Thursday, May 12th, 2022 … Two Lane Adventures Continue!

Today we left Modoc SC to travel to the SC Good Sam Rally in Cleveland SC. We traveled on US 221 and SC 28, which bears the SC Heritage Corridor Nature Route markers. These signs populate the Scenic Byway, helping travelers to navigate the intricate highway system. The nature route is one of two parallel corridor-wide routes that run the length of the Heritage corridor to act as entrances to the corridors regions. The routes will connect and tie the 14 countries into one tourism destination. The nature route is a gateway to a wide variety of South Carolina’s natural resources. Beginning in the waterfalls and mountains of Table Rock and the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, the nature route winds along Russell and Thurmond Lakes and on to the Savannah River. The route follows the Edisto River, the longest free flowing black water river in America, until it reaches the ACE Basin and coastal plain of the Low country.

We came into Plum Branch, SC. Plum Branch got its name from the first church Plum Branch Baptist constituted in 1785, and built near the little stream Plum Branch. In the town was Bracknell's Store, owned by John Bracknell, opened in 1902. It was your typical general store. Providing customers everything they needed for day to day living. It was built parallel to the railroad tracks, the main stay of most towns.

It's what is painted on the side of the building that brings the chills up your spine. "This building may fall, but the quality of our merchandise will never." Although, from outward appearances, the building is in good shape for the age! Oddly enough, the name painted on the building is E.C. Rice, while the building has large letters affixed to the roof indicating Bracknell’s.

There was also a freshly painted mural on an outbuilding of the railroad in this lonely town of Plumb Branch. I tried to find any info

In February, 1852, William Burkhalter Dorn discovered the second-richest vein of gold in South Carolina history on the site of the present town of McCormick. At that time the land was owned by Dr. John Wardlaw Hearst, a relative of the famous family of newspaper fame. Dorn’s Mine, as the settlement was called, had a dozen families living nearby when Cyrus Hall McCormick, inventor of the reaper and "father of farm mechanization," bought the gold mine and land for $20,000. When the mines proved to be unprofitable, he purchased stock in both the Augusta & Knoxville Railroad and the Savannah Valley Railroad and through his influence, both of them intersected on his land in McCormick. For the town, he ordered forty acres surveyed and laid out in squares, which were alphabetically listed and divided into 30’ by 90’ lots. He auctioned the lots and gave property for the churches, school, and cemetery. Cyrus McCormick never visited his property, but his wife Nettie took on the community as her personal social project.

As we departed McCormick, we spotted cheap gas! Too bad the station has been closed for years, especially with those prices!

At 832 feet, Parsons Mountain holds the title of the highest point in the general geographic area surrounding Parsons Mountain. Mr. James Parsons, the mountain's namesake, acquired it through a land grant in 1772. In the mid 1800s, gold was discovered on the mountain, further adding interest to the area. Long before Mr. Parsons, American Indians lived in and used these rich, productive forests. Settlers in the 1770s worked the land, obtaining what they could from agricultural practices, and cleared most of the timber. By 1920, severe soil erosion created abandoned fields, deep gullies, and soil-filled streams. From this worn out land, the Sumter National Forest was started in 1936. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) planted trees, repaired gullies, fought wildfires, and built roads. In 1935 the CCC built the fire tower on Parsons Mountain and in 1940 they began construction on this lake and recreation area. From its beginning, the Sumter National Forest has provided clean water, timber, wildlife habitat, jobs, and recreation sites for its communities. Parsons Mountain Recreation Area is an example that if resources are used wisely they can be enjoyed generation after generation.

In Anderson SC on SC 28, we passed Anderson's one & only Bison Farm. There was no name on it, but those big guys are definitely buffalo or bison!

We drove by this place and all I can say is, damn … I wish it was Saturday! What caught my eye was Breazeales Grocery Bluegrass. It’s a store that hosts bluegrass jams! The store was opened in 2007 and they have been in operation almost every Saturday since then. A couple opened the store for their son, Martin. They wanted him to have a place to develop his banjo skills and enjoy some good ole' fellowship with other musicians. It doesn't hurt have a place where people could come and play music together like the good ole' days. Sadly, Martin passed away in a boating accident in 2018. His memory is kept alive through the fellowship and music that is played and experienced every Saturday night at Breazeales. There are not many groceries, they sell: Hats, Exclusive Bluegrass Blend Coffee, Shirts, Instrument, and anything in the store you wish to purchase.

We passed through downtown of Historic Pickens, SC. The town of Pickens was founded in 1868 and named for the Revolutionary War hero General Andrew Pickens. Scottish-Irish settlers were the original inhabitants of the Pickens area, with a few traders who lived among the Cherokees. When the new Pickens was being created, Elihu Griffin offered 40 acres of his land for the courthouse; it was this land being offered for sale in the 1869 handbill. On June 15, 1869, a handbill distributed in South Carolina’s Upcountry advertised the “Last Sale of Town Lots” for the new county of Pickens. The ad stated, “The location is most desirable, one situated on a beautiful plateau and surrounded by a fertile region, with thrifty inhabitants and the village rapidly growing.”  

Just outside of the town center of Pickens is the Hagood Mill Historic Site. It is home to over 50 acres to explore. It is also on the National Registry of Historic Sites. It features an 1845 gristmill, restored log cabins, blacksmith shop, cotton gin, moonshine still, nature trails, and a gift shop featuring local crafters, musicians and authors. They host musical performances, private events and other community events. During musical and community events, you can see the grist mill in operation, a variety of living history demonstrators and an artisan market. Located on the same grounds is the South Carolina Petroglyph Site, the state's only protected and most accessible collection of rock art.

We saw our first brown bear as we neared the RV Park. I hope this is the only one we see!

Arrived at Palmetto Cove RV Park, our home for the next 3 night and 4 days. We will enjoy the SC Good Sam Rally, we always do!

Sandy and I dipped our toes into the cold, cold stream that runs behind the campground. We sat on a big, big rock and enjoyed the cool refreshing water!

Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!