Places Visited:
South Carolina: Clemson, Seneca, West Union, Lake Keowee & Lake Hartwell

Sunday October 21, 2001
Crooked Creek RV-Park - West Union, South Carolina (actually it is
Seneca, SC.)

We woke to another beautiful day and spent the morning with Jeff and
Kathryn before they headed back to Pensacola. Jeff drove us to the
small South Carolina town of Walhalla where we had lunch at the
Walhalla steak house. The Walhalla steak house is a local favorite.
Locals will tell you they specialize in fried chicken not steaks.

Joyce and I spent the remainder of the day around the RV reading,
sunning and listening to CNN describe how two Navy FA-18 aircraft
"pounded" the Taliban front lines. Admittedly, I am not the sharpest
pencil in the box, however, two Navy aircraft "pounding" the Taliban
from the 4 aircraft carriers in the area seems a bit wimpy to me. In
a 24 hour period 4 carriers delivering two aircraft seems to me like
taking Sunday off rather than a "POUNDING". Oh well, like I said I
am not the sharpest pencil.

Monday October 22, 2001
Crooked Creek RV-Park - West Union, South Carolina (actually it is
Seneca, SC.)

This is another absolutely beautiful day. We decide to drive to
Dahlonega, Georgia for lunch, shopping and leaf peeping. Dahlonega is
a scenic 75-mile mile drive east of us. We did lunch at the Smith
House in Dahlonega. The Smith House operates on the old southern
boarding house concept. The rectangular table seated 6 couples with
ease. Waiters put a variety of couples together until the table has a
full-compliment. Our group consisted of couples from Georgia, Florida
and Tennessee. Waiters bring bowls and bowls of chicken, ham and
vegetables. They continued to bring these full bowls of super food
until the last of us could hold no more, then they served desert. This
is a restaurant that we hardily recommend. It should be a "must do"
if and when you are in the Dahlonega area of north Georgia. After
lunch Joyce shopped in some quaint shops on the town square.

After shopping we headed north of Dahlonega on Georgia highways 19
then 60 through foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The hardwood
forest is ablaze with color. Fall colors at this elevation are at
their height. We spent several hours leaf peeping. About 25 miles
north of Dahlonega we arrive at Cooper Creek Scenic Area. This was
our destination. We were looking for an old growth forest of giant
tulip poplar trees. Closely following directions we followed a
forestry service road to the end of the pavement then go 4 tenths of a
mile farther and park. From there we take a one-mile hike back to the
valley of the giants along a decades old logging road. When we
finally arrived in the valley of the giants we found the tulip poplars
with circumferences in excess of 17 feet. Storms through the ages
have broken the tops out of most of these tremendous trees. Viewing
these ancient giants is something that Joyce and I have looked forward
to since learning about them. If anyone is interested in locating
these old growth trees let me know and I will provide you with
directions and information.

After we return to the motorhome CNN is reporting that those two navy
FA-18 aircraft were "hammering" vice "pounding" the Taliban front line
today. I suppose those four aircraft carriers were working overtime
to get that many sorties over Afghanistan today. Certainly the
aircraft carriers are launching more sorties that are not being
reported. Possibly if the Pentagon were to release information
concerning some other strikes CNN may report on it in place of the
incessant anthrax story.

Seems to me that if we were going to "pound/hammer" Taliban front line
positions the video would have shown a fleet of B-52's leaving some
real destruction. For some reason I do not get excited watching a
million dollar guided munition exploding on a 1930s era tank or jeep.
Something tells me that's not a good trade, unless I own stock in the
company manufacturing that million-dollar munition. My guess is that
this silliness will be called into question before long. But, like I
said earlier, I ain't the sharpest pencil in the box.

Tuesday October 23, 2001
Crooked Creek RV-Park - West Union, South Carolina (actually it is
Seneca, SC.)

We wake to another beautiful day. The owner of the RV-Park took us
for a scenic cruise of Lake Keowee on his pontoon boat. We were told
that Duke power owns virtually all the unimproved land around lake
Keowee and is in the process of selling it. He was telling us about
and showing us lots selling for upwards of $250,000. Magnificent
homes line the lower portion of the lake. Palatial would aptly
describe many of the retirement homes we cruised past. He told us
retirees that had moved south owned many of these awesome homes.

After our ride we spent the remainder of the day soaking up the warm
sun and enjoying the wonderful view.

Wednesday October 24, 2001
Crooked Creek RV-Park - West Union, South Carolina (actually it is
Seneca, SC.)

This is another beautiful day but the news says that tomorrow will
bring rain and freezing temperatures over night. We take advantage of
the weather and head north a few miles to North Carolina so we can
view fall colors in the Cashiers, Sapphire and Lake Toxaway area. In
the higher elevations leaves are past their peak. However, at lower
elevations on the South Carolina side of Sassafras Mountain the leaves
are at peak brilliance. While on this drive we pass over the "Eastern
Continental Divide" several times. We both chuckle when we see these
signs with elevations of 2,694'. Out west the Continental Divide was
usually on a mountain range of 8,000' to 10,000'. We are not familiar
with the term Eastern Continental Divide but suppose that it refers to
the point where water either flows east to the Atlantic or west to the
Mississippi River.

