June 22, 2004 - Sesquicentennial State Park, Columbus, South Carolina

We're not sure how you pronounce the name of this state park, so we just called it "Sasquatch State Park". (Of the irony...we have a BIG FOOT truck camper.) We drove all the way up Route 321 to get here. Man, what a flat, STRAIGHT piece of pavement and real estate. We would pass through these little towns which were a dozen buildings lined up against the street, 20 seconds later...back to no where. Being from Massachusetts, we were kinda dumbfounded that you could have this much land and NOT have condos on every acre.

I forced Schnookie to pull into a place that claimed it was the largest fireworks dealer in the south. Man, if I was still 12 years old, I'd probably wet myself from excitement after seeing all THE STUFF THAT BLOWS UP. I thought the box of fireworks labeled "This Is America" was apropos. I can only image some redneck down here prodding his son to light the one labeled "we kick ass" and going: "WOO HOO BOY!! DID YOU SEE THAT EXPLODE? GEORGE BUSH WOULD'VE LIKED THAT ONE!!"

Another thing about the South is the Piggly Wiggly supermarkets. Sometimes just known as "The Pig." We were going to buy a trendy Piggly Wiggly T-Shirt with their pig logo on it, but all of you Northerners would just think it was Porky Pig.

This camp is something else. It cost us FOUR BUCKS (we think) to get in here, and it's beautiful! I'm writing this now in a thunderstorm at the camp. Watch--those little bastards from Oregon Inlet will find us here.

Note: This links to a beautiful panoramic shot of the park that Eric took. Click to see a bigger one!

This was the best place at which we camped. Not only was the fee unbelievable, but the setting was beautiful, it was quiet and practically empty! As if all that weren't enough, there was also water and electricity hookups--and a dump station! It doesn't get any better! Thank you, South Carolina! (In fact, I would have liked to stay longer...just relax and do nothing...)

About that flat road...it was long and straight, but also interesting--seeing all the little towns, houses and churches along the way.

The Dawg has FLEAS!! Picked up from one of the campsites, no doubt. Now I know what those little red bites on my legs are from. I bought some flea shampoo and washed her in the (miniscule) sink. My skin crawls just thinking about it!