PIVOT! And The Camping Trip Not Meant To Be Taken…

Elijah Clark State Park, GA

Hartwell Lakeside KOA

Staycation / Congaree National Park

7/28/23 - 8/1/23  Part of 7/28 & 7/29/2023

The story of a trip not meant to be taken...

We had planned our first trip to Elijah Clark State Park in GA for this weekend.  We were geared up and ready to go!  We had a boat scheduled and were excited for the adventure.  July 20th, major storms ripped through the southeast, downing power and water to the entire park.  Campers had trees down on them and people who were camping there were asked to leave because the park had to be closed,  There was not an ETA for when the park would open.  After watching the website for two days, we decided our best course of action, not knowing if the park would be open, was to try to find something different to support an adventure.  

We found a site left at the Hartwell Lakeside KOA on Lake Hartwell where we could be water-side, and we called and were able to get a boat for Sunday, so we made the pivot to cancel Elijah Clark, book Hartwell, and resume moving forward in a bit of a different direction, but with excitement about a lakeside summer visit.  We were SO PROUD of our pivot and that we found something lakeside AND got a boat!

And then...the next day we found out that the truck, which was supposed to be coming back from the shop with a new back window for Steve, being fixed for the first time since May, was NOT going to be ready for another 9 days and our entire pivot was for naught.  :(  

We decided to make the best of it, save the days off for a future trip, and just go with the flow, so Staycation commenced Friday afternoon.  We spent the afternoon at The Center for Birds of Prey where we were able to watch owls in flight and see and learn about so many other birds of prey.  It's only the second time we have been there in the 8 years we have lived here - even though it is only 5 miles from our house!  What an awesome adventure!

Saturday, decided even though we couldn't camp, we still needed to be outside, so we drove two hours Northwest to the Congaree National Park - the only National Park in SC.  We had a picnic lunch outside the main visitor center and then proceeded to hike the Boardwalk Trail, the connecting trail to the Bluff Trail, and the connecting trail back to the Visitor Center.  All told we went about 4 miles.  And it was HOT.  The heat index was over 100.  Thankfully, it wasn't terribly sunny, but more overcast, and in the trees, it was cooler than it would have been had we stayed home.  This was our first National Park as a family, so that was exciting and since we want to visit more, we invested in a National Parks Passport book to document future adventures.  The park was BEAUTIFUL and it was a great way to "Stay local" but still get outdoors!

They have a “Firefly Trail” that comes alive with fireflies in the evenings in June/July.  We did not get to stay to see them.

The bugs can be ruthless in the south - and in the forest particularly - they have a “mosquito meter” that tells how badly they expect it to be ach day.  Mosquitoes think I’m am the most delicious delicacy there is, so we were a little concerned.  Fortunately, we brought bug spray we had purchased at the Sewee Outpust the previous day and it worked WONDERS!

This stuff works GREAT!

Who doesn’t do gymnastics inside the visitor’s center?

The paths were wet from the rains we have been having…

A fishing Great White Egret seen off the bridge on Sims Trail, and Weston Lake from the Boardwalk Trail… We were able to hear tons of frogs, see skinks and birds and HUGE orb spiders (HUGE).  It was really neat to hear the forest come alive with the sounds of birds, frogs and the wind in the trees.  It’s great this was protected in 1976!

Loved the boardwalk path and the ease of the self-guided tour!  The overlook at Weston Lake was beautiful.  Caught an anhinga fishing and saw a gathering of yellow-bellied slider turtles. Weston Lake was once a bend in the Congreve River, but is now an oxbow lake.  Over 2,000 years ago, the river gradually changed its course and meandered south, leaving behind this lake.  The lake is slowly filling in with clay and organic debris.

Loblolly Pines are throughout this old growth forest.  While it’s unusual to find pines growing on wetland areas, loblollies can tolerate living in wet conditions and are to be found throughout this park.  Loblolly Pines are the tallest trees in South Carolina.  This one is over 150 feet tall and is a former state champion!

We jumped off the Boardwalk Trail to take the spur to the Bluff Trail.  The guide book said it overlooked a bluff to the river, but we never saw that.  It is a meandering trail through new growth pine forest.  Beautiful, but not exactly what we expected. That said, it was GORGEOUS and we got to see a lot more flora…

Flowers along the trail…

Bluff Trail fun…

We saw this red-bellied snake on the trail (and one in the water by Sims Trail).  This one has an injury to its neck area, but it was fascinating to watch nonetheless.  (Auntie did not think so!!)

Which way do we go?!?! 

A look back into the forest…always take the road less travelled…

Gorgeous butterfly on our way out…

We cannot wait to explore more National Parks … and hopefully next time with the camper in tow!