Feb 20, 2016 Hamilton Branch: Jasmine and Scat

Mitsubishi, mitsubishi, mitsubishi
he did it, he did it
sweet bird, sweet bird

The birds are singing, the frogs are singing back up.
Flocks of hundreds of starlings cross the sky.
Robins dot lawns.
There is a cloud cover.
It is going to be 60 degrees in the afternoon.

Under the passenger car seat, I find my glasses which vanished into thin air two days before Christmas.

At Hamilton Branch, the waters have receded and the trails are open again.
I am on my way in the early dawn.
The hardwoods are gray and quiet, the evergreens dark and fragrant. Starlings sit in the leafless crowns of trees in droves.

Again I travel hwy 221 beside the Georgia Pacific railroad tracks, through Woodruff and then Enoree, across the Enoree River where logs are jammed under the railroad trestle. Over Warrior Creek and beside a jade pond.

The community of Ora has a county park and on the left, Lighthouse Baptist Church with a 10 ft replica of a lighthouse and a small academy. On the right is a sign for PAIA Lower Eastern Cherokee Nation (go right on Metric Rd.).

I pass under 385, then on the left a gigantic white Walmart distribution Center surrounded by trucks. On the left is Muchoo's BBQ, now closed, Cree Ole Seafood also closed , the suburb of Wattville and I am in Laurens with Zaxby's, Long John Silver and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Across a hill on the left is an ancient cemetery. Crape Myrtles, not yet leafed out line S. Hampton Rd through town. The historic town square and county house is to the right.  Large old southern houses, some restored to their original beauty and some with peeling paint line the road. On the edge of town is the Used Tire store painted orange with a purple Clemson tiger paw on the side wall.

I go through the community of Maddens, on the left Addy Farms with a truck departing with two horses in a trailer. At Cold Point, an active Flea Market. In Waterloo, there is a public golf course on the left and the large Aurel Hill Church on the right.  The country side is beautiful here, even in winter. In Greenwood County; I cross Cornaca Creek, drive through Greenwood and then the town of Bradley and this time, I note that the lovely Eden Hall has a brick home behind it and a working farm with white buildings and white fences around the well kept fields

I cross Rocky Creek and then Plum Branch and Parksville, Catfish Bay and on the right Hamilton Branch State Park.

The staff in the office do not seem well versed in the trails and they are out of trail maps. They do have a map of the 150 campsites with minimal dotted trail markers.  I took the Hamilton Branch Connector just beyond the office on the paved road. They tell me it will take me to Hwys 221 and 28 and I should cross it at the sign for Modoc Speedway and connect to the FATS trail (Forks Area Trail System in Edgefield Cty). and Stevens Creek Trail. I cross the road and can't find the trail. I even trespass into someone's yard.
I have to return but along the connector, I find jasmine vines with yellow buds about to open (the state flower of South Carolina) and several piles of scat composed only of tubular white fur and then one that looks like the undigested remains of a snake.  The coyotes live here.

Again, I cannot find the trail that staff tells me has a sign and begins at the dump.  When I return to the office, they suggest taking a trail that begins behind the office and ends at the dump.  I cannot even find that as behind the office land moving equipment has scraped the woods to build a roadway connector. Finally someone comes out and shows me two 5 inch white squares with black arrows on two trees across the muddy connector.  I come to a fork and take the left.  I would guess it is about two miles through piney woods.  I come upon two gray deer with white tails.  One is so curious about me, she stops in her tracks and stares at me while I approach gingerly.  At about 10 feet, she leaps away. Soon I find myself looped back to the office. There is a Pepsi machine with no price on it.

I drive through the campsites and find the perfect one where I would like to camp when it is warmer. Site 77 is at the very end of the peninsula where there is water on three sides. No one is there today. Fishermen are on the lake. Ducks float on a quiet bend

I begin the long drive back.

In Parksville, a sign implores:  "Y-all Come Back".
 I discover in  McCormick, just 16 miles away,that yesterday, Feb 19, 2016 was the 100 centennial of the town and a celebration was held on that day. Now it is 23 miles to Greenwood where near the Lake there is a wedding going on at Lakeside Pentacostal Church. The wedding party including the tiny bride in white is on the deck of the church.

I stop for a late lunch at my favorite Subway on the shore of Lake Greenwood and watch a big man in black overalls have a huge 12 inch sub made.  It starts with ground beef and cheese toasted under the broiler. Then he has every vegetable available put on top: tomatoes, lettuce, onions, pickles, olives, peppers, then mustard, chipotle sauce and sirocha sauces.

"Food don't taste good unless it's messy," he turns and says to me.

"Exactly", I agree.  "A masterpiece", I add.

He and is nephew tell me to have a safe trip.

It is raining now and I am home before dark.

NOTE: This may get you to the Stevens Creek trail by connector.
Take the Hamilton Branch Connector through the woods.
Cross the highway 221 and 28 combined at the Modoc Speedway Sign.
Turn rt on Washington School Rd  (which might be McCormick Cty  S3393) toward the Speedway.
Walk past the Speedway.
There might be a big green gate.
After the paving ends, turn left at the first left which is Forest Service Rd. 632. 632 ends at the Stevens Creek Trail.

For correct information: Sumter National Forest, Long Cane Ranger District, Long Cane Rd 810 Buncombe St. Edgefireld phone 803-637-5396. Also for the FATS trail (Forks Area Trail System in Edgefield Cty)