Road Trip

Lake City, Where? Part II

Lake City, SCWe are staying in the Holiday Inn Express in Lake City, SC, just a couple years later than our first attempt. After a long layoff it was good to get back in the Post Office saddle again – Paxville, Davis Station, Greeleyville, Lane, Salters, Kingstree, Cades, Lake City, Scranton, Coward, Effingham, Pamplico and Johnsonville.

Thirteen POs today and we have 7 lined up for tomorrow’s return trip. This was a second trip to Paxville because the first time we couldn’t find the Post Office, through no fault of our own I might add. Couple of interesting town names today. When you say Johnsonville all I think of is Brats, but my favorite has to be Effingham because if it is pronounced the way I hear it in my head, it sounds like someone is cussing about a ham.

Started up, went down, back up, down again, back up again, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/08: 57

Young Old Hickory

Young Old HickoryIn another Postal Safari serendipitous history lesson, we visited a state park that is located near Lancaster and is dedicated to the 7th President of the United States. The park encompasses the property that belonged to James Crawford, the brother-in-law to Andrew Jackson’s mother and is where Old Hickory grew up.

On the way into the park we had to stop and wait for a couple of white tailed deer to cross the road in front of us. There are a couple short hikes in the park and we decided to walk the one mile nature trail. I’m not too sure about the hunting regulations on state park land, so after about a half mile I took off my bright white Hilton Head Island ball cap and tucked into my waistband under my jacket.

We attempted to get a bagel for breakfast this morning after discovering that Rock Hill’s Durango Bagel had kettle boiled and oven baked, real bagels. We found their web site which let us know they moved, but no mention of hours. I called their phone last night, but there was no mention of hours on their answering machine. Mainly because there was no answering machine. Up and out early we pulled up outside the place a little after 7:00 AM. We could see someone in the back, probably cooking bagels judging by the smell outside. There were no hours posted on the doors, but there was a 8-1/2 x 11 sheet of paper with the text, “Since moving to our new location we have tried various closing times on weekends and have discovered that 4 PM works best for us, so we will be closing at 4 until further notice.” No mention of opening times though. We went out and shot photos of the other 2 Rock Hill Post Offices and came back 45 minutes later they still weren’t open. We ended up at Hardee’s. I really wanted a bagel too.

The USPS giveth and the USPS taketh away. Yesterday we found an extra Post Office in Clover and today we found one missing in Lancaster. After several passes along Memorial Park Drive looking for number 1979 and the Post Office that was supposed to be there we pulled into a likely strip shopping center, not there, but the building next door with only two small shops in it had the right number over the door to Hidden Treasures, a lingerie store with no sign of ever being a Post Office. When we got home I rechecked the USPS locater page and now there is only one PO listed as being in Lancaster.

Started up, went down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/07: 492

Not A Corvette In Sight

Bowling Green, SC 29703Bowling Green was one of 10 Post Offices we photographed today. The others included a going ghost town with a bunch of interesting buildings in the downtown (Great Falls), one that should have been open but wasn’t (Lando), one with a quite friendly Postmaster who made fun of me because I misspelled Edinburgh (Edgemoor), one where we had to bob and weave around the town’s Christmas parade to get to (Fort Mill) and one that was right where it was supposed to be, but turned out it was a CPU with a much larger one that wasn’t on my list closer to town (Clover.)

We are spending the night at a Courtyard by Marriott in Rock Hill and Donna summed up our experience so far by saying, “Maybe we should stay in Super 8 Motels, that way we won’t be disappointed because of our lowered expectations.” The first room we were put in the bathroom tile was missing grout over a large section and the floor underneath felt spongy. The second room was better, but the water pressure is weak and the wireless internet is lame, the connection is good, but the speed is hovering around only 5.5 Mbps, so I can’t even stream RP. Plus breakfast isn’t free here. Unfortunately there wasn’t a HIE anywhere near here.

Started up, went down, back up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/07: 491

70,000 Sunrises

Sunrise Which is over 191 years worth, neither I nor the condo balcony I was standing on when I took this photo will ever see that total, the Emperor won’t make that many either, but it had traveled over that number in miles by late this afternoon.

Donna and I went to bed around 9:30 last night so we were up at the crack of dawn, literally. After breakfast we postponed our usual walk on the beach because it was quite chilly and windy. Instead we hopped in the car and drove to Bluffton, Hardeeville and Ridgeland to take Post Office Portraits. Our little loop brought us back to HHI where we ponied up the $5 for a day pass to nab the missing Harbortown branch PO on the Sea Pines Plantation.

Along the way we made several stops, ostensively to shop for the few remaining folks on our Christmas list, but I think Donna and I made out better than anyone. Our last stop was a used book store near the entrance to Sea Pines where we both got a couple of hardcovers to read. One of the ones I got was the latest Robert B. Parker Spenser novel which some one had just brought in today.

