March 2009 – Random Connections

South Carolina Heritage Corridor

March 29, 2009 Tom 2 Comments

While out driving the rural highways of South Carolina you may have come across a road sign with this symbol… Seeing a road sign like this lets you know that you are on either the South Carolina Discovery Route, or the South Carolina Nature Route, both parts of the South Carolina Heritage Corridor. On the … Read More “South Carolina Heritage Corridor” »

Very Superstitious

March 28, 2009 Tom 2 Comments

History and Genealogy, Local, Weirdness

I was reading my friend Duckhunter’s blog about his discovery of a house with “Haint Blue” paint on the porch. Duck does a great job of describing this practice, but it got me thinking about other, similar superstitions. In particular, I wondered if there were other superstitions like this, perhaps some even specific to the … Read More “Very Superstitious” »

Fatz Cafe: Where Everyone’s Irregular

March 27, 2009 Tom 2 Comments

Rants, Restaurants

Warning, trivial rant ahead. I know this is minor in the grand scheme of things, and it’s not a really big deal, but sometimes it just all goes wrong… Dinner. Supposed to be a simple affair, especially if you’re dining out. That wasn’t the case this evening. Our dinner at Fatz Cafe was a comedy … Read More “Fatz Cafe: Where Everyone’s Irregular” »

Initialed Chimneys

March 23, 2009 Tom 4 Comments

Local, Weirdness

The above photo is of a house near my office. It’s a bit blurry because I shot quickly as I was driving past. What caught my attention was the prominent initial “F” worked into the chimney masonry. In a post-mortgage fallout, post-“Flip this House” era, the idea of marking one’s house so indelibly seems quaint, almost laughable.

This is a very permanent mark. In many cases tan colored bricks are built into the chimney structure. Just about the only way to remove the initial is to tear down and rebuilt the chimney. Painting over it only partially obscures the letter, as the bricks that make up the initial are often of a different shape or orientation, so you can still see the outline.

Paddling the Congaree Swamp

March 22, 2009 Tom 7 Comments

Paddling

Early Saturday morning a small group of us gathered to paddle Cedar Creek, located in the Congaree Swamp National Park. Instead of kayaks, we decided that would take this trip in canoes. It turned out to be one of the longest paddling trips I’ve taken, covering about 6 miles of swamp, then paddling back.

The issue of which boat to take was only resolved at the last minute. I knew Dwight was bringing his canoe. Whether or not I brought my kayak, or lugged my old battleship 15′ Coleman canoe depended on how many people decided to go. In the end, it was the Coleman, so I loaded it into the back of my pickup with about as much hanging off the tailgate as was actually in the bed of the truck.

Alan Russell and I met James Martin (who had joined us on our last flooded Congaree hike), Dwight Moffitt, and his friend Peter at the put in on South Cedar Creek Road. Dwight and Peter would be in one boat, Alan and I would be in mine, and James had his kayak. The plan was to paddle downstream a bit, then head back. According to Dwight this would take us through some of the more remote parks of the swamp, and away from the crowded boardwalks. Dwight assured us that paddling back upstream wouldn’t be a problem. Yeah, right.

Columbia Riverfront Park

March 22, 2009 Tom 1 Comment

Photography, Travel

Once, many years ago, I made the statement that while other cities like Austin and New Orleans had cool Riverwalk areas, Columbia had built a penitentiary on it’s riverfront. Fortunately, in the past couple of decades since that statement attitudes have changed, and both Greenville and Columbia have recognized the importance of their waterways and the potential for tourism. While in Columbia this past week I was able to spend an afternoon at the Columbia Riverfront Park, and it was quite a pleasant outing.

The park is located at the site of the Columbia Waterworks, and incorporates historical elements of the waterworks, the Columbia Canal, and the Congaree River. One enters the main portion of the part at the Waterworks entrance, with a path that leads past the portions of the water treatment plant that are still in operation.

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The End of Battlestar – A Prediction

March 19, 2009 Tom No Comments

Entertainment

So, tomorrow marks the end of Battlestar Galactica. I’ll be watching the two-hour series finale, probably projected on the wall for greater effect. However, I wanted to get some predictions on record PRIOR to the season ending. If you haven’t caught up with the series, stop reading now. There be spoilers here. The plight of … Read More “The End of Battlestar – A Prediction” »

SCETV Technology Workshops

March 19, 2009 Tom No Comments

EdTech

For the past three days I’ve been in Columbia doing workshops SCETV. As I’ve done for the past three years, I’ve offered training at various levels in Google Earth. It was a busy three days, and I didn’t have much time to blog during that time. Still, it was a good experience. SCETV always puts … Read More “SCETV Technology Workshops” »

William Walker Memorial Singing 2009

March 15, 2009 Tom No Comments

History and Genealogy, Music, Religion

Saturday I attended the William Walker Memorial Shape Note Singing at Wofford College in Spartanburg. This was a special occasion, marking the bicentennial of Walker’s birth. An entire weekend of events had been planned for the event. In addition to the singing, there would be an evening showing of the documentary Awake My Soul, and … Read More “William Walker Memorial Singing 2009” »

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