Yesterday,
I had official business. The interstate landed me a flat tire due to debris. I
pulled over into the wildlife refuge to change my tire. After I got the
lug nuts off, an Officer Kuhn showed up on the scene and helped me finish off
changing my tire; very professional man. Before I left, I walked out to what
should have been a sandy beach-like shore, but the water was up to the margins. In the grasses, there were a host of dry, white snail shells in mass with large mussels three inches wide.
I
left and went on to my appointment. I was hanging around the Santee State Park. The Santee State Park is a 100 site
Lakeshore campground located in Santee, South Carolina. The first thing you
notice is the cleanliness of the location. The second is peaceful.
The
water was high, but not that bad. Aside from the weather mishap, this would be
a good opportunity for anyone wanting to get away from town to meditate, fish,
write, or do artsy things in the name of whatever you are into. Do nothing. Nothing is doing. I laugh.
Let
me be your eyes and ears for a minute to tell you about this secret honey hole
that you might not know about. Usually, when people look at brochures, they
want to believe what is advertised, is what they are getting. It is truthfully
represented by the photography on the State Parks page. This place is exactly
what it is advertised to be.
It
is a calm, quiet place situated down in the woods on Lake Marion. Santee State
Park is a place with pivotal, well-placed benches of contemplation. I could
imagine slews of poems written just by looking out over the flooded forest. You
see this tree line that defiantly stands above the water on the distant
horizon. If you didn’t know any better, you would think you were staring out
over an ocean. In reality, it use to be a town. Somewhere under that water is the location for General Francis Marion's old homestead.
I’ve
hiked the 7.5 mile loop trail. It goes down along the water and back around.
The thing of note here is to stay on the trail and follow the markers. The
ground looks stable near the lake side, but it is moss and debris over roots. You
could take a step through into what looks like solid ground but find yourself in a hole you
didn’t know was there. The bank naturally slants back down toward the lake.
That condition is to be expected. There is also a Limestone Nature trail, Oak
Pinolly trail, and Sinkhole Pond Trail. These are a mile long. The best part
about these trails is neatness. You still have to pay attention to where you
step.
If
you are into ecology, biology, or even geology; this park has a sinkhole for you. You will be submerged in Nature.
The
man in the initial picture above fishing off of the pier is a transplant from New York.
He was pulling catfish out left and right. This place is well stocked. It has
the following fish and variety number:
Sturgeon
(2)
Gars
(1)
Bowfin
(1)
Freshwater
eel (1)
Herring
and shad (5)
Mudminnows
(1)
Pikes
(2)
Minnow
and Carp (25)
Suckers
(11)
Freshwater
Catfish (10)
Cavefish
(1)
Pirate
Perch(1)
Needlefish
(1)
Temperate
Bass (4)
Sunfish
(19)
Perch
(11)
Mullet
(1)
Sole
(1)
For all my fishy friends...this is the hotspot for you.
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Out
on a pier over the water and back in the treeline on the lakeshore, there are
spacious, quaint cabins. It is the perfect place to squirrel yourself away from
technology to work on a novel, draw, or just meditate on nothing. Outside these
cabins is easy access down to the fishing piers. The area is well-kept and free of
clutter.
There are an assortment of things to do. The nearest town, albeit deceptively away, is under ten minutes or so to get to. You are not completely isolated but it gives you the feeling you are. Looking
at the online website you find things like:
Special
Events
Survival
Boot Camp with Chef Laurie
Artist-in-Residence
Fisheagle
Tours (Assortment of tours)
Nature
Adventure Outfitters (kayak, canoe, and paddle board rentals)
Fishing
Boating
(the boat ramp is like a dream with parking)
Playground
(very huge)
Swimming
Birdwatching
(the bird list is seven pages long)
Geocaching
Tennis
Courts
Biking
Hiking
A
book and video check out like a library.
Boardgames
A
mercantile on location
Picnic
areas available
Outdoor latrines
Campgrounds
(Primitive and others with electric and water)
Laundry
facilities and dump stations
I
go to this location several times a year just to get away from things that
bother me and a change of scene. It is a relaxing place. The next time you decide you want to change things up and try something new, this might be the place for you.
Get out there and explore.
Get out there and explore.
Written
by: Angelia Y Larrimore
If you
would like to try it out follow this link to make reservations:
