Historic Charles Towne Landing and Fascinating Magnolia Plantation – Charleston SC Day 1 [March 2, 2016]

Our first day in Charleston was scenic and fascinating.  We started where it all began – the original spot on the west bank of the Ashley River (across from the current city) where the original settlers landed and set up a fortified town in 1670.  We learned that the settlers came from England and Barbados with the intention of replicating the plantation system used in Barbados in Carolina.  The system depended on the abundance of labor using both enslaved African people and indentured servants from England.   When the town moved across the river to the current location of Charleston, the area became a plantation.  It is now a State Park with a  few reconstructed features, an archaeological dig, and a replica of a trading ship.  It was very interesting.  

From there we traveled up the Ashley River Rd (Route 61) to the Magnolia Plantation where beautiful gardens have been maintained for 331 years.  The plantation set along the edge of the river has lovely paths through blooming azaleas, daffodils, camellias, and other plants.  Some of the areas are very wooded and others are more cultivated.  We took the “Nature Tram” which drives you along dikes from the former rice plantation.  We saw alligators, eagles, and countless water fowl and wading birds.  We toured the mansion which was the third built in that location.  The most exciting part of our time was at the Audubon Swamp Garden.  We walked along boardwalks and dikes around swamps full of tupelo trees, and bald cypress.  We saw a rookerie of egret and heron nests.  We watched a Great Blue Heron couple build a nest together.  It was fabulous!

 

Digging Knoxville with Leslie and Natalie [February 26 - March 1, 2016]

The last time we visited Leslie and Natalie in Knoxville, they had recently moved into their home.  In the two years since we had last visited, they had made a bunch of  terrific improvements, including a lovely and (very) sturdy two story deck, raised vegetable garden beds along the slope of one side of their back yard and fruit trees around the perimeter.  It was fun to see how they are realizing their dreams for the house.

We left Gray TN in a cold snow flurry, and yet the sun came out as we neared Knoxville!  Yay!  So great to see the sun!  And so wonderful to see the girls!

While we were in Knoxville we took a fabulous yoga class, made bread, played with the dogs, had a crawfish boil, and planted seeds for the new garden.  We also went to the last (University of Tennessee) Lady Vols basketball regular season game.  They won!   

Russ and Leslie worked on fixing a clogged drain from the driveway.  The project involved a lot of mud, digging and ingenuity!

Success!

Lady Vols Fans Bleed Blue and Orange

Victory!

We've Finally Visited Natural Bridge VA - And So Should Everyone! [February 24, 2016]

The Natural Bridge is a limestone arch over Cedar Creek.  It is 215 feet high and the arch has a span of 90 feet.  The day we visited, the creek was flooded with run off from a fierce deluge the previous day.  No one can say how the bridge was formed, but it is believed to be all that remains of a cavern or tunnel through which the creek flowed underground.  At some point, the rest of the stone structure fell away leaving this beautiful and impressive arch.

We walked down a long set of uneven stairs alongside of the lovely falls in Cascade Creek that joins Cedar Creek at the bottom of the stairway.  A paved path takes you along Cedar Creek and as you come around a bend you see the Bridge.  It really is impressive.  Benches are set up to view the light and sound show that plays at night.  They are also useful during the day for sitting and enjoying the lovely arch.

A little history.  The Monacan Native Americans held it as a sacred site where the bridge appeared before an outnumbered group of Monacan fleeing a Powhatan raiding party.  The narrowness of the bridge allowed the women and children to flee while the warriors fought and eventually defeated the enemies.  Later it was re-discovered by the English and a young George Washington was sent to survey it.  They say he carved his initials there.  You can see them marked on a wall along with other initials.  Founding Father-Graffiti Artist.  Later Thomas Jefferson purchased the land from the Crown and built a 2 room cabin there for guests to come visit the site, starting an enduring history of tourism there.  A series of hotels have operated next to the Bridge since.

The land remained privately held for over 200 years and you still pay a lot to see the Bridge.  In 2014 the property was sold to the Virginia Conservation Legacy Fund with the intention of it becoming a state park.  Below is a link to the Washington Post article describing the sale.  The Virginia Parks web page notes that it will become a State Park in late 2016.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/natural-bridge-will-become-virginia-state-park/2014/02/06/35f386c6-8f6a-11e3-878e-d76656564a01_story.html

Natural Bridge is a US National Historic Landmark and has at times been included on lists of “Wonders of the World.”  It is in the town of the same name, and has two exits off of I-81 that get to it.  Yet, somehow in all of the years we have lived in Virginia, neither one of us has managed a visit there.  We’ve driven past it on I-81 countless times, each time vowing to stop, but never took the time.  If you have been like us – take the time.  It is worth it.