It didn't take long to make the drive from Georgia to Twin Lakes Campground just south of Clemson, South Carolina, another beautiful Corps of Engineers Park. We had site # 5 right on the lake, a wonderful large pull through site. The park was busy with lots of families camped together but we were on a small loop that few cars traveled down making it peaceful and so relaxing. Lake Hartwell surrounds many land pieces jutting into the lake so there are lots of lakeside campsites. Ours was in complete shade, so necessary with the high heat each afternoon. And, using our National Park pass we had four nights for just $52.
With Clemson University just ten minutes north we went into town to visit the campus Friday morning. Clemson is darling college town and pretty quiet since it was summer session. The grounds are beautiful and seeing the football field reminded us how "big" college football is here in the east. A huge sports complex that doesn't show well in these photos, but very similar to University of Georgia Bulldog stadium in Athens, GA.
It was warm out but the campus was beautiful to walk around staying in the shade of the trees. Founded in 1889, it consists of six colleges of subjects including forestry, agriculture and life sciences.
We stopped to tour Fort Hill, the home of John C. Calhoun and later Thomas Green Clemson. It's right in the middle of the campus. Clemson, the university's founder came to the area in 1838 when he married Anna Maria Calhoun, daughter of John C. Calhoun. When Clemson died he left most of his estate (which he actually inherited from his wife) in his will to be used to create a college that would teach scientific agriculture and mechanical arts to South Carolinians.
Evenings back at our campground were stunning and still very warm so we put the kayak in right from the shore below us and paddled around, keeping out of the way of the pontoon boats also out for an evening ride.
One morning I looked outside the window at one of the hanging baskets to find a mama bird building a nest. Though I needed to remove the twigs each morning, she was diligent about using this basket as a home. I sure didn't want to move on with eggs tucked inside.
An hour's drive east took us to the town of Greenville, SC. Another wonderful town to visit, but we just wanted to enjoy some of the 30 mile bike trail called The Swamp Rabbit Trail. It probably wasn't the best day to choose to ride bikes, as the temp was in the 90s by the time we got started at 11:00. But, there were plenty of trees along the way which helped provide some shade.
I hadn't studied the map close enough to know that we were actually going to ride north to Furman University. Such a fun surprise when we came along the back side to the school...since my maiden name is Fuhrman...seems somehow they just forgot to put the
h in all the names around the school.
As we rode throughout he campus there was a lot of activity with cars and students which seemed unusual. Then we noticed this row of stick signs for all the summer camp programs being offered that week; it was Sunday, drop off day.
Another beautiful campus, founded in 1826, it still continues the tradition of housing all students on campus for four years, to create a very close-knit student body.
Not only beautiful architecture but also lovely landscaped gardens.
and even a Barnes and Noble store right in the middle of the campus. I loved seeing the Furman name everywhere I looked.
One of the prettiest parts of the schools was the lake and bell tower. We were standing there when a group of young women came to take photos, they were all graduates of Furman who had come for a reunion. We chatted for a bit, as they talked so fondly of their years at the college.
I took this photo on our return ride, showing this truly is a rails-to-trails bike path.
Stopped also at the cute Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery store for a cool drink, the temps were in the high 90s by then and we just needed to get inside and cool down a bit.
Back in town we rode a little along the river where everyone was playing in the water to keep cool. The town was really busy, just wished we'd had time to explore more than the bike trail. We definitely will return another time.
By Monday it was time to pack up and move a little further north, but its always hard to leave such a lovely spot, but, we needed to get closer to Charlotte, NC for a flight I had back to CA in just a week.
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