Back at the motorhome we took everything out of the basement, vacuumed
and put everything back. This was a project I was planning to do upon
returning to Pensacola now it is done.

Thursday October 25, 2001
Crooked Creek RV-Park - West Union, South Carolina (actually it is
Seneca, SC.)

A violent cold front swept through the area just after midnight.
Despite the heavy rain we wake to a clear blue sky. Temperatures
reach the mid-70s today but will drop into the 30s tonight. We spent
the day enjoying our waterfront view and listening to CNN's coverage
of anthrax and the occasional prepared statement from our Secretary of
Defense assuring us that those two aircraft are still hammering the
Taliban front lines.

Reporters started asking Rumsfeld why we were not using B-52s on the
Taliban front lines. Unlike the Persian Gulf War where Colin Powell
told the American public that the military was going to cut off the
enemy and KILL them we appear to be waging another Vietnam with
politics dictating actions.

In my lifetime Israel defeated Egypt in 7-days in what has become
known as the 7-day war. About 10-years ago the United States led
coalition defeated the Iraqi's in short order. Iraq, at the time,
had one of the largest; best equipped and trained military
organizations in existence. Now two weeks into waging war against a
group of terrorist we hold press conferences to describe how we are
tank plinking. After this war is over some organization is going to
examine these tanks and determine that they have not been operable for
over 10-years (since the Russian war with Afghanistan). Rumsfeld
again explains that there are not many good targets. I think that
even the slowest amongst us knows that Afghanistan has never had any
"good" targets. The northern alliance knows where Taliban troops are
because they are shooting at them. Will someone explain to me why
Taliban troops are not "good" targets? Excuse me but the "suits"
spouting this information must be expecting the public to be dumb as
rocks. They are probably correct.

Friday October 26, 2001
Crooked Creek RV-Park - West Union, South Carolina (actually it is
Seneca, SC.)

This is another beautiful day with nothing but clear blue sky from
horizon to horizon.

CNN is reporting that the military hit a fuel depot in Kabul over
night in "massive" new air attacks. Excuse me but did this fuel depot
just pop up last night? Do you suspect that our satellites with
cameras that can read the surgeon generals warning on a pack of
cigarettes and the super duper unmanned spy/surveillance aircraft has just
been able to locate this fuel depot/"target"? Possibly those sneaky
Taliban were able to camouflage the fuel tanks from all those
sophisticated surveillance resources. Possibly a fuel depot was not
considered to be a "GOOD" target. Yea RIGHT! I smell a 3-day-old
anchovy! How many more days are we going to be happy to bomb the 6 or
8 airfields?

Rumsfeld just opened his mid-day briefing by assuring reporters that
the USA was doing all that it can do. We need to keep a close watch
on Rumsfeld's nose, if it reacts like Pinocchio's he will surely need
an aid to hold it shortly.

Although the RV is in Crooked Creek RV-Park near Seneca, SC we met Les
and Macklyn Fairchild at their 2nd home on Lake Hartwell around 5:00
pm. They drove up from Atlanta and we drove 24 miles due south. The
Fairchild's are old friends that we have traditionally rented a condo
with every summer for years and years. Now that we have the motorhome
and they have the Lake house it seems we will have to visit them at
the lake house. :-)

As we arrive at yet another palatial estate Joyce and I feel compelled
to name it. We are mulling over several possibilities. Some of you
can help us choose between the two names we have chosen: The Taj II
would be appropriate however; equally as appealing is Fairchild B&B.
Come on group; let us know which one is best.

Saturday October 27, 2001
Crooked Creek RV-Park - West Union, South Carolina (actually it is
Seneca, SC.)

We are still at the Fairchild's lake house (AKA Taj II or Fairchild
B&B). Les and I spent the morning working on several small repair
jobs. Then we settled in to watch two BIG football games on TV at the
same time. The Florida Gators were playing the Georgia Bulldogs and
the Florida State Seminoles were playing Maryland, all at the same
time 3:30pm. Les is a die-hard Gator fan, it is his lake house and
his TV and he controlled the remote. In all fairness Les, flipped
back and forth between the two games in an admirable manner. Both
Florida and Florida State won their games in a BIG way over 15th
ranked Georgia and 10th ranked Maryland. This was a good day at: (Taj
II/Fairchild B&B)

Sunday October 28, 2001
Crooked Creek RV-Park - West Union, South Carolina (actually it is
Seneca, SC.)

We are still at the Fairchild's lake house (AKA Taj II or Fairchild
B&B). At one time we had planned to attend church in Hartwell,
Georgia where we have friends on the staff. Time got away from us and
we did not make it to church. Instead Macklyn fixed breakfast and we
enjoyed it from their dining room table watching mist rise from lake
Hartwell.

We returned to the motorhome in Seneca and the Fairchild's returned to
their home in the Atlanta suburb of Lawrenceville. It is 6-days until
Jeff and Kathryn return to watch the football game between Clemson and
FSU. Several weeks ago it appeared that Clemson was going to take it
to FSU. After events of the past two weeks it appears that the tables
have turned. I suspect that FSU will no longer enter Death Valley as
an underdog. Time will tell, 6-days and counting.

Mike & Joyce Hendrix