The campground was lively last night, as Thursday is the traditional first day of weekends by the water. The rain subsided, inviting folks to relax outside of their RV’s. Sunrise was a miracle, deep colors reflected over the water. Skies were overcast (again) so we donned rain jackets (again), ready for another day on the Palmetto Trail.
Carol and I had miles to walk, then a long drive home. We packed up, had another biscuit breakfast, and said goodbye to Angel’s Landing.
Today’s section called for road walking the first 7 miles, then woodsy with a chance of swampiness. We drove the road parts, deemed them doable and decided to do the wet part last. Foreshadowing: a good decision, or we might have bailed out altogether.
After parking Carol’s car at Highway 6 & Rocks Pond Road, we drove back to Mac Daddy’s, paid $5 to park a car for the day and set off. Early morning school buses were making their rounds.
We walked a combination of paved and gravel roads, making pretty much a straight line westward. The neighborhoods were hushed and we were on the lookout for home-guarding dogs, but there were no threats today.
The trail map led us to Farm Hill Circle, a smooth paved road, but it seemed to go up a homeowner’s driveway. Assuming that was inappropriate access, we interpreted that we should go around.
Following the fence line at the back of the property, we found ourselves in a flooded area. Trail signs had disappeared (again), assuming they were on the fence posts which were now completely underwater. Did we learn nothing from the previous day in Grandpa’s backyard??
Before we knew it, Carol and I were in deep (literally) stepping from grassy clump to tree stump to downed tree, trying to get through the flooded area. Have you ever found yourself at a point where turning back was as bad as going forward? Problem solving wilderness Girl Scout mode took over.
that was too far to step across
After several bridge-building scenarios, we surrendered and took the plunge into who-knows-how-deep water, sloshing until we reached the edge of the swamp and a lovely pine needle covered forest road - Hooray!
Dear reader, we were NOT yet out of the woods. Deep ditches on both sides of the forest road, flanked by high banks. Soon the road was murky water.
We emerged on County Line Road and were tempted to walk the paved road straight to our car and erase this day (and yesterday) from our memory banks. This isn't what we signed up for, right? But after an existential conversation on the meaning of life and doing hard things, we decided to stay on trail, today and to the end of the Palmetto Trail in the mountains of Oconee County, SC.
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