Spring in the Upcountry!

Away from the Beach! Up to thehighlands! But first a stop in Charleston. Someplace west of the

Ashley, we enjoyed a weekend visit with a friend. I swear, every place I go with this guy I feel something of what it must be like to travel with a rock star. We were treated to live music, solos from a guitarist and pianist, invited to a backyard birthday party, attended my first oyster roast, we were locked into bladder busting laughter and took our breakfast in the formal garden before
moving on.

Baker Creek State Park, SC

. Thanks again for a great visit! These forays, back into polite society, tend to shake us out of our sleepy, peaceful pleasure and remind us that there is a real, work-a-day world outside of our little snow globe existence.

Monday, March 7, found us at Baker Creek S.P., SC. Though some one hundred eighty miles from the pounding surf of Edisto we are surrounded on three sides by the waters of Strom Thurmond Reservoir. The park offers some ten miles of off road (moderate) bike trails. As the park was closed for the winter the trails are in need of some clearing, still we enjoyed two and one half hours of tough riding. The first hills we've seen for months! Followed by hot showers, sundowners overlooking the lake and dinner capping off yet another memorable anniversary celebration. Thanks for all of your well wishes!

This morning we were awoken by a pair of Canadian Geese announce their chose of this small cove, as their nesting site for this season. I imagine the proud parents parading their goslings, to the delight of the campers, sometime in June. Day dreaming is just one of the benefits of this snow globe existence.

We will only be in the up country for a little while, just long enough to enjoy the fresh breath of spring here in the pines. A couple bird walks, another bike ride and the peace of a spring rain then back to the coast.

I am sad to report that we too have been caught up by the current rising gasoline prices. We have decided to drop our plans for Florida this time out. We will miss seeing ourgood friends and family there, with some luck, perhaps next winter. We will stay in South Carolina, while gas is still at an unreasonable $3.40 per/gal, thanks to a lower gasoline tax here. Our new plan

involves moves of less than one hundred fifty miles with at least two to three days off the road before moving on again. We will make WV in early April.