“It was a beautiful place. The first thing we did was take a little rowboat out into the swamp. It was so peaceful and is just like you see in the movies. The cypress trees grow out of the water. There is moss hanging from them with green growth all around the trunks at the water level. Tons of lily pads with their white flowers float all around. We saw turtles but no alligators. We then went to the butterfly house where a knowledgeable gentleman showed us button quail eggs in their nests. The quail were so cute running back and forth trying to get to their nests between all of the curious sightseer’s feet. A wood duck was king of the house, nipping at our feet and ankles if we didn’t get out of his way! There were large Zebra butterflies as well as Monarchs, Julias and Swallowtails. They each favor certain types of plants and they lay on those kinds only. There is no overlap of different butterflies on the same plants. Interesting. They also lay those eggs only on the new growth so that the caterpillars can eat the tender leaves. They are unable to chew the older growth. We then walked through the “Swamparium” where we saw a HUGE turtle, fish, snakes, lizards and gators. To finish the day there, we walked around the whole swamp area on a nice path where azaleas, camellias, wildflowers and even thistle plants grow. It was very enjoyable!”
This is a description of Cypress Gardens in Moncks Corner, SC I gave to a friend on Facebook. We would have liked to stay longer and hiked on some of the outlying trails but did not have enough time. As it was, I think we closed the place down. I was talking to the birds. Actually, we were having a nice conversation! There was a beautiful white parrot, one of the big colorful parrots and three smaller grey birds. They were quite talkative, once they knew you’d stick around to listen.
From the Charleston Navy Weapons Station, SC, we traveled to Lugoff, SC. This is probably the least “kept up” of the RV parks we have been to. You just never know what you are going to get. This one does have, however, a llama, a donkey and several goats. One evening we went on a walk and the two young kid goats entertained us with their playful antics. It was fun to watch. I then proceeded to “talk” to the animals, using their own sounds. Dave kept telling me to be quiet. I don’t think he likes it when I talk to the animals. He seems embarrassed. I guess I have lived long enough to believe that life is short and embarrassment is not an option!
On Thursday, we took a long walk along the Broad River on the “Riverwalk” in Columbia, South Carolina’s capital. It is a beautiful walk above the river. At times, you can take a path along the bank where the fishermen go. Along one section there was a beautiful sidewalk that bikers are encouraged to use. We had taken our bikes but as we took them out of the truck, mine had a flat tire. Rats! It was not flat when we left and now it was totally flat. It was as if someone had slashed the tube. So instead, we walked. I don’t do well in the heat so I did get very affected by it. Dave was very accommodating and we took it slowly, stopping and resting often. I think I need one of those personal palm waving guys that the Queen of Sheba had! We (I) had a craving for a frappuccino so as we headed in that direction, we passed a brewery and we went there instead and had dinner and dessert. (Boy, am I getting fat!) The next day, Friday, was date day so we took in a movie, appropriately, “Date Night” and did a little window shopping.
Saturday was filled with a Civil War reenactment. We drove into the countryside a short distance and were taken back to the 1860s with booths of various scenes of life in that day. There was a gentleman who carved spoons of all shapes and sizes, as well as having made walnut buttons and, what I would describe as toys which were chains and little cages with balls inside them and which were all carved from one piece of wood and were all attached together with no seams. They took many, many hours to carve. Fascinating. We talked with an “engineer” of the day who showed us various ways engineer’s knowledge was utilized for war purposes. Everyone who participates lives in a tent for the weekend, using only items from that time period. The only “modern” things I saw (besides some of the food vendors) were the “port-a-potties”! They also had the actual “Hunley” submarine there as well. At precisely 4 o’clock, the guns went off. I was walking by the little creek and I jumped out of my skin! A couple of gentlemen laughed their heads off. Oh, well. We enjoyed watching the reenactment of the “Battle for Columbia”, Dave especially, as the guns are of particular interest to him.
Tuesday we leave for North Carolina and Asheboro where we will stay and visit with Dave’s dad and his family for a week and a half. We will then head to Virginia and the Washington D.C. area.
‘Til then…
Godspeed!
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