RVing in Cheraw State Park, SC 5 '08

One of the reasons we moved to the east coast was to be able to explore a different part of the world.  We started with South Carolina.  A couple of weeks ago we drove our RV to Cherwah State Park SC.  Cherway is the sister city to our local Georgetown.  During the Civil Way all the local residents believed that Sherwin was going to burn Georgetown, so before he arrived they sent all their land deeds (dating back to land grants from King George of England) and other vital documents to Cherwah for safe keeping.  Sherwin (and some heavy rains that made the coastal pain impassable) fooled them.  He went inland to burn Columbia, then turned north and headed straight to Cherwah where he burned all of both towns’ records.   It’s hard to believe that Cherwah was the site of such devastation.  There are still four hundred year old churches, and beautiful antebellum mansions.  There is a sense of having slipped through a rift in time when one goes there.  Other than a yarn mill and a Pepsi bottling plant there is not a lot of work.  Most of the country side is taken up by State or Federal Parks which are surrounded by small family farms. The area is very pretty and very Southern.

Evening draws upon the lake

It was pretty much a last minute decision to go RV camping for three days in Cherwah State Park, SC. The park is only 130 miles Northwest of our home so, after booking our reservation online, it was a short and easy drive to get there. Most South Carolina State Parks are manicured and tame... quite different from the wilderness parks we were accustomed to in the Western United States. Cherwah combines the best of both worlds. The Park is situated on 7000 acres of wooded rolling hills with a large lake and a creek cutting through the center of the park The park's management has taken advantage of this natural barrier to create several different environments. It is designed to provide something for everyone.

The Southern side of the park is reserved for raw nature lovers. It has miles and miles of hiking trails , several small-boat launches, a separate site (for 20 ) tent campers, a horse camp with separate bridal trails, and a RV camp with 18 full hookup sites. When we arrived, only 4 of the RV sites were in use (and one of those was the resident campground host).

We set up camp right at the lake's edge. Bruce immediately had to try his hand fishing. To my relief he didn't catch anything. (I am not fond of fresh water fish) was much happier about his using his boy scout skills to grill chicken.

On Monday we took advantage of the amenities of the northern side of the park. That half has been cultivated for more civilized group activities.

 It has fully outfitted cabins, a group picnic area, a swimming beach, boardwalk nature trails along the lake, and a well maintained 18 hole championship golf course Many of the holes are both in very scenic locations, and near environmentally sensitive habitats. The State has chosen to use the park to help educate the public about environmental issues, and has done a great job of showing how man and nature can co-exist with a little planning and care.

Southern Side of the Lake

A board walk trail across a water-lily and lotus  pond section of the lake.

Pitcher plant

 The trail continues through fresh water bogs where you can see carnivorous plants like the Pitcher plants

above and below

Pitcher Plants will all red bracts

Pitcher plant with red green  bracts

Bruce has decided that he wants to try playing the golf course again, and I certainly want to kayak the lake, so we most definitely will return to this gem.