James Island County Park, Charleston, South Carolina – Part 2
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
It was a bit of an easy day today, just walking around the Park day and night. No, not continuously, silly!
We walked about five miles on their bike/hike trails after lunch today. It was a beautiful, sunny day, but only in the low 50’s. No matter. We donned our layers, hats and gloves and off we went. It was actually very refreshing!
The Park has a climbing area. Well, to be more specific, they ‘advertise’ a team-building area. It has several apparatuses for those who are fitness-worthy. I don’t know what kind of place you would work at that would have you scaling towers and climbing ropes for team-building. Certainly, most of the people I’ve worked with (including me) would not have been physically able to do these things, so I’m thinking adventure guide companies only need apply.
This area is to practice ‘bouldering’. It’s that crazy climbing thing you see people do when they hang off rocks by only their fingertips.
After checking it all out (they only charge $15/day – and that includes all the equipment and a day pass for the entire Park), we passed through the area and back onto the trail, where we encountered many of the light displays up-close-and-personal. Learning the other day that many of these are made by the staff and volunteers, made it all the more intriguing. Of course, Blaine spent half his life as a commercial electrician, so his perspective on intriguing was a bit different than mine. I was focused more on how they knew just how to place the lights so the things look like they’re moving. He noticed the electrical boxes and the fact that they have no tape or anything to protect the connections. 😊
We never took a picture of it, but there’s a display where two kids are having a snowball fight.
This is one of the balls, getting ready to be thrown.
This is the electrical box that makes it happen – the kids throw and the balls go over the road.
Very cool! But look at all that wiring!
The bike/hike trail
I attempted to take a picture of this on our drive-through, but it’s didn’t come out.
It looks really pretty at night!
I guess this is how they know what they’re doing . . .
although the snowball one wasn’t labeled.
My guess is this display is supposed to be ‘Mary….quite contrary’ and her growing flowers.
They have several nursery rhymes around the Park.
Further along, we ran across a swing, perfectly positioned to look out over the marsh area, so we rested a bit. Considering climbing all those walls made us tired, I guess. And looking at all that electrical stuff, reminded Blaine of work. And well. You know. We were just looking for an excuse to take in the beauty of the day and sit together on the swing. And there was also a nice fishing/boat dock area just a few steps down the path.
And us without our rotten chicken leg bones!
(That’s the bait we used to catch ’em at Holden Beach)
Well rested, we took off once again, not stopping until we reached the Christmas event area. They have all kinds of things set up here. It’s really quite nice! The sand sculpture, vendors; including hot chocolate and marshmallows and sticks, large fire areas to roast on, a Santa trailer, a train that drives you around on the trail we’ve been walking on, large trees where you can turn the lights on and off and choose the colors with a push of the buttons, a ‘build-a-bear’ tent, toy store, carousel and about a dozen or so large paintings that local schools put together. Those were awarded prize ribbons, but I don’t know anything else about them. It seemed the Park may have given them a theme to work with, because a lot of them had the word ‘magic’ on them.
We enjoyed reading the ornaments on this tree. Some of them made us smile – or even chuckle!
We think this one was originally set up like an advent calendar with hinged Plexiglas doors.
Unfortunately, most of the doors are now on the ground. Probably because of the rains.
You saw the rest of the sculpture yesterday.
On the way home, we stopped and watched the dogs across the pond frolicking around in the dog park area. They were having a grand time, racing and splashing around in the water! And we were stopped by a woman who was a die-hard Cleveland Browns fan. She said she used to live in Rochester, New York and had season tickets to the games, driving 3 ½ hours to Cleveland for each home game! Can you believe it? In the winter? In the Northeast? To sit outside in the cold in an open stadium? Some people are just insane! (in my humble opinion) Anyway, she also talked about being a volunteer here at the Park for six months out of the year, helping to set up and run the Christmas Light Festival. They work 4-5 days a week for 4 hours a day in exchange for free camping privileges. Seems interesting, and it’s a great area to do that in, but we just couldn’t stay put in one place for that long. Too many other things to see and do!
Time to head back home until tonight.
About 5:30pm, we drove over to one of the parking lots in the event area, so we could see the place at night. We walked all over! It was beautiful and fun and there were lots and lots of people milling about! They must make a fortune during the two months they’re open.
The circles on the mushroom aren’t lights. They’re actually white-painted rebar!
Some smart, artistic person came up with that!
The trees on either side are the ones you can adjust the lights on.
What a nice Santa! And life-size too!
We tried to take a selfie here, but couldn’t get in the chair and tree. : (
This one was great!
Little yellow lights flashed on and off, simulated bees buzzing around the hive!
What’s the first thing that came to your mind when you saw this?
Admit it . . . .
Lite Brite!!
We had to step off the trail to make room for the train.
Nobody waved . . . : (
On the far right is a fire. See the red lights?
And on random occasions, water comes out of their hoses.
I don’t know what they were charging for their Santa pictures.
These were set to synchronize with music!
This next video shows a moving display as elves make the South Carolina State Flag. It contains their State Tree – the Palmetto, and another thing that we always thought was a crescent moon. But it’s not. It seems it’s a gorget – a piece of armor that was worn by knights around their necks to protect their chests. It’s symbol was affixed to the caps of the regiment led by Col. Moultrie at Ft. Sumter. He was the original designer of the flag. It’s been slightly modified over the years into the official flag the State has today.
We actually learned that tomorrow.
Another wonderful day of adventure!