The Highways Traveled

This trip was only to get to the few places I was unable to get to last September because of Hurricane Florence. That meant Columbia and Charleston and Myrtle Beach in South Carolina and to Wilmington in North Carolina. In North Carolina I also was unable to get to the Nags Head area but that was quite a ways north of where I otherwise was for this trip. So that part of the country will have to be on another trip someday.

This trip was basically visiting six college campuses and two national parks. To get to them, it would have been less driving if I had flown into Charlotte North Carolina. But flying into there vs. flying into Atlanta was much more expensive. Thus, I flew into Altanta.

Spring had just begun in this area. The earliest spring colors -- whites and pinks -- were shpwing on some trees. And the grass was green. Many evergreen trees in this area so hard to tell that the rest of the trees are still bare. Lots of rain with the spring -- about half of my driving time was in rain, usually heavy rain. Only saw some sunshine on the second day.

GEORGIA: This state was mostly a fly into and drive through state for this trip. And, it rained on me the entire time with sometimes there being so much gray highway mist that it was difficult to see the vehicle in front of me.
SOUTH CAROLINA: I spent most of the time in this trip in this state. It has been decades since I was last in Charleston. This time, while here, it was 100% overcast sky but at least no rain. There are three colleges here, including The Citadel, that I wanted to photograph their campus sign. Also, I have long wanted to visit the Fort Sumter national park. Only way to get to it is to get a ticket aboard a privately-run ferry from either side of the Cooper-Wando Rivers.
Also, I was curious to see Myrtle Beach again. One, because my best friend grew up here. Two, the only other time I was here, in the 1980's, I remembered the town as being each block was hotel and miniature golf. Repeat in the next block. Then repeat in the next block. Et cetera and so on. However, I did not see that part of town.
NORTH CAROLINA: Only place in this state for this trip was the extreme southeastern corner of the state at Wilmington. From the other time I was here, decades ago, in the area known as Cape Fear, I recall from then that I really liked Wilmington. The area was one of the hardest hit places by Hurricane Florence last September.


MISSED VISITING:
Nags Head area of North Carolina -- too far out of my way for this short trip. Would have needed two more days for it.
Friend Catherine C suggested visiting Cherry Grove Beach but clouds moved in at midnight with 100% coverage and some on-and-off rain
Friend Jan W suggested seeing a famous old tree in Myrtle Beach but that would make me back track half an hour each way
If more time available, and clearer weather onhand, I considered approaching Wilmington NC from the south by taking a ferry to the outer banks

OBSERVATIONS: Some observations made while traveling in this area:

The Bests:

  1. Flag-raising ceremony at Fort Sumter. I got to be a part of the dozen or so that unfurled the flag. Then a couple of veterans got to raise it.
  2. The few hours of sunshine while I was in Charleston plus it was 72 degrees while I was hearing from KC folks of the snow there


The Worsts:

  1. Orangeburg South Carolina
  2. The usual clouds and rain in the mid-Atlantic states everytime I visit them
  3. Locking my rental car keys in the car while in the parking garage at Charleston. Cost me two hours but my AAA membership covered the locksmith charges.

The Totals:




Just to list this as of November 2019: