Thursday after Christmas, we took Alex for a road trip to South Carolina and Georgia over winter shutdown. We left around 530 and took I-95 into South Carolina. Our first stop was Poinsett State Park. As we got out of the car, we heard some loud pecking at a tree and looked up to see a yellow-bellied sapsucker.
After getting our stuff together, we went down to the old mill site where only the ruins remained.
The CCC had rebuilt the spillway over the old millrace when they constructed the park.
The small waterfall here was really scenic.
After some pictures, we got on Coquina Trail, which is part of the High Hills of Santee Passage of Palmetto Trail, and hiked around the Old Levi Mill Pond.
There was a larger spillway from the pond that the trail crossed on a bridge.
From here, there were some surprisingly steep bluffs along Shanks Creek.
We stayed on Palmetto Trail down to the road and crossed Shanks Creek on a footbridge.
Crossing the road, we took Splice Trail back towards the parking lot. The Spanish moss here was really impressive.
Here, we got back on the Wateree Passage of Palmetto Trail heading north. The trail went for about a mile and crossed Campbell Creek on a footbridge.
Just past here, the trail left the park and entered Manchester State Forest, following old gravel roads through the forest.
There was some reindeer lichen growing along the trail.
We followed Palmetto Trail for another mile or so and stopped at a scenic view of Wateree Swamp.
After a snack we headed back and took Scout Trail to make a loop.
From here, we headed towards Charleston. It was a little too early to check in to the hotel, so we swung by the Angel Oak.
It was very crowded but definitely worth a stop to see this magnificent live oak.
Some of the massive branches dropped into the ground and rose back up.
The tree is estimated to be 300 to 400 years old; so old that ferns and mosses are growing from its massive branches.
We got some pictures and then checked into the Best Western. For dinner, we went to Maybank Public House and then went to bed early.
After getting our stuff together, we went down to the old mill site where only the ruins remained.
The CCC had rebuilt the spillway over the old millrace when they constructed the park.
The small waterfall here was really scenic.
After some pictures, we got on Coquina Trail, which is part of the High Hills of Santee Passage of Palmetto Trail, and hiked around the Old Levi Mill Pond.
There was a larger spillway from the pond that the trail crossed on a bridge.
From here, there were some surprisingly steep bluffs along Shanks Creek.
We stayed on Palmetto Trail down to the road and crossed Shanks Creek on a footbridge.
Crossing the road, we took Splice Trail back towards the parking lot. The Spanish moss here was really impressive.
Here, we got back on the Wateree Passage of Palmetto Trail heading north. The trail went for about a mile and crossed Campbell Creek on a footbridge.
Just past here, the trail left the park and entered Manchester State Forest, following old gravel roads through the forest.
There was some reindeer lichen growing along the trail.
We followed Palmetto Trail for another mile or so and stopped at a scenic view of Wateree Swamp.
After a snack we headed back and took Scout Trail to make a loop.
From here, we headed towards Charleston. It was a little too early to check in to the hotel, so we swung by the Angel Oak.
It was very crowded but definitely worth a stop to see this magnificent live oak.
Some of the massive branches dropped into the ground and rose back up.
The tree is estimated to be 300 to 400 years old; so old that ferns and mosses are growing from its massive branches.
We got some pictures and then checked into the Best Western. For dinner, we went to Maybank Public House and then went to bed early.
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