the Corps of Army Engineer parks.  After driving through the park, we rode to Lavonia, a quaint little town not far from the SC border, and had lunch at a mom and pop diner before heading home.

Entrance fee is $5 per car; not bad for a full day of family fun

A boat ramp closest to the park entrance

 The lake level is down 3 feet.  Folks were swimming outside the cordoned area where the depth would normally be about 6 feet.  

Bob sporting the new cap he bought at the park's general store.  For some unknown reason,  there were no bbq grills in this area.  It was comfortable in the shade with breezes coming off the lake.

I walked to the back of one of the empty cabins...beautiful spot to relax at day's end.

Crepe myrtle trees added a splash of color 

The Cherokee lived here before the  European settlers arrived in the 1780's.  The town grew because of the railroad that ran through it. Today there are about 3000 residents.

 The historic depot behind the city sign.  It is now a welcome center.

Old down town Lavonia away from the McDonalds, Hardees, and Waffle Houses...

and where one can still take time to enjoy the flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

Father's Day 2016

Bob's daughter Debbie and husband Will, who live in Lafayette, GA, about 4 hours from here,  asked us to select a place where we could meet for lunch that was half way for each of us.  Blue Ridge seemed like a good midway point, and Joe's BBQ there had the #1 Tripadvisor food rating, so that's where we decided to go.  It was a scenic 2.5 hour drive along US 76 known as the Southern Highlands Trail.  We had a tasty lunch and then spent another couple of hours talking under the shade of a huge magnolia tree in the town commons before they headed west and we east on our ways home.

 A scenic overlook along the way

The Appalachian Trail is somewhere in those mountains

Blue Ridge is the home depot for the Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad

We thought this "no pedestrian" sign was in a strange place considering it was at the crosswalk!

Debbie and Will arrive.  They had decided it was a perfect day for a bike ride.

Bob, Debbie & Will

On the way back, we stopped at a produce/nursery stand in Hiawassee.  To our delight, we found jars of peach salsa and pickled watermelon rind, two items Bob had been looking for, and fresh patty pan squash...a rare find indeed.

 

ChauRam Park Part Deux - June 17 2016

A little over a year ago, we traveled to an Oconee County Park, ChauRam...the second of the waterfall trips we took as newbie South Carolinians.  Like McArthur, we vowed to return, and that we did today.  When we stopped at the guard gate to pay the entrance fee, the attendant noticed the USMC Veteran license plate on the front of Bob's truck.  He asked Bob if he was a veteran, and when Bob said yes, he thanked Bob for his service and waived the fee and waved him through.  It was very touching for him to offer thanks to a vet, and although the fee is only $2, the free entrance was appreciated, too.   I had brought a raft with the thought of floating in the beach area of the river, but an earlier phone conversation with our niece Jenna (who reminded me about flesh/brain eating bacteria in some waters) dissuaded me.  Although the temps here have been in the mid 90's for several days, it was at least 10+ degrees cooler in the wooded picnic areas near the river, especially with the refreshing breezes there.

Another couple visiting the park offered to take this photo of Bob and me

The river as seen from one of the picnic areas

Close up of the rock formations downstream

 

The "beach" area is on the other side of the suspension bridge

 Bob tried casting in several different spots, but the fish weren't going for his line.

So, we settled for fried chicken we had picked up from the grocery store on our way in.  Bob said it wouldn't take much arm twisting for us to come back yet again.  Amen to that!

 

 



 





Twin Lakes Trip -Thursday June 9 2016

Today's adventure was a trip to the SC Botanical Gardens on Clemson University's campus.  The 295 acre garden was once the university's "dump".  In 1958, when plans were being made to build Clemson's Memorial Stadium, it came to light that several species of camellias growing on the land where the stadium was to be built would be wiped out.  The dump was cleaned up; an irrigation pond created, and the camellias were relocated.  The garden expanded from that point on.  In 1992, it was designated as South Carolina's state botanical garden.  In addition to the various plants, trees, and shrubs, the Hunt Cabin, Hanover House, and John C. Calhoun's homestead,  Fox Hill are on the grounds.  Calhoun's daughter, Anna Maria, inherited the Fox Hill property.  She married Thomas Clemson and bequeathed her estate to her husband. He passed away in 1888.  His will stated that the land was to be used to build a college for agricultural science and mechanical arts, and that the Fox Hill home would always be open to the public.  In 1893, the Clemson school opened.  Tiger history enfolded from there.   We walked only a small portion of the gardens, and hope to return another time to view more.

 A large hydrangea bush behind Bob

Many of the picnic tables and arboretums are made of stone.

Part of the conifer garden

 Behind me are a display of various hosta plants.

And here are day lilies

The geology museum located in the gardens will be yet another reason for a return visit.

 

Back at the camp, Bob decided to try his hand at fishing.

 

I would love to say this was a catch, but in fact it was bait he used....

 ...and the fish weren't interested.

Nearing sunset and the end of our getaway.