Monday, March 23, 2009

McCormick

I haven't been able to upload anything to the blog in awhile since we arrived in a small city in the southwest corner of South Carolina. Land of the Palmetto Tree and Crescent Moon. Just 50 minutes north of Augusta, Georgia. Tucked in between the hills and shore of the Savannah River lies the city of McCormick.

The temperature is still quite chilly when I wake up in the morning. Around the low 30's with the low laying mist hugging the ground until the sun warms up enough to burn it away. The campground is away from any busy roads and your only neighbors are the deer and raccoons that come by the campsite to look for anything we may have left out.
The other night we built a nice fire and sat enjoying the heat while talking about our past year on the road. What is it about a campfire that just relaxes you. Is it the crackling logs or the warm heat against your legs? Is it the smell of smoke or the dancing light across your partners face? We burned all the wood we had and then picked up what ever we could find around us not wanting the fire to die.


I have been working this State Park with my new job. Today, my first day, I spent in the small town of McCormick. I say small because there is a Main Street with a few side streets. The railroad tracks go right down the middle of town and still see quite a bit of traffic today. As I walk this Main Street and look into shop windows I can still imagine how life must have been back in the days that these small towns were so important to the Railroads. It used to be that the trains wouldn't run at night so they would stop here in McCormick for the night. Travelers would walk the block down to the local Bed and Breakfast to stay overnight. The local restaurants would be full of hungry travelers. The streets would be a hive of activity. Today, as I look around I am the only one walking around with very few cars passing by. Yet, these old buildings are still standing and telling their stories of years gone by. The faint musty smell gently hits you as you enter through the big tall glass doors. The squeaky worn wooden floor bends under your weight as you walk down the isles of displayed wares.
I am glad to be able to see yet another side of this country. Just when I thought I had seen it all I realize that there are these small communities tucked away like little gems waiting to be found.

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