Georgia VT to Hilton Head SC. This is about 1200 miles. We drove 12 hours the first day and then 8 hours the second day.
The second day was part vacation. We stopped at Santee State Park in SC. This is in the same area as Congaree NP. Went on two nice walks in the state park. A lot of Spanish moss and nut trees. Maybe beech nuts and a variety of others. This park also has 10 miles of mountain bike trails that we did not go on. On the first walk the people in front of us spotted an alligator. We didn't see it but we heard it when it splashed into the water. They have sink holes in the park. Limestone caves that eventually have the roof fall in. The park is on Lake Marian which is a man made lake on the Congaree river. One of the people we met recommended stepping onto logs not over them. Less snake bites that way as the snake that is under the log may strike if you step over the log.
We got to Hilton Head about 1 hour before sunset. We took a quick tour of the condo area and then went to the beach to see the sunset. Nice condo area with outdoor pools and direct beach access. Lots of interesting plants in the area and more southern trees. It looks like you can walk pretty far in either direction on the beach.
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| Early AM VT - 10/9/21 |
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| Santee SP walk. Alligator swamp! |
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| Immature bald eagle |
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| Arrive at Hilton Head |
10/11/21
We left Vermont when the leaves were in full color only then realizing that when we return it will be stick season. Ken took the first picture from the moving car as the sun was rising.
ReplyDeleteOne reason the stop at Santee was so refreshing and welcomed is because the traffic on I81 and I95 moves very fast and there is a lot of it! Santee is quiet and peaceful and there weren't very many people around. The gator signs we saw were the first of many! They are everything and that's because the gators can cover a lot of territory from marshland to grassy areas and one woman even told us one was seen coming in from the ocean (probably with the changing tide). Locals know never to walk their dogs off leash or they could lose their beloved pet. The stuffed bird, above, is a young bald eagle. We also saw a stuffed bobcat (bobbed tail and tufted ears). We made sandwiches and had dinner at a Santee picnic table overlooking the lake and then traveled the remaining distance to HHI. Autumn and David's condo is on Port Royal Sound (heel of shoe (map)) and it's a beautiful 2 BA/2 BR nicely furnished place. We hurriedly unpacked and then stepped out to the beach which although it faces east, Ken still had an opportunity to capture some cool sunset photos. This beach is both a birding and cat haven. More on the cat sanctuary later!