A Few Days In Alabama

The other day, while plotting our next route, we found on the Internet the "largest state-operated campground...in the entire continental United States." Turns out Wind Creek State Park was 250 miles southwest of our current location. Sounded like we should be on the road to southern Alabama.

It was a nice day's trip. The park sits on Lake Martin just south of Alexander City, Alabama on Highway 128. We pulled into the park on Friday afternoon. That could be bad timing in terms of finding a  decent site. As we all know, many folks get to the popular parks Thursday afternoon to pick a good location for their weekend getaway. Oh no, that's probably never a concern at Wind Creek. There really are 640 campsites spread over 320 acres on the shores of a 40,000 acre fishing lake. We have a nice lakeside spot, our Verizon signal is strong and there's a clear shot for the TV satellite dish. With premium site charge ($3.00) offset by the senior discount we are paying $19. Not too bad.

But, speaking of weekenders, the park is having a Fall Festival and many of the residents are participating wholeheartedly.

In addition to a full day of games for the kids, there's a campsite decorating contest, trick or treating and a costume contest. Today we took some time to just look at the handiwork of the people of the campground. Interspersed with the Auburn, LSU and Alabama University paraphenalia are many imaginative Halloween creations.

We've posted a few photos that give a flavor of the happenings. Our choice for winners of the costume contest were the four-legged friends at the top of this post.
Oh yeah, also, while looking through the marina store offering gourmet prepackaged burgers and YooHoo for the ultimate fishing trip, we came across an assortment of Moon Pies.


Well, it wouldn't do but that we indulge.  Diet tomorrow.  After all, our friends Mary and Elaine had just written on their blog about their experience with Moon Pies in the Carolinas.
Why not us?   We chose vanilla and chocolate.  No banana for us, yuk.  They say you must have RC Cola with Moon Pies, but that wasn't available.  So, we went straight home to get some kind of liquid to "compliment" our treats..and dug right in. Well, our votes are that these aren't worth clogging the good ole arteries.  Go for some Hagen Daaz or a Snickers.

South Carolina's Up Country

We took off from our spot at Hartwell Lake the other day to explore northwest South Carolina.  To start our tour we chose a 72-mile scenic loop

through national forests in the Blue Ridge foothills, seeing a few historic sites, mountain vistas, waterfalls and forest trails. Our first stop was the Oconee Station State Historic Site just off S.C. 11. The station was built in 1792 with 20 inch thick stone walls. It was a military post defending white settlers from Indian attacks and later was a part of a trading depot. It's quite a structure. Looks as though it will still be standing in another 300 years. 

In 1805  an Irishman named William Richards built his home, also used as a trading post, just 50 feet away from the station. I'm relaxing here on his front porch for a while. How this man could afford to build this two-story brick home in a place where log cabins were the norm, or how he got the materials into this remote location is a real wonder.  Maybe it did him in since he died only four years after building his home.  At that time, his estate included 30,000 deer skins, 329 bear skins and 82 pds of ginseng.  What a trader!
Moving along on our trek for the day we decided to stop at the Upper Whitewater Falls one of the 30 waterfalls in Oconee County.  The overlook is a spectacular spot in the Nantahala National Forest. The falls were thundering down the mountain about 200 to 300 feet with the forest surrounding it. Our photo doesn't do justice to the sight. But we can only say, WOW!
  Then moving south on S.C. 107 we soaked up some spectacular mountain and lake overlooks. Here at the Wigington Overlook we came across  two hospitable SC ladies who recommended more scenic roadways and local stops. We all enjoyed looking at Lake Jocasee in the distance and the Blue Ridge vistas.

A little further south, along SC28, we followed Burrell's Ford Road toward Chatooga River for a hike into the Sumter National Forest.  It was a warm, sunny day. Great time to get out in the woods for a while. And we noticed on our loop map a place called Spoonauger Falls.  Sounded like something we should see.  After getting redirected by  a friendly hiker and fisherman, we found the trail that split off over a rise to a hidden spot. And voila.... there's Spoonauger Falls.  Not as spectacular as the grandiose one earlier in the day, but very special in its own way.  A secluded and peaceful contrast.  This spot made us  want to stay a while and watch and listen and smell. Just us.  Enjoyed it very much.  We decided to complete this day's exploring on that note. There's always tomorrow.
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RVing in the Family

There we sat....in Indianapolis...all the appointments and business handled for this trip...deciding where exactly our next destination might be. The next thing we knew we were on the road, heading southeast toward South Carolina... with Tim along for the ride. Tim had his eyes on a motorhome that he found on the Internet.  How many times in life can you take part in an offspring embarking on a new aspect of life?  This was great fun.    We were glad to be along for the adventure.
Fast forward about 550 miles...Here are the guys in Anderson, South Carolina, making a thorough examination of the 2002 Tiffin Allegro. Tim had done considerable investigation before the trip so there weren't any big surprises. It was a successful journey. Now there's another member of our family enjoying rving.  I can see lots of fun on future family outings, 4wheeling and camping in some great spots.     

But for now, Jerry and I are pausing right here. Since we haven't explored South Carolina at all we thought we would stick around.  Besides, the Smokies are a perfect spot to take in the Fall colors.  Turns out that just west of Anderson, SC, is Springfield Campground, a beautiful Corps of Engineers park at Lake Hartwell.  With our Golden Age Pass the rate is $11 per day, with 50 amp electric and water, and a gorgeous view of the lake.  The rain moved out after our first day and it's sunny/60s. There are scenic byways calling us.  We'll post as we go.  See you later.

Some Things Should Stay The Same

It's fun having a few friends over to roast hot dogs and make smores.  Right?  It's one of those traditions passed along in most of our families.  All that's needed is someone's backyard, a few logs, the appropriate nourishment and willing participants.  Here's the scene the day after one of those evenings at the Hurley Compound here in Fishers, Indiana.  It was a great time.  We even had an initiation.  One of us in the group (nameless) admitted to "never roasting hot dogs on a fire."  Of course we had to give him some grief for being neglected and pampered at the same time.   How could he not know how to make a stick into a utensil and insert that wonderful delicacy, holding it over the fire until just the right amount of blackness makes it crunchy.  Then, of course, we had to show him how to hold the hot dog with the bun and pull just right to get it... with the utmost sanitary conditions...off the stick.  Next came time to make those gooey golden marshmellows, squeezing them in the graham crackers with the Hersheys melting out the edges.  Smores, oh yeah!

As it turned dark and the younger folks went to bed, young Luke even loaned us his boy scout lantern in case we needed to light the way to the house for more provisions.  There were a few tales and jokes shared that night.

Looking at the remnants the next morning, I was thinking.  Wonder if city folk 100 or more years ago went camping?  Would they want to go out in the woods or build a fire for cooking if they didn't really have to? I searched a little using the 21st century's Internet and came across some proof of the attraction to this type of tradition even way back when.  Looks like they enjoyed "getting away from it all" , too!  Click here to take a look --  1890 Camping.

Some things don't ever change.  Let's hold on to them and keep passing them along....even to our adult friends.