South Carolina

July 7, 2009

An apology for the layout. This program has its own quirks that, now matter how I structure the paragraphs, it ends up entirely different when I post. Will try to edit for corrections at a later time.

It's been a busy two weeks for us in the Greenville, SC area. My parents and sister live here, which has provided for good family time plus several trips into the mountains. Unfortunately, we have had limited computer access. Apologies for the length of time between posts.

On our way to Greenville we made a quick stop at Wms.-Brice Stadium in Columbia for the included picture. It is of me holding the Geyer Family College Bowl Football trophy in front of the home field of the South Carolina Gamecocks. For those not in the know, each year our family holds a competition to determine who can pick the most college bowl winners for the season (which, in my opinion, has become absurd in the number now played each year). The winner then takes possession of the trophy and, on more than one occasion, the loser has forwarded the trophy to the winner in disassembled pieces. It would be an understatement to say our clan is VERY competitive to the point of needing a Dr. Phil intervention. As fate would have it, Deb won this year. The win was an especially sweet in that it was her first time in the competition. Given our new travels, we decided to add a new dimension to the tradition. (Yes, we can be as competitive as the rest.) We will be taking as many pics. as possible of the trophy in front of stadiums of teams eligible for bowl bids. It will be interesting to see if future winners can match the number of pics. we document.

For the first few days we helped my parents with tasks around their property and settled into our site at Paris Mountain State Park. Developed in the mid-1930s by the CCC as a watershed for the area, the park is more urban in setting than most state parks but still beautiful and well-maintained. There are ample hiking trails, a large lake for swimming and, blessedly, paved camping sites.

As an aside, if you are ever in the Greenville-Spartanburg area do not pass up a meal at Bucky's Bar-B-Q. Located on the outskirts of Greenville in a non-descript metal building, it is the best Carolina Bar-B-Q you will find anywhere! Offering chopped pork, ribs or chicken plates and sandwiches from meats smoked in an attached shed, it is a melt-in-your-mouth experience. Sides range from crispy sweet potatoes to baked beans to coleslaw and are all homemade delicious. My suggestion is the chopped pork sandwich smothered in their mustard-based sauce topped with a large garnish of coleslaw. It's the only way to eat a true Carolina Bar-B-Q sandwich.

Another must do if you are anywhere close to Ashville, NC is visit the Biltmore Estate. Do not pass Go, do not give it second thought, do not put it off until a later time. There is a reason it is on the official Things To Do Before You Die list. Deb and I spent a day there and, believe me, it is unlike anything you will experience in your lifetime.

Completed in 1895 by George W. Vanderbilt, it is officially registered as America's largest home. Vanderbilt's goal was to create an American castle that riveled those he had visited in Europe and, with unlimited wealth, more than passed all expectations. The estate alone was once the largest single-owned property in America. A portion of the land and home is still privately owned by Vanderbilt's grandson, William A.V. Cecil, with the remaining land becoming part of what is now the Pisgah National Forest. The Castle (home) is filled with priceless masterpieces, antiques and intricate architectural details. The gardens and grounds, designed by Frederick Law Olmstead whose best known work is New York's Central Park, are beyond words. Any further descriptions I could provide would not be adequate to the overall experience. Just Google Biltmore Estate and be amazed.

It has been nice to spend quality time with family and enjoy the Greenville region. It's not only a nice place to visit, but also a nice place to live. We are still enjoying our full-time RV lifestyle and look forward to sharing more of our adventures from somewhere down the road.

Photo by Debbie

copyright 2009 Lane A Geyer