We arrived yesterday at the Sesquicentennial State Park outside of Columbia, South Carolina.  This state knows how to run a park and showcase their most outstanding features.  At the last one, Huntington State Park it was the ocean.  We could walk to the ocean and there was a historic building to tour and one of the largest bird sanctuaries. 

This park has a beautiful lake with miles of paved walking trails, I am a huge fan of paved since I always manage to trip over the tree roots.  I like to look up at the trees, and you miss them if you are looking down at your feet watching the terrain.  There are also rustic trails here through the forest and bike trails.  There is a small waterfall that was created in the 1930’s by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) as a spillway to manage river flooding.  Jerry saw a man fishing from the shore and was thinking of trying his luck, but from a boat.  They rent pedal boats here and I suggested we rent one and he could fish from it.  He thought that was a ridiculous idea!    Now we will never know how great it could have been. 

The lake is very still and I was able to take some shots with reflections in the water.  My favorite is the one of the wooden bridge.  It looks like the bridge is two levels.

Our campsite is in a section of pine trees and a very short walk to the lake and trails.  There is little breeze at our site, but there is at the lake and it is about 10 degrees cooler.   There are lots of places to sit there and I have been going down to sit and read and knit hats.  I tried to take Ernie for a walk around the lake – 2.6 miles but once he understood what I was up to, he was having none of it.  He rarely barks but he sat down and started barking at me until I let him lead the way.  First, he went to the parking lot and went to cars that looked like Jerry’s, SUV’s and Jeeps, he skipped the sedans.  He started smelling them all and left one by one.  I told him his car was far away and he would not find it.   Then he led me back to the RV and when he got inside, he went right to his bed and laid down.  I think he was thinking of the day before in the Congaree National Forest and his almost 5-mile hike and my 12,000 and his 24,000-steps.  I am going back today without him to walk around the lake.

When we leave here in three days we will go to our last South Carolina State Park – Calhoun Falls.  I will need to temper my expectations least I be disappointed, but somehow, I think the state will get that park right too!