2014 Vacation - Day 11

I thought today should be called "Appalachian Appreciation Day"

Himself voted for "Missing Iowa's flat, square mile roads" Day. 

Looking at the map, choosing a route home is easy.

Imaging the terrain of that route is sometimes not so easy and sometimes plain deceptive.

We chose South Carolina State Route 28/81 running north along the east side of the Savannah River, a sizeable stretch of water dividing Georgia from South Carolina.  It started out innocently enough, curvy roads with gentle curves tempted us further up the road.  Beautiful green leaves on the trees and lawns and pastures lush and vibrant.  And then the curves sharpened.  The rolling hills turned into mountain grades.   The road narrowed to two lanes.    Many 20 mph curves.  No passing. 

Up Hill.

 



 

Down Hill.

 

No passing lanes and fisherman in a hurry to get to the next fishing hole.  

 



 

We did have a rare, occasional break from trees and shrubs.

 

Later on there were gorgeous, pastel lavender blooming Wisteria trees.

Miles and miles. 

 

From Georgia to South Carolina.

From South Carolina to Georgia.

From Georgia to North Carolina.

From North Carolina to Tennessee.

 

It was a wild ride and one of us didn't ask to get in this saddle.

Later on after the worst was over, it all settled

 back into perspective and didn't seem so bad.

It will be a time to look back on and say 'remember when'.

 

It really, truly was a lovely experience in a pretty day;

reading three maps was mentally challenging  

and the driving re-honed our mountain driving skills.