Santee State Park lounge; Pastor Henry immediately pegged it a great place for an Easter sunrise service. It overlooks the lake, and is connected to the park store, where I purchased The Naked Bee lip balm and hand lotion, labeled, "All the good stuff, none of the bad stuff;" just the name is a little off-color.
The boat we rode. It is equipped with binoculars, blankets (it gets cold out there cruising on the lake), and an alligator head, which I was delegated to carry around for the others to admire. I christened him Ferdinand.
Our captain, who gave us a running commentary and history of the lake, the largest in the state, created by FDR's administration by damming the Santee River for hydroelectric power, thereby displacing an estimated 5,000 people and 300 cemeteries. Lake Marion is referred to as South Carolina's inland sea.
An osprey nest atop a dead tree. Usually you'll see the mother bird on the nest, and the father on a nearby branch, either watching for fish or keeping an eye out for trespassers. One osprey's elevator didn't quite reach the top, and she built her nest on a hollow tree, resulting in an elevator fail for her nest. I inquired of the captain what the birds do to keep their nest in place, but he didn't know.
There are many varieties of birds in Lake Marion, several of which we spotted, like the anhinga. Well, not in the lake, but you know, flying around the water. If you click on the photo and look dead center and above the wiggly shadow, you can see an alligator sunning himself, at least a leg and part of his back. The captain told of touring the lake with a toddler on board, and when the child cried, an alligator slid off the bank and swam toward the boat. The mother stilled the child, and the gator turned around; when the crying resumed, the alligator made a U-turn for the boat. If I'd been there and packing heat, there would've been a Big Bang Theory explained.
Afterward, we drove nearby to the Lone Star Restaurant, a slightly renovated in the 1930's style ancient building that actually looks abandoned from the outside. People come from afar to dine at this Southern cuisine buffet, known for its tomato pie, which was pretty good.
This was not on our trip, but in our yard, or formerly our yard. Can you spot the white squirrel? Again, click to enlarge the picture, and he's smack dab in the middle, looking down disapprovingly at the paparazzi once again stalking him.
Hehe! I can totally picture you getting that big bang, right, Auntie! I had trouble spotting the alligator but I did see the squirrel. He looked like an exotic monkey in the rain forest!
ReplyDeleteI,too, couldn't identify the alligator, even after two tries. But the white squirrel was easier. I'm SO glad you included this photo.
ReplyDeleteI've told folks about white squirrels (we have black ones in this neighborhood), and I was looked at as if I was telling a tall tale. I even began to doubt myself. But you've provided me with proof.
Loved the captions.