Table Rock, South Carolina

...and here she is, Table Rock in South Carolina. I was to meet at least one more Table Rock in North Carolina. Impressive geology going on here. Very awe inspiring. I wonder if glaciation had anything to do with it?

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

The Road is Long

Wow. This was taken on my second day in the USA. I'd been awake since 2am, and engaging with my first dance with jetlag. A strange sensation. The road seemed very long. And on the wrong side, but hey, I was getting used to it. Though tired, experiences were etching into my mind with an uncanny clarity. I guess courtesy of so many photographs it's hard to forget now.

This was near Table Rock along the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway in South Carolina. I could never have expected it would be so gorgeous, and this was only a starter.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Pickens 7 Norris 4

...Central 7, Easley 6. Yeah it's just a sign. But when it's a sign in another country, there's a whole different road culture and way of relating to the land going on here. This was actually en route from somewhere in South Carolina to Asheville. I guess someone will eventually tell me exactly where this was taken. It would be easy to extrapolate the location from the distances on the sign, but I hope someone will get in touch and say "Hey!".

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Meetings with Dawgs

Besides trees, I met a fair few dogs (or dawgs as many good folk I met would call them). I love dogs; they can be really good company. They can be a pain in the arse, too - but usually good company. This one was a jumpy little fella and would rarely come when called. Usually run off in the other direction, bless him. I think his name was Sonny, and was probably the dawg I saw the most.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Meetings with Trees

I love trees, and I met a remarkable few trees in my time in the USA. Don't know the species, just know they were amazing. Here's the first memorable tree, under South Carolina Blue Sky. Is this a Black Walnut Tree?

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Happy Easter!

Now I'm not sure what I believe at the moment, but this is good. Communion outside on an Easter Sunday morning. Sunrise. Fire. Perfect. I become aware of God far more easily in places like this than in structures which celebrate and elevate human creativity. Which is amazing and needs celebrating, but if I am to connect with something greater than people, this is the place to do it.

My first Sunday in the USA. I've had a burger, been to Wal*Mart and Waffle House, listened to Garth Brooks. Now I've been to church. I guess my immersion in American culture is well and truly under way.

This is the last time I've taken communion too. Beautiful and special. A group of folk I'd never met before (apart from two) welcomed me, and we had communion at sunrise in this outstandingly beautiful place. Thankyou Pendleton Presbyterian Church.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

American Dawn

Still at Lake Hartwell, South Carolina. Dawn grows. It went on for what seemed hours. Whisps of mist, subtle changes in hue. Moments you couldn't get out of. Not that you'd want to, either. New day, new country. Easter Sunday too. Lots of symbolism going on here.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

American Moonlight

This was my first taste of American Moonlight. Yeah, yeah I know it's the same moon as in England - BUT - the moon in The South here seemed to shine more brightly, more magically. Amazing.

This is down at Lake Hartwell, South Carolina. As we entered the area a racoon cleared the road. Waiting at this shoreline near dawn, coyotes could be heard. Well, that's what I was told they were. So magic. Unforgettable moments here. The feelings and vibes still tingle on my skin.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Engaging American Culture

So, after Waffle House, we had time to kill. It was Easter Sunday and we were meant to be attending an Easter Sunrise service at a lake in some woods nearby.

Time to go shopping! Yes, Wal*Mart time it was. 3:30 in the morning, I bought my first CD in the States. Such a good price, and a double CD and DVD of Garth Brooks, whom I love.

America is a BIG country, so, yes the stores come big too it seems. I think this store was in or near Pendleton South Carolina.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Welcome to the House of Waffle

I've never flown for more than about one hour before. So having flown five hours west, I was five hours behind my body clock. Cue midnight munchies.

At 2am my body says "it's 7am, time to wake, get some breakfast". Hmmmn. I couldn't settle, so we ended up heading out to a Waffle House. Again I'd never heard of these before, but came to see them everywhere.

So here is my first American Breakfast. Omlette, toast and hash browns. Yes, if you're English those ARE hash browns on the left. If you're American, English hash browns are like the ones in McDonalds. Hang on. Isn't McDonalds an American export? Anyway, that was something of a cultural shock. Very nice though. For a hungry tummy at 2am, it did the job admirably.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.