I hate to ‘monopolize the conversation’ here on our blog, so I’m letting Mike tell you about our first stop in the Palmetto State. I won’t mention I am very behind on our blog posts, and this is a super easy way to play catch-up. Isn’t it amazing that a man of so few words fell in love with a blabbermouth like me!

Magnolia RV Park & Campground

Mon 1/20    Moving day, but first to nearby RV repair shop near Loris, SC.  Dropped it off at 10:30.  Drove into Conway for lunch and then walked the dogs on a nice trail next to a river in downtown.  It was a public park area adjacent to a marina.  Got phone call from shop on possible fix for engine squeal but declined their offer to replace the serpentine belt which had just been replaced a few months ago.  And they would try to “trace” the roof leak, but would take 3-4 hours at 125 per hour…No Thanks!  Drove back and paid their ransom for doing nothing. Drove toward next park about 3:00.  Stopped at rest area on I-20 before Columbia, but sign said no overnight camping.  So we drove to next exit and parked at the always wonderful Pilot truck stop.  The sun was setting in our eyes as we gladly parked on the outer curb amongst the giants.  We were able to open one side of slides, walk the dogs, eat some soup and go to bed.  Listened and watched the rear view camera all night for wide-turning angry tired drivers to plow into our coach or toad.

Tues 1/21   Moving day part 2.  Weighed the house before leaving Pilot truck stop at ten.  Easy drive to Kinards, SC by noon.  Small park, but with dog run.  Unloaded and cleaned some.  Took nice showers. Warm day, but got windy with cold air blowing in. Prepared for low in the teens.  Had a couple martinis and ate Dina’s hash recipe, spicy and good.

Weds 1/22   Cold 19.  Up to 36 and wind lightened enough to work outside.  Started campfire about five, of course.  Came in to eat about eight.

Thurs 1/23  Cold 21 to begin, but above freezing before noon.  Drove west to Spartanburg for a couple rv supplies and ATM for cash.  Then drove into town to eat at DDD place called The Beacon Drive-In.  Just a dive with good greasy chow.  Headed back to park, but made a slight detour off the freeway to nearby town of Clinton for a liquor store and hardware store.  Took dogs, but forgot leashes.  Got back to our site and were lazy the rest of the day, then read and watched tv after dark as the temperature plummeted.

Fri 1/24    Coldest 11!   Stayed in, except to walk dogs.  Hi 31.  So far, no damage.  Read, worked inside, Dina wrote.  Dinner was crockpot beef tips in chimichurrie sauce.

Sat 1/25    Cold 24, with sw wind, but above freezing after noon.  Drove dogs to The Buncombe Horse Trail near the Brick House Campground in Sumter National Forest. Walked them an hour and collected some wood.  Came back and stayed in, read, watched tv.  Dina made mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean dish, salad, with the leftover beef tips…very messy, but good.

Sun 1/26    Finally stayed above freezing.  Cleaned under stove top, read, Dina planned future trips.  About three drove dogs to Sumter National Forest again.  Walked about an hour, saw group of three horses with riders, it is an equestrian trail.  Got back and relaxed with martinis about five and then campfire.  Followed by grilling sweet potatoes and steak.  Didn’t sleep well.

Mon 1/27    Nice and warm.  Drove dogs to Newberry.  Stopped for lunch of Tex-Mex (or so they called it).  Then to Lynch’s Woods Park Trails.  Hiked with dogs about an hour or three miles.  Then stopped at Walmart for supplies and groceries before driving back.  Napped and read till dinner of ravioli casserole.  Watched tv and read.

Tue 1/28    Just at or below freezing all day and breezy.  Talked to repair shop near Charlotte.  Put everything in from outside that will get wet by melting snow.  Snow started lightly about three until bedtime.  About two inches accumulated.  Cold with breeze.  Dina made chicken tetrazzini for dinner.

