Salkahatchie River

Friday morning that felt like Sunday..I don't know why.  It was raining when we got up but when I opened the door to let the dog outside it was so warm!   Too bad it was raining!

Then when I was looking at my Facebook page a friend who lives in another town here had shared a menu post from a little mom and pop diner in a town near her.   The diner was having good home style food for today so we  (I) decided to take a ride there for something to eat and  to get out of the house.    In the meantime the rain quit and the sun came out!  

Another idea happened that involved a short hike at a state park in the area.  I could see the hubby's eye roll cause short usually means miles and miles.   But he was ready for the food so the hike had to be done also!  My rules of adventuring.  Eat and hike!

So we traveled to the little town of Norway, South Carolina (we also went through Denmark and Switzerland).   The food was excellent and they had lemon meringue pie!    So the walk was very much needed.

After a thirty minute ride we were at  Rivers Bridge State Park.  Rivers Bridge is a state historic site as the park contains the battlefield from the march of Sherman's troop through South Carolina on his way to meet up with General Grant.   The battle actually took place along the banks of the Salkahatchie River.  On one of the signs posted telling about the battle said this...

 February 2-3 1865   At Rivers Bridge the Salkahatchie flowed through a swamp half a mile wide.   The only road through it was a narrow earthen causeway with multiple wooden bridges.  The Confederates hoped the  thick swamp and the chest deep water would hinder the Union advance.   "A dog could scarcely make his way through the swamp" recalled a Union soldier. After the battle, General Howard (of the Union army) called the river "the indescribably ugly Salkehatchie."

"So immense are the trees and so thickly set, that the eye cannot reach half pistol range; and they are so abundantly covered with foliage the light of day is shut out...Capt  F.  Y. Hedley  32nd Illinois Infantry

The first weekend in March (this year on Feb. 29 and Mar 1) there is a battle reenactment at a location close to this area that has more room for set up and reenacting.    

To me the Salkahatchie is immensely beautiful.  The cypress trees and oak trees reach toward the sky and it is thick and full even in the winter.  The reflections in the water are  magical.  I saw one little purple violet blooming but later in the spring the trillium bloom and there are violets everywhere.      Of course, going in the winter means the snakes, gators and bugs are not around...maybe.  We were the only people at this park as it is way out in the boonies (close to Bamberg, dfb24!) Talk about spooky being alone on a 150 year old battle field.  

And ya'll...it was 78F today and humid so there was sweat happening during the 2.5 mile walk we did.      I am ready for winter to be back!!    The rain came back on our way home which worked out well for us.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!