Place of the lost one
Lake Jocassee from Devil’s Fork State Park.
Absolutely perfect 5 days in November 2021. Upper 20’s at night, 60’s during the day. Crisp. Golden.
Path to Whitewater Falls.
Oconee County, SC., Lake Jocassee and Devil’s Fork State Park. Perhaps you know it as one of the backdrops of “Deliverance”? Remember the reason for the rafting trip? Last chance to hit the river before it was dammed to create a lake? That is this place. 7500 acres, 300 feet deep, clear water enveloping Camp Jocassee summer camp, Attakulla Lodge, and cemeteries, both white and Native American.
The incredible clarity of this water. It is absolutely pristine. If it had been summer and warmer, a dip would have been almost irresistible. But the thought of swimming with the submerged dearly departed and abandoned, intact structures is not enticing to me. That’s the thing about lakes. Man-made ones, especially. If you look into it, there is almost always something lying beneath.
Moonlight on Jocassee.
The legend of the lake…
Jocassee Gorges - A Partnership In Conservation (sc.gov)
Oconee County, SC. is home to more than 150 waterfalls. 30+ in the near vicinity of Lake Jocassee. Some are only accessibleT by water via the lake which, without a kayak or canoe of your own, is not feasible in the autumn when rentals are unavailable. (I am looking into it. Inflatables are on my radar. I like the idea of portability and compactness.) I had no shortage of options for daytime excursions to magical waterfall spots.
Waterfalls Near Me: Oconee County In South Carolina Over 150 Waterfalls (onlyinyourstate.com)
Chattooga River Trail.
Spoonauger Falls near Mountain Rest, SC.
Station Cove Falls, near Walhalla, SC
I have written posts on my Facebook page in the past about how special campers in general are. Welcoming, caring, sharing. Most times I am a solo camper. By choice. It is a time for recharging, quiet, peace, grounding, testing myself, adventure seeking with no enforced schedule. I get there, set up camp, peruse any brochures available regarding trails (although I certainly have done exhaustive research before heading out- All Trails, The Dyrt, etc.), chill for the first evening. That first fire of the trip may be the best. Or the next one on the first morning.
Not as often as I’d like my daughter is available to accompany me. There are few that I am actually excited to have go with me. She’s one. Always up for anything, never a burden. Always a joy. You will see her pop up occasionally in photos or videos.
Solitude aside, once in a while you may be fortunate enough to meet up with a soul sister or brother. That was the case this trip. Sharon and Gil would walk the loop each evening, stopping to chat and love on Josey. Over my four evenings here we built a friendship that continues via social media today. Sharon came by the site one evening when my daughter had some friends stop by for nighttime fishing, bearing containers of homemade soup for all. I asked, “What kind of soup is it?” She says, “Just soup.” Just like my mom used to make. Not “just soup”. A hug in a bowl. Vegetables, pasta, beans, with some kind of leftover meat. Delicious. The embodiment of care and neighborliness they were and are.
Just as are those who have brought over unused firewood, leftovers from their sack of potatoes because apparently, I look like I don’t have enough to eat… Those who make it a point to keep an eye on me when there is bear activity around.
Of course, there can be creepers. I don’t routinely encounter them. And if I do, I am sure that someone nearby will have my back.
This may be the place of the lost one, but I never feel less lost than when I am out there.
#adventuresofanartisticcamper Buy me a coffee for the next journey. :)
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