August 9: Congaree, Not Dungarees

Today's post is dedicated to Siri and Google Maps. I mean what would I do without you both. Siri, you don't always understand me, but you make sure my hands stay on the wheel and I can text, call, and change music. Google Maps, you've taken me everywhere I've needed to go and you don't get mad if I take a wrong turn, you patiently reroute me. It is annoying when you tell me to make a u-turn because I'm basically driving a barge and u-turns are impossible, but it's okay I understand that you don't know the difference between a sports car and a semi, it's okay. We've always worked it out. Just quit telling me to "Return to the route." when I have to pee.

"Technology is a useful servant, but a dangerous master." - Christian Lous Lange

"I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots." - Albert Einstein

"Uh Oh!" - Laurie Dieppa

Alligator

Today was another long day of driving. My neck hurts from my fall and my left leg has begun to sell and hurt. I still have an ear infection (3 rounds of different anibiotics), so I'm a bit miserable and super tired.

I have a reservation in Kingsland, Georgia and I'm determined to get there. Our first stop today was at the Congaree National Park. It reminds me of the Carnivorous forest that Ben and I visited in Oregon. They both are hikes that are on boardwalks elevated off the forest floor. Less likely to get bit by something or get your feet wet. In Oregon it was raining of course. The Congaree is somewhat swampy. When I got a text from a friend today asking where I was, I answered with Siri's help that I was at the Congaree National Forest. She wrote that I was in the Dungaree National Forest. I'm pretty sure that's not a real place. Anyway the hike was 2.6 miles with 20 stops to identify different trees, plants, etc; bald cypress, tupelo trees, loblolly pines, oaks, maples, and holly. I also saw palms. At stop #12 you can see the Congaree River, which looks like it is straight out of the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland. I saw two snakes, two turtles, two fish, and one alligator, Yep, that's right an alligator. I allowed myself one hour for this excursion and we started at noon and were on the road again at 1:00. I was getting really hungry because yesterday I forgot to say almond milk when I ordered my Chai Tea latte and so I drank it with regular milk and my stomach hurt so bad I didn't eat lunch or dinner. So I stopped at a gas station and made a salad I had in my fridge and ate it right there.

Next stop Savannah, Georgia. The only real stop I made here was at the visitor center for a potty break for us all. While in the visitor center I looked at the pamphlets for something we could do for maybe an hour or so. The pamphlets were mostly for food and hotels. One entire row was devoted to ghost tours. So I decided to follow a trolley tour around. I got some good pictures that pretty much define the city - more one way, narrow streets. This city's historic area is very shaded by enormous oak trees and Spanish moss. This city has 22 historic squares. The most notable being Chippewa Square where Forest Gump sat. The architecture is beautiful and very reminiscent of the Antebellum South, if you're into that.

Last stop was at my campsite in Kingsland, Georgia at Jacksonville North/St. Mary's KOA. I'm exhausted and don't want to drive tired again. My foot looks like someone blew it up like a balloon, my neck hurts to turn my head to the right, and my ear is now aching. So, I'm going to stay here for three nights and hopefully heal a bit.