News From Barnwell State Park

Back home from Barnwell State Park. It’s always good to get back home from RV camping. But look at that inquisitive doe who visited my campsite on Monday or Tuesday morning. Then every morning thereafter. What a view out the Aliner’s side window!
A real inspiration as I worked away on the next novel in the Dr. Ray Raether South Carolina RV Travel Mystery series. That doe will somehow have to appear in the next book!
I was able to persuade Park Manager Eddie Richburg to join us again for an hour or so to describe events at the Park since our last visit about three years ago.
With limited staff, he was busy as the dickens. So I cornered him early. On Monday afternoon.
Barnwell is one of South Carolina’s State Parks at which swimming has been reestablished. This photo of the swimming area doesn’t quite do it justice. Sand has been reclaimed from the lake to line the bottom of the roped-off area, and the shore has been cleaned of all debris. Fortunately the two changing areas on either side of the Park Office remain.
Hear Mr. Richburg describe this development with a click on the button. Over the years I’ve heard dozens of Park visitors across the State lamenting the loss of their community swimming areas. Good to see it back.
While we’re on the subject of the lake, I asked Park Manager Richburg again about fishing at his Park. Some listeners have expressed polite skepticism about his description during the first interview. If anything, he was even more enthusiastic.
I haven’t included everything he said. But here’s a sample. Bass, Brim, Shellcracker, and Crappie. I don’t know what a Shellcracker is, but it wasn’t quite the time to ask. Bass, according to Eddie, get huge here. He’ll explain why if you click the “click-to-listen button.”
Barnwell, like every other Park in the State system, is under great pressure to generate revenue. That’s not easy! Well, not easy if the Park sticks to its primary public service mandate. One method used by Barnwell and other Parks is to expand sale of retail items such as hats, t-shirts, ice cream, and cold drinks.
Take a look at the photo of Barnwell’s retail sales area above. I mean! The Park Office was cramped as it was. But now, a desk and chair has been removed to make way for the shelves. Not even room to swing a cat, as we used to say OverHome.
Profits from retail sales will never cover operating costs at a public facility like Barnwell State Park. So, like other Managers in the State System, Eddie Richburg has solicited contributions from wherever he can. Materials for the new fire rings, like the one you see in the photo above, were paid for by grateful Park visitors.
Then Eddie and Park personnel set them up. That’s one of the Park’s “rondette” cabins you see in the background. This isn’t all.
Have you heard about the Park System’s “600 in 60 Project”? I hadn’t. Seems Mr. Mikee Johnson of Cox Lumber Company offered the State Park System wood and materials for several hundred benches and picnic tables. Hardware and delivery included. IF, they agreed to have the tables set up and sited by Boy Scouts within 60 days of delivery.
Now, that’s synergy! Local young people responsible for projects all over the State. Projects that enhance the Parks.
Like Mr. Cox, Park Manager Richburg is a strong supporter of Scouting. He’s been using Eagle Scout Projects to compensate for the Park’s limited budget for years. While at the same time providing young folks in Barnwell County with valuable life experience.
Soon, Scouts will relocate a section of the Park’s nature trail. Relocating part of the boardwalk that raises hikers up out of a wet spot. Now, that’s an enormous job. But Eddie is confident they will meet the challenge.
It doesn’t end there. Another Eagle Scout project has added attractive trail markers throughout the Park’s winding, sometimes confusing, nature trail. Now new hikers on the trail can’t miss turns with these attractive posts to guide them.
I’m not sure, but I think Mr. Johnson of Cox Lumber donated the raw materials for this project as well.
So there you have it. Thanks again to Park Manager Eddie Richburg for his second contribution to the CarolinaConsidered Project. Be sure to stop by the next time your travels take you anywhere near Barnwell or Blackville in Lower South Carolina. You won’t be disappointed.

Back at Barnwell State Park

Back for a few days at Barnwell State Park. I last visited here in 2010 some time. Barnwell is peaceful and beautiful. An ideal RV camper’s place to park and rest awhile.

Barnwell is another of the State’s CCC-built Parks. Chuck full of history and those CCC touches we’ve come to expect. Even take for granted.

Here’s one example. The unpretentious but clean bath house. And a huge fire pit surrounded by wooden benches. Think of the fond childhood memories that have been created around that circle over the years.

I caught Park Manager Eddy Richburg in a weak moment yesterday at check-in. He agreed to do another CarolinaConsidered interview to update us on what’s been happening here during the past three years.

Many of you have listened to his original interview on this site. One of our most popular! Eddy is a Park Manager’s Park Manager. No other way to put it!

