3. North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

Day 5: Thursday, May 17 (Part 2)

Continued the very beautiful drive through the Appalachian mountains on US 129 to get to Topton, NC. According to Delorme's Map 'n Go I was then supposed to take SSR 1310 to Aquone and beyond, but couldn't find it. It turned out that the road was too small to be marked, and it was sheer luck that I saw the sign "Waywah Road" and hung a right.

Next came one of the most winding and scenic roads I have ever traveled. Climbed from less than 2,000' altitude to over 4,000' through the Nantahala Game Reserve and back down again to the junction with SR 28 and the little town of Franklin, NC., where the Cullasaja empties into the Little Tennessee River. Then the stunningly beautiful drive on US 64 through the Cullasaja Gorge to Highlands (altitude 4,100'). The road is very narrow and winding with innumerable blind hairpin turns -- but definitely worth taking.

Made a wrong turn at Highlands and ended up in Dillard, GA via SR 106/GA SR 246. Got back on track eventually and found my way to Walhalla, SC and SR 11 -- The Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway.

Since it started to get too hazy and cloudy to get good vistas of the mountains, decided to call it a day. Stopped at the Keowee Toxaway State Park, which looked like a good place. However, not one of the 20+ sites was occupied. Decided to go on to Table Rock State Park, just 15 miles down the road.

The setting is very attractive and there are just few other campers nearby. Water and electric hook-ups, picnic table and fire ring at each site. Most sites are reasonably level. The ranger came by to collect -- no senior discount unless one is a SC resident. I didn't think I could fake it, so paid full price, $16.79. Wanted to grill, but a thunderstorm forced me into the camper. Spent the evening working on photos and the journal, revising the routing for the rest of the trip, and watching TV. Had a dinner consisting of snacks and strawberries.

Day 6: Friday, May 18

It was foggy when I woke up at 7:00 AM, foggy after a great shower in the clean and modern bathhouse, and foggy when I got on the road at 9:15 AM., temp of 66F up from 60F. According to my National Geographic Driving Guide I was supposed to be treated to "wonderful mountain views, peach orchards, and parks." Nada, nothing, scenery obscured by clouds and fog. After an hour or so the fog started to burn off and I would catch occasional glimpses of beautiful cliffs and mountains. Definitely will have to try again.

The sun came out in full force. Headed for Spartanburg via SR 11, SR 14 and US 29. Then I-26, US 221 and SR 72 to Abbeville. This little town has a quaint town square and an attractive village green. Admired the facade of the 1908 Opera House -- such stars as Groucho Marx Jimmy Durante, Fanny Brice, and Sarah Bernhardt have performed here and the theater is still in operation, offering a broad range of contemporary works. Abbeville was both the birthplace and the deathbed of the Confederacy -- both the first organized secession meeting in 1860 and the last cabinet meeting of Confederate president Jefferson Davis in 1865 took place in what is known as the Burke-Stark Mansion.

Traveled on beautiful SR 28 to McCormick and on equally scenic SR 283 to Edgefield, the birthplace (in 1902!) of Senator Strom Thurmond. A neat little town with an attractive town square. Continued on US 25 to I-20 and Georgia.

Stayed on I-20 to exit 130 and took SR 44 to Eatonton, US 129 to Macon, and I-75 to Tifton. Occasionally jumped off the interstate to drive stretches of US 41, which is a well-maintained and quiet side road that parallels I-75. Remembered driving this road in the early sixties, before I-75 had been built. It was a busy highway then with thriving towns and service establishments along the road. All gone now, but lovely pecan trees still line long stretches of the road.

Stopped for the night at The Pines Campground just south of Tifton. $15 for a site with water, electricity, and sewer. Sure appreciated the electricity -- with an evening temperature of 90F I kept the air conditioner running all night. Didn't miss the non-existing picnic tables since it was much too hot and muggy to sit outdoors.

Was on the road for 8 3/4 hours and drove 450 miles. The temperature reached a high of 99F during the day and it didn't cool off much after sunset. Bought gas near Spartanburg for $1.469. With all the mountain driving I had done yesterday, only averaged 14.3 mpg.

Because I had not been able to enjoyed the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway decided that tomorrow I would head straight for Key Biscayne and do my exploring of Florida, Georgia, and the South Carolina foothills on the way back to New Jersey.

Day 7: Saturday, May 19

Woke up at 6:00 AM. Enjoyed a great shower in the excellent bathhouse and hit the road at 8:00 AM. The temperature had already climbed to 75F from the night's low of 70F.

Got gas at the last exit in Georgia and paid $1.449 per gallon. Across the state line, Florida prices are about 20 cents higher. Averaged 16.8 mpg on the last tank.

Next came boring interstate and turnpike driving. Traffic was reasonably light and I covered the 495 miles to my home on Key Biscayne in a little over 7 hours. Unpacked the van under a broiling sun and was ready for a quick dip in the ocean afterwards.

Will be staying here for a couple of weeks or so, then head back north again -- most likely taking the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Byway and stopping in the Blue Ridge Mountains to check out whether GB's wife really is as excellent a cook as he claims.

Back to trip index or go to the next section