Fall in the Carolinas

The Longs and Short of It (How Could I Pass Up That Pun?!) Oct 11, 2008

It rained heavily throughout the night. By daybreak today, it had stopped raining but was still pretty wet. My last ipod nano died after only 15 months because I let it get wet. After attempting for many hours to bring it to life, to no avail, I bought the new 4G nano. (I am trying to be relevant...this means "4th generation.") There is no way that I will allow this "pod" to become a rain casualty, so I figured that I had better book before the rain started again. Rob checked the NWS (National Weather Service)satellite, and it seemed like only a matter of minutes before the rain would set in for the rest of the day. We both accomplished our daily runs. I even got in part of a "boot camp" leg workout before we had to take refuge from the driving rain. Remember the dogs that had made me so wary when I ran a few days ago? Apparently, danger is in the eye of the beholder. Rob is not afraid of any dog. He is indeed the "dog whisperer." No wonder he thought it was merely a fun, playful moment when one of the labrador retrievers (from the home immediately next door to the entrance to the RV resort) followed him as he ran the entire 3/4-mile drive from the resort entrance to the office. He reported that the dog ran right at his side, darting through the rain culvert, rollicking as he dodged and splashed through the deep rain puddles. Rob sees a joyous dog; I see a predator. Go figure! I was intent on identifying the "bushy crops" we saw on our drive to Willow Tree. I could not allow myself to leave without getting the answer. I suspected that the resort office staff would know. They did. Soybeans. Rob was right. One of the best things about traveling this beautiful county is learning about the people and places that are new to us. So this is where my edamame comes from! By mid-afternoon, I was stir crazy and needed to get out for a walk. By then, Mother Nature offered a misting, intermittent rain, certainly not heavy enough to lock me indoors. This time, it was a little too soggy for the dogs, but I was able to persuade Rob to join me. We donned our rain gear and headed out into the woods. We walked the dirt nature path that leads off away from the lake. It was the same path I ran the first day we arrived at Willow Tree. It was peaceful and serene. As we walked along, Rob noticed a small metal sign close to the ground, covered in brush, facing away from the path. We walked around to the front of it to investigate. I have attached a photo for your perusal. So Rob did indeed hear gunfire. Apparently, some type of game is in season. You hunters would probably know what! Gee, and to think that I ran this path just days ago, oblivious to the fact that there might be hunters around. Note to self: remember to wear dayglow colors when running in rural areas. And no, I am not kidding! The funny thing is that the sign should not really be cautioning hunters that campers, joggers and hikers might be moving about...it should caution campers, joggers and hikers that hunters might be moving about! I think you need to warn the person that is NOT armed! Trust me, one glimpse of that sign, and I would have taken prophylactic evasive maneuvers...like running fast right back to the campground! I joke, as it wasn't like the woods were swarming with hunters. However, it does only take one hunter to ruin one camper's perfectly good day! No wonder my Mom is an avid sign-obeyer! Well, these two "campers" made it out of the woods in one piece and without involuntary piercings. We resumed our walk on the paved path circling the lake. Willow Tree is situated on a huge parcel of property with the RV park set off on one side of the large lake. Swimming is not permitted in the lake, but you can rent small motorboats, called johnboats, or paddleboats to ply the waters. There is a healthy fish population, and you can catch and release from either the johnboats or the shore. One father and his three young daughters fished nearly sun-up to sundown off of the johnboat dock. Apparently, they were keen to where the fish were biting. The RV park was quiet during the week, but the motorhome population tripled over the weekend. Willow Tree must be packed during the summer when the kids are out of school, as they also offer golf carts and bikes for rent, and their pool area has a kiddie pool with those tall mushroom-shaped towers that spray water in all directions--perfect for attracting motorhome-loads of shrieking children. We figure the resort would be a little too hot for us during the summer months, as we tend to gravitate to the mountains at that time of year. However, in the spring or fall months, Willow Tree is just busy enough, not too much, and the temps are fairly crisp. The rain and cloudy skies we encountered were a little disappointing, but it was still a terrific place to stay. "Country quiet but city close" is our preference, and Longs SC aptly fits this description. No wonder the hunters like it here!

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