Better get cracking on the second novel draft while there’s still time this morning. These things don’t write themselves! And thanks to all of you who’ve downloaded copies of “Death, Lonely and Peculiar.” Surprisingly, it’s selling well on Amazon.

Columbia, SC: Two Hours to Mountains; Two Hours to Ocean

Everyone who's moved to the South Carolina Midlands during the past fifty years has heard: “From here it’s only two hours to the mountains or two hours to the ocean. The ideal location!”

It's a cliché. But there's some truth in it. I've never been able to drive to either the mountains or the ocean from Columbia in two hours. More like three. But that could be due to overly cautious GeezerDriving. Or because of the Aliner trailing along behind. Normal folks might make it in two hours. Especially if they stick to the superhighways that crisscross the state.

Writing "Death, Lonely and Peculiar" has taken most of my time for the past sixteen months, it seems. Though I still managed to get out every few weeks for a few days of RV camping. Usually at one of the South Carolina State Park campgrounds.

The Aliner is like a cabin in the woods. A cabin with regular changes of scenery outside its windows! Mountains one trip, ocean beach the next. And everything in between. Now, that's hard to beat.

 

I've begun writing the second book in what may become a series. This will be "Death, Long Long Ago."

Ray and Samantha have returned to Iroquois State Park for a few days of peaceful camping. On check-in, though, they learn a gravesite within the Park's boundaries was desecrated just the night before. Worse, it's the grave of a celebrated Iroquois County Revolutionary War hero.

Detective Sal Ryan once again invites Ray and Samantha to join him as he tracks down the perpetrator. The results will shock the whole County. Stay tuned.

"Death, Lonely and Peculiar," A Dr. Ray Raether South Carolina Travel Mystery.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DRI66BY

South Carolina RV Travel Mystery!

It's been a while since the last post. Sorry about that. Here's why.

Last March I decided to write a novel. One based on RV travels in South Carolina. It took longer than expected. Probably because this is my first fiction book. Haven't written fiction since high school. And that was long ago, done in Latin. On horn books. Well, almost.

Furthermore, I've had about enough interaction with traditional book publishers to last a lifetime. Maybe two lifetimes. So I decided to put this novel out as an e-book. Through the excellent Amazon's Kindle publishing program. Quicker and less stressful than trying to work with a traditional publishing house.

Here's a link:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DRI66BY

When you download the book will set you back $2.99. If you don't have a Kindle or Nook or WhatEver e-book reader, just download one of Amazon's reader applications for your desktop PC, your laptop, your iPad or Android tablet, or even for your SmartPhone!

The Amazon apps are free and install themselves. You'll find the link to them in the right-hand column of the book's page on Amazon.

Here's the description of the book from the Amazon site:

"That pretty school teacher-lookin' lady with the fancy car's layin' dead up there in her tent! Dead fer shur! Somebody Come Help!" ten-year-old Henry P. Giles howled as he ran lickety-split across the overgrown putt-putt course toward the bath house at 'Hathaway's Family Golf and Fishing Resort.' "Momma! Come Quick! I didn't touch nothin'! Just looked in."

Iroquois County folks said Hathaway's Campground had seen better days. Folks old enough to remember. Now, all but a few of its forty campsites were closed for repair. The putt-putt golf course and fish pond lay virtually abandoned.

The only recent improvements at this rustic institution were a sophisticated website and two huge signs out on I-95. The 'resort' they described had little in common with Hathaway's Campground beyond its Highway 158 address.

Two Iroquois County deputies answered the Sunday morning 911 call. It took only a quick look to persuade them this was just another of Hathaway's "Off I-95" suicides. They even found two large prescription pill bottles, one full, one empty, beside the body.

Retired USC professor, Dr. Ray Raether, though, didn't agree. Ray and his constant canine companion, Samantha, had been in their Aliner just across the road the previous day when their new camping neighbor arrived. They'd gone over to help set up her tent.

Ray had encountered his share of suicidal students while teaching at USC. Even more drug abusers. The vivacious young woman he met across the road at Hathaway's was neither suicidal nor a drug abuser. Ray would stake his Aliner on it. But if not suicide or a drug overdose, what explained her death?

Samantha, at 110 pounds, was large even for an American Alsatian. She'd been born at the Schwarz Kennels in Oregon, with breed developer Lois Schwarz herself assisting. Samantha was protective. But in a quiet, attentive way. Those steady, expressive yellow eyes were what most people remembered. She seemed to know instinctively whether anyone she met was good or bad, and allowed only those she considered good near her. Or near Ray!

Ray Raether's suspicions alone wouldn't have triggered a more comprehensive investigation of this latest Hathaway's Campground death. But the new arrival had signed Hathaway's Campground registry as "Victoria Limpkin Prentiss." And she'd told Mrs. Hathaway she planned to have dinner that night with a Limpkin cousin from Charleston.

The death of a Charleston Limpkin relative couldn't go uninvestigated in South Carolina. Or even under-investigated. As if to make the point, newspaper and television news reporters began arriving at Hathaway's less than two hours after the 911 call.

More comprehensive investigation of Victoria Limpkin Prentiss's death meant Iroquois County Sheriff's Department Chief of Detectives Salvatore Patrick Ryan himself would handle the case. Sal was a retired New York City Police detective who bore little resemblance to either Don Knotts or Andy Griffith.

After Ray shared his doubts about Victoria Limpkin Prentiss's death with Sal over a remarkable breakfast at Sadie's Restaurant in downtown Iroquois, Sal invited Ray and Samantha to help him with the case. Their investigation took them from Iroquois County to Charleston and back. Nothing they learned was as it seemed, or as it was supposed to be, as they uncovered the true cause of this lonely and peculiar death.

Hope you enjoy the book. I've already started the second in the series. Suggestions are welcome.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Sesqui State Park’s New Lake Trail

You may recall that a few days ago I wrote a short piece on the new hiking/walking trail around the lake at Sesquicentennial State Park. If you missed it, click here.

Well, last Saturday the Park Service had the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new trail. Everyone was there! From State Park Director, Phil Gaines, on down.

I’d arrived at the Park around 8:00 AM Saturday morning, intending only to sit in the truck, enjoying that beautiful view of the picnic area and lake, while working away on the second draft of my South Carolina RV travel mystery. The Park already was busier than usual. Probably because it was a Saturday morning. Quite a few visitors. Some with their dogs walking along the trail.

The staff too was busy with final manicure of the facilities in anticipation of the ribbon cutting event. That’s Maintenance Supervisor Rusty’s truck you see parked beside the restrooms. After years of experience and dedication, Rusty can spot a gum wrapper on the ground at 500 yards.

Folks began congregating back toward the Lake’s outlet waiting for the ceremony.

A ribbon had been stretched across the entrance to the bridge, right beside a HUGE sign advertising the State tax S.C. State Parks check-off. This, by the way, is something everyone who pays South Carolina State taxes can do to help the Parks painlessly. You’ll learn how the money is used in a few minutes.

Three ladies from Palmetto Health had set up an information table on the other side of the bridge. Their walking program is first rate. Read about it here.

Before long, quite a crowd had gathered. That’s Richland County Conservation Commission Chair, Carol Kososki, you see above. The Commission helped with the funding of the new trail. In addition to other projects in the Park. Such as the mid-18th century cabin over by the Dog Park.

Park Manager Daniel Gambrell called us all together and got things underway with opening comments. Click the button to hear what he had to say. Sorry about the noise in the background. That’s the waterfall just to the right of the bridge. Somehow, I couldn’t edit it out.

 

 

 

Next up was South Carolina’s State Park Director, Phil Gaines. You can imagine how busy he is, with 47 separate facilities spread across the State. He visits them all! But he seemed to take a special interest in this new trail. Have a listen to his comments.

 

 

 

Director Gaines then introduced long-serving Richland County Councilman, Jim Manning. He too has taken a special interest in Sesqui, and in the creation of this trail.

Wouldn’t you know it! Just as Councilman Manning began to speak the battery in my camera gave up the ghost. Here he is before the ceremony talking with Director Gaines. Fortunately, the voice recorder was more cooperative. Click the button below to hear Mr. Manning’s comments.

 

 

 

Before I could get the camera battery replaced, Richland County Conservation Commission Chair, Carol Kososki, had begun to speak. Her comments are available below, again, with a click of the “Click to Listen” button.

 

 

Ms. Lori Lapin then spoke on behalf of Friends of Sesqui. In addition to her work with Sesqui Friends, Ms. Lapin sponsors “Lori’s Adventure Days” at Sesqui, and often runs the Park’s trails. She really knows what she’s talking about. Listen to her comments below.

 

 

By the time I’d been able to replace my camera battery they were ready to cut the ribbon. Sesqui’s Lake Trail was official open. I’d walked it before, but couldn’t resist the opportunity to go around again with Park Director Gaines and Park System Videographer, Laura Mueller. You’ve probably seen some of her remarkable videos on the State Park Systems web pages. A real pro.

So there you have it. Sesqui’s new trail is open officially. After the ceremony, I caught up with Parks Director Phil Gaines, Regional Manager Paul McCormack, and Sesqui Park Manager Daniel Gambrell. No wonder they were smiling! Be sure to come out and walk this new trail!

Finally, here’s a short slide show of the event.