Weds 1/29   Snow!  About 2 inch accumulation.  And cold 18.  Dina had to take dogs out just after midnight.  Cessna wanted to eat the white ice.  They were taken to the dog park several times to play.  Sun came out for a couple of hours before noon, so some snow melted.  But it never got above freezing.  Stayed in and read and ate and planned our future travels.

Thurs 1/30   Cold 14.  Warmed enough to get outside.  Started campfire about four.  Grilled potatoes and sausage.

Fri 1/31    20 on the last day of our first year traveling.  Warmed to 50s.  Drove to Greenville and parked downtown.  Walked the dogs up Main st. looking for restaurants with chicken fried steak on the menu.  Almost all the nice pubs and upscale eateries had tables and chairs outside on the walk and allowed dogs.  So we found a great place and ordered drinks and then a nice late lunch and it warmed enough to take our coats off.  No one was sitting at the outside tables anywhere until we showed them that it was ok. People started showing up to enjoy the sunshine and many came by to pet our mongrels, even a group of preschool kids from 1st Baptist with their handlers.  They were taking a survey of folks about what they enjoyed and disliked about the area.  They moved along when our food came.  Afterward, walked back down Main to Falls Park and a pathway that lead along the Reedy River for miles.  We went as far as the zoo and back.  There were many other parks along the way and still more parks on the other side of Main that we didn’t see.  We made it back to the car a little after four and back to our site a little after five.  Everyone was sore and tired, but we worked our lunch off.  Then we built what may be our last campfire here because rain is forecast for the next several days, then retired around ten.

Sat 2/1     11th anniversary and first for our trip.  Cloudy and cool start. Drove to Columbia a little after noon.  Stopped to get supplies for Super Bowl watching party at the park’s rec room tomorrow.  Afterward, parked downtown which is next to USC campus.  Walked dogs around in light mist for a couple of hours.  Stopped at one sports pub for celebratory drinks.  Then got back to the car and made it to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse for our 5:30 reservation (Dina’s choice), after stopping at a crazy busy liquor store.  Had a couple more celebratory martinis before the best steak I ever ate and sides.  Hefty bill, but worth it.  Drove back to site in the mist and in bed before eleven.

Sun 2/2     Nice and warm, mostly sunny.  Dogs stayed outside all day.  Did some chores and Dina prepared tamales, queso, and Hawaiian dip (from the last of our Virginia Ham) for party at six.  Walked over to room above office to eat, drink, and watch the game with other campers.  After game ended, walked the dogs and hit the sack.

Mon 2/3     Rained until noon, then warmed up and nice.  Walked dogs.  Built campfire about five thirty.   Went in to eat tamales shipped here on Saturday by Suzanne.  Not too many were eaten at game watching party last night.

Tues 2/4    Wet cold.  Hibernated.  Misty.  After seven, drove the few miles to Clinton to eat at Blue Ocean seafood restaurant.  Good fried specials and snow crab. Mist and rain. Read, tv and bed.

Wed 2/5     Rained some overnight, then cloudy till noon.  Them warmed to 65.  I went for groceries at Newberry, Dina stayed to clean.  Paid bills for February. Read, ate fish tacos from leftovers, and watched tv.

Thurs 2/6   Cool, some sun.  Drove to Dreher Island State Park on an island on Lake Murray.  I fished while Dina walked dogs.  Left about four-thirty.  Back at site and grilled chicken at six.  Ate and watched Olympics and read.

Fri 2/7     Cool, more sun.  After noon drove to Greenwood State Park on Lake Greenwood.  I fished with no luck and Dina hiked with dogs.  Left at five.  Built campfire and fried french fries and bacon outside for BLTCOA (bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheese, onion, avocado) sandwiches.  Watched a little of opening ceremony at Olympics.

Sat 2/8     Cool start, then warmed enough to work outside.  Paid some bills while Dina went into town to run errands.  Cleaned some outside before sunset.  Ate SC BBQ and watched Olympics.  Then walked dogs and went to bed.  Watched more tv and read.