Heading down the road after leaving Columbia, SC we drive through rows and rows of peach trees. The scenery is much more bucolic. Except for the fact that I have never seen so many dollar stores in my life! When did rural America replace roadside establishments with “mini marts” & Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar etc.? Honestly, it amazes me how every tiny hamlet has at least one of these places. Often, there are 2 right across the street from each other and they sell the exact same stuff!
The pretty part of the scenery is all the azaleas that are in bloom down here. As we pass small communities their houses are often landscaped with many of these beauties. Augusta National, the golf course where The Masters is held is known for their azaleas. The local news stations are complaining that the recent weather conditions have caused the azaleas to peak early and many of the flowers have already dropped. Same story with the cherry blossoms at home.
As we approach Augusta there are loads of signs up indicating in which direction the golf traffic should head. Since we arrive fairly late in the day we don’t encounter any traffic problems and sail in and find parking in the historic district. We decide we will go to the Riverwalk. This is a city park that runs along the Savannah River and is built alongside and on top of the levee. The upper level has a trail of historical markers telling the story of how Augusta became settled. Native Americans were able to cross the river due to the area being along the fall line and there were natural rock bridges and consequently could hunt, fish and navigate the river more easily here. James Oglethorpe then had a contingent of settlers establish the town.
There are many little places to sit and just watch the river. There are several playgrounds and a dock where boat tours launch.
We noticed it was 6:45 p.m. by the “Don Dial” and since we had another 75 miles to go before we reached our hotel in Swainsboro we decided to head on out.
The hotel we selected only had a smoking room available since they were booked solid. (Remember, this is 75 MILES AWAY FROM THE MASTERS in the middle of nowhere) Don had a lengthy discussion with the innkeeper this morning explaining that his wife is an asthmatic and both smoke and the crappy air freshener they spray to try to cover the smoke would practically require an intensive care stay for his frail wife. (?) Prior to our arrival they changed the curtains, bedspreads and ran an ionizer in the room for several hours. When we get there it turns out to be a handicapped room (a smoking handicapped room? whatever) and I feel like I should at least be in an iron lung considering all the trouble they went through. I am sure they expected to see me in a wheelchair with an oxygen tank with the picture Don painted of my “needs”.
However, before we reach our actual hotel my Garmin device takes us to another hotel about 1/2 mile before it. We pull up to what is obviously a hotel that specializes in the crack trade. All the doors to the rooms are open and the “guests” are either sitting on the concrete in the doorway to their room or sitting on the asphalt in the parking lot. Everyone is engaged in a lively cell phone conversation. We pull up and Don says to the elderly Indian woman who seems to be the proprietor, ” I have a reservation for tonite?” She looks at him incredulously and says, “HERE? Oh, I don’t think so. You mean down the road.” (I guess Calcutta must be worse, but I’m not sure) Gratefully, we pulled out of the parking lot.
We spend an uneventful night and in the morning head down to the breakfast room where we encounter a flock of Canadian Snow Geese heading back up to Canada after wintering along the Gulf Coast. These folks also did not know The Masters were in town and we laughed about the fact that there was nothing within 75 miles in any direction. We check out and hop into the Hyundai at 10:30 a.m. heading for Waycross, GA to tour the famous Okefenokee Swamp.
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