December 26, 2017 Congaree National Park/ Columbia, South Carolina

64 degrees and sunny.

Congaree National Park is the largest intact tract of old-growth bottomland forest in North America. It is characterized by giant hardwoods and towering pines and comprised one of the highest canopies in the world and some of the tallest trees in the eastern United States. Only 4% of the old growth bottom lands are left. The rest were logged, these were only saved by a group of environmentalist in the area.   We arrived at the right time, when the mosquito meter was at 1-all clear.  Looks like it goes all the way up to 6-war zone. There is a 2.4 mile boardwalk that goes over the wetlands. About 10 times a year the river floods this whole area. It was pretty low today.

Giant bald cypress with their knees sticking out  the water. 

Cedar creek runs through the middle of this. We are going to paddle the canoe trail tomorrow. Huge mushrooms on a log, The hairy root running up the tree is a poison ivy root. They say these are more poisonous than the leaves, fungus and lichen. 

Nice fall colors in places. More tree fungus, switch cane by the big truck, it is like bamboo, but not as big. The square thing is the remnants of an iron still from prohibition.And a big mushroom thing that is weeping. John told some kids that one like this was a tree brain. 

After our 7 and a half mile walk through the woods we stopped at River Rat Brewery. John having a a double IPA. Today we paddled the canoe trail on Cedar Creek in Congaree. The guide says Traveling by kayak is a great way to enjoy the primeval wilderness while floating past some of the tallest trees east of the Mississippi. It was sunny and 75. Very pleasant. John on the creek.

We had some fall colors and big trees.

John in a 'gut'- or tributary entering the creek. we got to weave our way through huge cypress trees. John took this one of me enjoying the primeval wilderness. 

After a five mile paddle we had dinner at the Twisted Spur brewing. John with his Twisted IPA. This log house was one of the first houses in Columbia. It was dismantled log by log and rebuilt in the State park we are camped in. 

Flowers my loving husband John gave me for Christmas. We went downtown to sightsee in Columbia. We stated at the State house or state capital. It was closed for Boxing day. 

The gothic style Trinity Episcopal Church was built in 1846. It is one on the few buildings that was not destroyed when Sherman came through in the Civil War. Many famous people are buried here. Many of the graves are above ground.

Busted Plug- the sculpture of the fire hydrant is supposed to look like it was hit by a big truck. It used to be a fountain, spurting water where it would have been broken, but the pumps gave out so they turned them off. Fortunately the breweries were not closed for Boxing day. We tasted at the Columbia Craft and the Conquest breweries. John with his IPA's. At the Conquest they bar was really high, so you could sit with your beer at eye level.