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The Clearing This Morning Poinsett State Park, Wedgefield, South Carolina
As I write this I am sitting at a picnic table, sipping my hot coffee, and looking out over a clearing. I think the clearing is supposed to be a playing field for sports and activities. The camp host told us that, over the weekend, the 55 campsites were almost all occupied and there were kids playing everywhere. This morning, though, we are one of 3 occupied campsites. There are no other sounds of human life.
Lots of chatter, though. The birds are responding to the rising sun talking about their plans and, perhaps, sharing their dreams. I suppose one of the pleasures of being a 'birder' would be that you can learn to identify their songs and chirps. That might be fun.
The girls are, for a big change, running free this morning. There are so few campers here that we feel confident we can let them go. As long as we clean up after them, I don't think anyone will complain, nor will they cause any harm. First time they've had this kind of freedom since we started the trip and they love it. They even chase each other around
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Tall Pines Above Us the clearing.
Last night was a bit different. A thunderstorm rolled through, starting around 7:30 and drenched everything. Fleur doesn't like the rain and won't go outside, but Smooch has a real problem with thunder. She pants and shakes to the point you wonder if she will have a heart attack! Hold and cuddle her as best you can, and it makes little difference. Possibly a 'thundershirt' might help her, but I kind of doubt it. In times past, I've known corgis who have to go hide behind the toilet for the duration of the storm, but there just isn't enough room here on the trailer for poor Smooch. So for a couple of hours, Smoochie just curled up around my head, trembled and shook, and drooled all over my pillow.
The storm was a welcome change for us, though. Really cooled things off. Joan even has a sweatshirt and long pants on this morning as she rummages through the campground for photo opportunities. This is the first morning since we left New Mexico that we've actually talked about putting additional clothing on! Hopefully the day will stay on the cooler side.
It just might. We traveled
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Joan, A Little Cranky After the Drive inland a bit yesterday. We went about 100 miles towards, but not into, Columbia, the capital of South Carolina. Elevation has increased to something like 100 feet (instead of 10). South Carolinians refer to the coastal area, including Charleston, as the 'low country' and describe it as having its own distinctive culture. Presumably we will encounter a slightly different environment 'up here' in the 'high' country.
The EPA calls this region the Southeastern Plains. It is related more to the Piedmont than it is to the coastal plain. You can tell that not only from the elevation change, but also in the vegetation. The trees seem taller and the palmettos and palms are gone. There are definitely pine trees, but the variety of hardwoods is greater. The ground vegetation isn't nearly as dense - you don't need a machete to cut through it. There is still Spanish Moss on the trees, but not as much as down south.
The trip yesterday was short, pleasant, and uneventful. We took interstates to get out of Charleston, and then switched to a green-dot route, SC 6 to travel northwest, paralleling the Wateree River and its two lakes, Moultrie and Marion. Highway
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Surrounding Trees was lined with trees, so you didn't get too many views of the lakes. But it was an interesting drive through rural South Carolina.
Had a very good lunch at Clark's restaurant in Santee. Food was terrific - mashed potatoes and gravy were among the best I've eaten and the southern fried chicken was succulent on the inside, while the outside was crispy and not overspiced. Joan ate a chicken salad and loved all of it. Ambience is what I would call 'old lady elegant', but Joan loved it and gave the restaurant 5-stars on Trip Advisor.
Amazing what one day will do. But, for a while anyway, we are out of the heat and humidity! (17.1.55)
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