Right next door to the shopping center the bookstore was in was a Sticky Fingers restaurant. The one in Augusta had catered a lunch at ASCO when we had some visitors in and those who had the food said it was good. Being lunchtime Donna and I, let the car sit and walked the 100 feet over. It was 12:30 on a Saturday and there were two cars in the parking lot. Both in the back. One cook and one waitress? I was a little hesitant to eat at a place were we were the only customers, but it was a chain, so it couldn’t possibly be awful. It wasn’t. We split a lunch combo plate which consisted of 2 big ribs, a pulled pork sandwich, some beans and some slaw. Everything was tasty except for the slaw which was bland which means we would, if the opportunity strikes again, eat at a Sticky Fingers again.

Late afternoon found us at Donna Horsman’s house for some grilled chicken, roasted new potatoes, green beans and salad. We hadn’t seen Donna since attending Jerry’s memorial service back in May. She, with the help of her daughter, has continued to manage the 18 condos at the Beach & Tennis Resort and will for at least one more year. I think it helps keep her busy and mind off the loss of Jerry the Condo King. I guess I’ll have to start referring to Donna as the Condo Queen and Lisa can get the “title” of Condo Princess.

Started up, went down, back up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/07: 481

Internet Withdrawal

Hot TatersTonight we are relaxing in Unit B-327 of the Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort. If the sun was still up we would have a great view of the beach, but it is 8:00 PM in November and pretty much all we can see is the blue glow of the largest swimming pool on the island. There are over 50 crystal clear cable channels to choose from, but no Internet access. What? Whatever will I do? Blog to a text file and upload it a day late from a hot spot somewhere on the island.

On our way down we took the scenic, AKA long, way here and picked up 4 Post Offices. First stop was a return trip to Ehrhardt. The first time we attempted the PO in this town a festival filling the main street and blocking access to the place thwarted us. This afternoon worked out great as I got to park right up front and the sun even cooperated in being behind me. Next were two (out of the three total) Walterboro Post Offices we had left to do. The first time in town we got the main downtown PO easy, but a big wreck on I-95 prevented any attempt on these northern two. One is a little country store in Canadys where not only can you mail a package, but you can feast on hot taters and chicken or buy bait and tackle. As far as the USPS is concerned this is a Walterboro Post Office with a zip code of 29488-5753, but the defiant sign outside the Penny Pincher Mart says it is the Post Office for Canadys, SC 29433. We somehow missed the Jacksonboro Post Office (could have been the vague Google map), but did manage to find our way to Green Pond.

Started up, went down, back up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/07: 479

Ten Plus Glenn Springs

Glenn Springs Post OfficeWe did get those two stray Post Offices, 8 more official ones and a historic no longer used one. In just a random happenstance on our drive we stumbled on a small post office in a place we didn’t expect. A quick u-turn and we found out it wasn’t a currently active PO, but a restored building from the old days in Glenn Springs.

You can no longer search for the term gafinkleforp on Google and not get any results. There are two, yesterday’s post and the front page here. Not bad, less than 24 hours. Yahoo is still behind the times, they return no hits — yet.

We had breakfast in Saluda (BK’s French Toast Sticks are the greatest food invention since, well, ever.) Lunch today was in downtown Chester at Annie’s Arbor, whose buffet paled in comparison to the Kings morning offerings. Dinner was at home, thank goodness.

Just in time for Christmas, all nine seasons of the X-files, plus the movie all in one jumbo box for just $246.99. I’ve added it to my Amazon Wishlist in case anyone is feeling generous.

More realistically, the new Blade Runner (Five-Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition) has been added to the wishlist as well and it is only $54.99. This looks like the only way to get a copy of the 1982 Theatrical Release with the Harrison Ford narration. But to get it to me in time you will have to use expedited shipping as it is not going to be released until 12/18. Happy Shopping.

Started up, went down, back up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/07: 473

69,000 Pieces of Aztec Gold

Last night we turned the clocks back and took advantage of that extra hour to sleep it away. But somehow, even though we got moving this morning at the “normal” time, it seemed like we were an hour behind all day.

Might have been the time we spent walking around at the Cowpens National Battlefield or it could have been time spent walking a block of downtown Gaffney looking for a Post Office or it could have been the time spent circling Newberry looking for a lunch place before ending up at Taco Bell or maybe it was…

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me.
We pillage, we plunder, we rifle, and loot,
Drink up, me ‘earties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don’t give a hoot,
Drink up me ‘earties, yo ho.

I told her not to do it, but she did it anyway, Donna switched the channel over to USA at 8:00PM tonight and another 20 minutes were lost — watching the beginning of TDPM.

Somewhere between Carlisle and Union the Emperor kicked over 69,000 miles. With 3 weeks to go until HRH’s 4th birthday he may even reach the 70k mark before then.

Started up, went down, back up, back down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/07: 468