Biggs Cross Country 2017: Day 23 - Santee to Asheville; Congaree NP

Our main objective today is to visit Congaree National Park (#43). Its about an hour out in the boonies from Santee. Never would have found it without 'Mrs Mack" GPS (even she had a hard time!) Named a National Park in 1976, its 27,000 aces represents the oldest and last remaining old-growth floodplain forest in the Southeast US. Unfortunately, the visitor center is closed on Mondays so we weren't able to learn much (nor we we able to get a magnet!).

In any event, we walked most of this 2.5 mile wooden elevated boardwalk out into the "forest". Lots of water, huge bald cypress trees and cypress knees, mushrooms, chirping birds. It was really hot and humid! We were expecting to be eaten alive by mosquitos, but they didn't materialize. The elevated boardwalk is an engineering marvel! As interesting as it is, we didn't think it rose to the standard of National Park designation. National Monument would have been fine. I smell "earmark" or "pork barrel"!

From the park we headed back to civilization and on to Spartanburg. Normally, we would have had our lunch from our cooler, but when the temperature is 97 with 97% humidity, that's hardly appealing. So, we came across a Waffle House! (They are good food at good value!) And, I was able to buy a mug as a souvenir!

After our lunch we looked at the map and spotted this little red dot called "Rose Hill Plantation State Historic Site". Back out into the wilderness, near the hamlet of Union, we found it and spent a little time poking around. A State Park Ranger came along and gave us a brief tour. This was the antebellum home of William Gist, South Carolina's "secession governor" before the Civil War. Its been restored to its original condition. There were huge Magnolia trees in the front that smelled delicious!

We found our back to I-26 and continued on to Asheville, NC to end our day. We were surprised at how hilly the terrain got between Spartanburg and Asheville. We're in the foot hills of the Blue Ridge. Our hotel is a nice Comfort Suites which just happens to be right across the street from the brand new Asheville Outlet Mall! We went over to check it out and had a pizza slice for dinner.