It is hard to see and perspective is lost and details we should know are murky. We know but what we know intellectually cannot penetrate our circumstances.
"Teach the World to Sing" /
I think this sign pre-dates that already old Coke ad line on the likely refurbished sign on the Side Street Restaurant on Raleigh’s East side. Kellen and I were on a search for murals on Tuesday night and found several - this was the most evocative to me of the several we found. The restaurant was moderately busy at 9 on a Tuesday - looks like one to try someday.
High Strung (2 Photos) /
This beautiful bridge, Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge, is in Charleston, SC and spans the 1548 feet of the Cooper River carrying traffic on Rt 17. The week we were here ended (we were gone by then) with the “Run the Bridge,” a USA Track & Field 10,000 meter Cooper River Bridge Run. This event attracts up to 50,000 people. I took the photo from the shuttle to Fort Sumter. Also nearby is a fishing pier with with this interesting pattern above you between bridge spans.
Decay (2 photos) /
This is the passenger and freight station that served the farming community of Saltier, SC. No trains stop here any longer. The town has a very few buildings and most of them seemed unoccupied. The highway bypasses the town by a few hundred feet but there isn’t even a sign for Saltier at the lone road off the highway. A non-entity today. The old store in photo two was where I was standing when I shot the station photo. Both were shot with the Fuji X-T3 & processed in Luminar 3 and the station photo has had four signs and a fire hydrant removed.
The ONLY Tea Plantation in North America (2 photos) /
Classic American Teas is located a few miles from Charleston, SC. As America’s only tea producer this is your single chance to see both tea growing and the processing of the leaves into the finished product. They offer trolly tours of the facility and fields and in the large gift shop you can taste all the hot and cold tea you wish. An interesting place to spend a couple of hours and learn something too.
Eloquence /
Eloquence is properly used in relationship to speech when one is especially adapt at using words and expression to create an articulate and persuasive talk or to speak in a poetic manner or even to write well in an effective and inspiring fashion. Yet with what eloquence the mute flower speaks of spring, of beauty and joy.
“For ever since the world was created …. through everything God made, we can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So we have no excuse for not knowing God.” Romans 1:20 NLT
Rainbow Row /
This famous section of housing in Charleston, SC is hard to photograph. The narrow street has on-street parking on both sides, is tree lined and often packed with tourists walking along the battery. I was fortunate to get a shot of the sidewalk from this angle with no people. If you are interested the blue one in the foreground is for sale for under 9 million. Snap it up quick!
Charleston, SC
So You Want To Be A Rock n' Roll Star /
At least this Little Green Heron has the wild eyes and over the top hair down. Watched him be still as a rock for 15 minutes and then this!. Here is the song, appropriately by the Byrds, if you don’t remember: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WXy-h5scjk
Huntington Beach State Park, SC
Picnic Anyone? /
I’m sure there will be plenty of sweet mint tea. This spot seemed idyllic on the day we visited. Nice sunny day, rain the day before cleared the pollen and the temperature was about 75 with a light breeze off the ocean. You just wanted to stay.
Brookgreen Gardens, SC
Four Ducks /
Sunset over the fresh water pond at Huntington Beach State Park in SC. I really like this place, nice campground, nice beach, alligators and birds in abundance, trails and close to ice cream. Perfect. And exceptional staff!
Charles Pinckney NHS (Park # 222) /
This is a nice setting if you don’t look too closely. The house is old, 1828, but not original nor one Charles lived in, the land is nicely done but along a busy road and in the midst of lots of housing, the path is short and only mildly interesting, so a bit of a disappointment Charles Pinckney was a very accomplished man - with some of the same issues that his time and place made too normal, but still a hard worker, good thinker and added a lot to the US Constitution. But his home in Charleston with all of his papers burned and his plantations -save this remnant are gone. Nice enthused young man at the VC.
This completes SC except for the Reconstruction Era NHS in Beaufort which is still being developed and not open yet.
Under Live Oaks /
A scattering of Bluebells with brilliant colors thrive under the mossy live oaks at the Brookgreen Gardens south of Myrtle Beech, SC. This property is a stunning walk in the colors and scents of spring.
Forty-Five (and bonus photo) /
This is the photo that was supposed to run last Sunday at noon. The reason we were doing two, one at the regular time of 6am, then one later was because I wanted to share the church opening in Columbia, SC, Kinetic. After church I could not get online, thought I would do my hot spot but we were stopping for coffee and that would work. Except it didn’t. We hit Sumter SC and the McDonalds was drive-in only being remodeled. So we drove across the state on a two lane road with no options until Andrews SC, McD’s in a pouring rain. I went in for coffee and they just reopened and no WIFi yet. Onward to Huntington Beach SC, neither phone service nor WIFI at campground. I gave up. So here is last Sunday’s all too late post.
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.” Luke 12:31 NLT
I know not worth the wait. Sorry. I was excited to see Waypoint working in SC, our first in that state.
BONUS: What passes for a convenience store in a very, very small town. No WIFI here either! Note the “Open” sign.
Dune Forest /
This is a neat trail inland a bit across older dunes that are now tree covered. This made a great place to hike and super quiet with your footfalls on the solf sandy trail and the surf muted by the dense woodlands. This trail also led to a small sign that marked the spot where the Pilgrims found a spring and replenished water supplies before mooring at what we now know as Plymouth Rock.
Cape Cod National Seashore
Icon /
We are approaching Fort Sumter in the harbor at Charleston, SC. This fort, occupied by the Federal forces was the touchpoint that began the live fire portion of the Civil War in April of 1861. The original fort, not quite finished when the war began, was three times this height. The whole fort was largely brick, tens of thousands of bricks, and all erected on a man-made island.
Fort Sumter National Historic Park
Forecast: Light Pedals Followed by Clearing /
We were given tickets to the Brookgreen Gardens that are located across the street from the state park where we were staying. It was designed originally to showcase a sculpture collection. We walked through lots of beautiful flowers even on April 1st and the Live Oak trees were amazing. Delightful place.
The Hunt /
Tri-Colored Heron looking for dinner at Huntington Beach State Park in South Carolina.
I met a very nice lady who really knew her birds at the park near the alligators. She shared some of what she saw on the walk. She was also a photographer with a telephoto Canon lens. I imagine her images are very engaging. Anyway, how helpful to meet people willing to share their knowledge and take time to share with a stranger. I hope she reads this so I can let her know how much I appreciated her guidance. The Little Green Heron later this week or early next was very neat. And we saw about 8 alligators.
Never Know Who You Will Meet at the Beach /
Some person with imagination and creativity spent time on several of these figures. I liked this one the best.
Ninety-Six NHS (Park Number 221) /
The oddly named Ninety Six (HS Sports Teams - Fighting Actuaries:) was thought to be 96 miles from the Cherokee trading village that was the early reason for the towns existence. There were two Revolutionary War battles here, one in 1775 and one in 1781. After the second the town was burned to the ground by the retreating British who, though they prevailed in the battle, had to leave the area before they were attacked again. The park is well presented with very clear signs and lots of visual indicators to show you were things were 250 years ago. The grounds were well maintained. Nice experience here.
This photo shows the faint mounds of what were six foot high earthen walls that the patriots build to attack the fort moving ever closer. However with word that a strong force of British relief troops were coming a premature attack failed and General Greene fell back. The fort is just beyond that log tower. More on that later.
Sorry WIFI very poor /
So, no new posts, cannot get the photo to post.
Maybe tomorrow