February 1, 2012 Columbia Canal and Three Rivers Greenway

You can get there by going west on Huger (pronounced like the letters, U and G) and turning down behind the big AT&T building. The Columbia Water Works is on your right.  On your left looms the remaining bulwark of the Broad River Prison where the serial killer, Pee Wee Gaskins, once lived.
My daughter, Eleanor, helped film a documentary of the prison while she was in graduate school. She was not, however, allowed inside.  No women were allowed inside when there were still inmates there.
First Boofa and I cross the bridge over the canal.  Now we are walking west with the canal on the right and the Congaree River on the left.  There are many rivers ending in "ree": the Congaree, the Wateree, the Enoree.  The canal is smooth and the color of green tea, like the river that runs through Tokyo, Ocha No Mizu.  A few weeks ago, it was a golden brown like molassas spun with butter, but now there is more green on the banks and trees, reflecting.  The Congaree is wide and full of rocks.  Workmen are trimming the edges of the grass. There is the pungent smell of green onions.

There are two double crested cormorants perched on rocks opposite each other down in the
Congaree.  A gagle of Canadian Geese honk and sputter around the rocks.  A sign alerts to Alligators.
The canal was built in 1819 to connect the Upstate with the Midlands and the Low Country. Its' use declined with the coming of the raidroad around  1840.

Trees here are strung with Spanish Moss.  There is a mother and daughter roller blading, a few bicycles, a Congressman running.  Some dog walkers.
  At one point there are three supports standing in the water of the canal (now the bridge has abandoned them).  In the distance they look like identical batmen thigh deep in the water.
A great blue heron flies up onto the bank. A duck paddles along.

And now a very long train rattles its way east on the other side of the canal.
Approaching the Broad River Bridge, there is a foot trail down to the Congaree where you can fish.
"Don't kill the snakes" a sign says.
After a four mile walk, we return to the car.  On the car radio, Lewis Armstrong is singing "It's a Wonderful World".