Southern Hospitality

After spending a few days in a swamp, we stopped for a week in higher country in the northwest corner of South Carolina. On a good day, you can see the Blue Ridge Mountains from the high point of Spartanburg.  Ah, yes.  Yet another place we would like to travel. 

We didn’t stay too close to the city, but rather visited with friends outside of town. They live in the country on a lot with several acres of woods. I was told to watch my step if I took a walk, as they have had copperhead rattlesnakes at times. Given the colour of the fallen leaves under the trees, I understand how easy it would be to accidentally step on one.

Our trailer was parked right outside their kitchen garden. There were several birdfeeders beside us, well used by the sparrows, cardinals, and even a couple of wild turkeys.

We met this couple when we traveled on our caravan down the east coast. A true southern gentleman and southern belle, we really enjoyed their company. It was difficult not to imitate the lovely soft drawl in their voices. It is such an attractive sound.

A long, curvy driveway leads to their beautiful one story brick house. It's the end of March, spring is starting to come to this part of the country, and the tops of the trees are beginning to show green. There is a "barn" beside the house, a specially built garage to hold their Airstream motorhome, wood shop, tractor, and assorted other toys.

These lovely people invited us into their home and their lives with no hesitation. I certainly hope they didn’t regret it.

I especially hope they didn’t regret mentioning to Hubby that they were tired of the carpet in their motorhome, and would like to have a wooden floor like ours. Four days later, it was done. Even with the laid back attitude of this southern state, it is hard to get my man to relax.

Meanwhile, we got to experience real southern grits, southern sweet tea, and pulled pork BBQ. In turn, we prepared spring rolls, stir fry, and pancit for them.

Our trailer stayed happily outside their barn while the men toiled in their man cave. The women enjoyed several excursions in the city.  We shopped, attended Garden Club with other southern ladies, and waited in a line of at least 140 cars for the grandchildren to get out of school so we could pick them up. They do have school buses here, but they do not appear to be popular.

It was nice to experience a real southern lifestyle. It's even nicer that this charming couple says they would like for us to come back again.

It is the people we meet that make our travelling life so very interesting.

We are very glad we met these ones.

W