Monday, February 22, 2016

February 21, 2016 Cottonwood Trail: A Sanctuary

I can see the color orange across the wetlands.  A man is using binoculars to look at something high in the trees on the edge of the forest.

When I approach, he tells me that he has seen both a flicker and a pileated woodpecker high up in the same tree.

He is a former Bosnian, who fled the wars in 1994.

Around his neck, he wears Swaroski binoculars.

"I thought I needed them." he says. "They cost three thousand dollars.  You don't need any like this."

"I like to come here to be alone.

I think of many things."

He smiles broadly and raises his arms like a runner crossing the finish line.

"Or I can think of nothing."

Sunday, February 21, 2016

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)


Monday, February 8, 2016

January 29, 2016 The Road to Beech Mountain

Highway 221 stretches all the way across South Carolina from the lakes of the Savannah River into the mountains of North Carolina.  Eleanor is driving. I am in the shotgun seat and Mathew is in the backseat covered in sleeping bags and quilts against the cold.  It is 25 degrees in Beech Mountain today.  Last weekend the snow fell for three days. Highway 221 goes through my town, then Chesnee, SC, Rutherforton, NC, Marion, Linville and then we take 105 briefly and then 184 left at the stoplight in Banner Elk.  The mountain towns converge here.
Grandfather Mountain and only 17 miles to Boone.

We see the quilt squares painted on barns along the route. Rhododenron is braced against the ice, but the road is good. Christmas Tree farms are all along the way, perfect little green cones dotting the mountain sides.  In a field is a life size tin sculpture of a soldier mounted on a tin horse. A red Confederate Flag is draped across his chest. We call him "the Confederate Zombie".

After Eleanor negotiates the winding roads with frightening drop offs (which terrify us), we find Beech Mountain Parkway and make a right. We stop at Fred's on the left for a rest room and supplies. Downstairs there is a cafe and grill thronged with skiers and tubers. After Fred's we go 2 miles down and a right on Pine Ridge, left on Teaberry and the 2nd left on Rhododendron, a final left on Poplar Drive. It is the second house on the left.

The cousins are sledding down the driveway. The uncles are watching them.  They are dressed in thick snow clothes and boots, warm knit hats and gloves.

Eleanor and I take a hike around the neighborhood at twilight, up and down the  winding roads. Houses glow in the dark with warm lighted yellow windows.  This is a mountain paradise.  Michael and Asha took the children on one of the two hiking trails recommended on a map, but the snow was knee deep and they had to turn back.

In the yard of our house, deer are eating corn at a feeding station built just for them.

Asha and Michael have made vegetarian chili with rice and sides of cheese, yogurt, and cucumbers.

Tomorrow will be snow tubing and ice skating.

All is well.

Always a Bridesmaid Chili

Original recipe with which I won 2nd place in a Texas Pete contest. Asha and Michael modified it and won first place in an elementary school cookoff. It can be vegetarian."

In a large iron pot, saute 2 lbs fresh ground chuck or ground turkey (meat optional)
1 large onion, chopped
4 to 5 cloves crushed garlic
1 grated carrot
1 grated yellow crooked neck squash or 1 grated zucchini
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 or 2 chopped jalapeno peppers (also optional)
1 tsp cumin
3 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
stir until meat is browned,
add 2 Tbsp sugar
To this mixture add:
2 cans black beans drained
2 cans pinto beans, drained (cook beans yourself is better)
2 large cans crushed tomatoes
1 can tomato diced or pieces
Simmer for at least an hour
Add generous chopped cilantro
Serve with homemade salsa and sour cream
and grated Monterey Jack cheese.

Cornbread is the best accompaniment.