Lakeside June July 2011

LAKESIDE THE GOOD LIFE ON LAKE MARION, SOUTH CAROLINA •JUNE - JULY 2011

The Wild Life

Doug Gardner’s new season

Roughing It? Traditional camping

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM

Wagon train made of mules CampingSANTEELAKESIDE.COM with mules1

Tucked away on a simple gravel road between Summerton and Rimini on the outskirts of Clarendon County, the South Carolina Waterfowl Association’s Camp Woodie has been an outdoor haven for kids each summer since it was established in 1994.

Level 1 campers, ages 8-11, learn the basics of waterfowl and wildlife conservation, wing shooting, archery, duck calling, boating, hands-on wildlife programs, sports, fishing and swimming. Level 2 campers, ages 12-16, learn directly with professional outdoorsmen the many skills that make up a successful sportsman, including honing their wing shooting in different situations; making, rigging and placing decoys; and building duck blinds. All Level 2 campers also come back in the fall for a duck hunt at Camp Woodie. To register, visit www.scwa.org , or call (803) 452-6001.

CAMP WOODIE SUMMER 2011

2 JUNE •JULY 2011 | LAKESIDE

Level 2 – June 19-23 ................ $575 Level 1 – June 26-30 ............... $420 Level 1 – July 3-7 ..................... $420 Level 2 – July 10-14 ................ $575 Level 1 – July 17-21 ................. $420 Level 1 – July 24-28 ................. $420 Level 2 – July 31-Aug. 4 ........... $575

IN THIS ISSUE

GENERAL MANAGER Gail Mathis gailm@theitem.com

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PUBLISHER Jack Osteen jack@theitem.com ARTICLES & RESEARCH Robert J. Baker bbaker@theitem.com

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R. Darren Price dprice@theitem.com

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28 LANDMARKS AND LANDSCAPES ON THE ROAD AGAIN RV insurance a must

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NOT YOUR TYPICAL DRAG Boaters race Lake Marion 12 THE WILD LIFE Photographer shares wildlife skills 24 BRING HOME THE BASS Striped Bass recipe for the pickiest of diners

ON THE LAKE Pictures on lakes Marion and Moultrie

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WAGON TRAIN MADE OF MULES Donkeys, mules ride SC trails 32 HOME SWEET MOTORHOME The sweet RV life 36 ROUGHING IT? Traditional camping still popular

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LAYOUT & DESIGN Cary Johnson cjohnson@theitem.com PHOTOGRAPHY Robert J. Baker, Darren Price & Gail Mathis CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:

Yana Mathis, Evan Hallinan Ray Winans and John DuRant

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LANDMARKS AND LANDSCAPES Berkeley County • Calhoun County • Clarendon County • Orangeburg County & Sumter County

The Santee Cooper lakes, specifically Moultrie and Marion, cover Berkeley, Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg and Sumter counties, providing nearly limitless recreational opportunities for those who love the outdoors in small or large doses. In Williamsburg and Clarendon counties, the Black and Santee rivers provide similar outdoor adventures, as does the Cooper River in nearby Dorchester County. Altogether, these counties boast Revolutionary War battles sites, grave markers of war heroes, museums dedicated to preserving watershed moments in state and American history, beautiful churches that have sheltered the worship of Jesus Christ for more than two centuries, and wildlife reserves, swampland and nationally recognized, pristine forests.

BERKELEY COUNTY

The Berkeley County Blueways consist of 175 miles of waterway comprised of 23 paddling trails in Lake Moultrie, lower Lake Marion, the Santee River and Francis Marion National Forest. For more information, visit www. berkeleyblueways.com, email berkconsdist@ homexpressway.net, or call (843) 719-4146.

Fabulous Fourth in the Creek will be held 6-9:30 p.m. July 4 at the Marguerite H. Brown Municipal Center, 519 N. Goose Creek Blvd., S.C. 52, in Goose Creek, featuring a fireworks display, live entertainment, vendors and a jump castle.

Guests are asked not to bring alcohol, pets or outside fireworks, including sparklers.

Tailgating will not be permitted in the parking area. For more information, visit www.goosecreekrecreation.com.

Francis Marion’s Gravestone is a popular attraction at Belle Isle Plantation cemetery off S.C. 45 between S.C. 6 and Eadytown in St. Stephen. The plantation itself has existed at least since 1795, which 4 JUNE •JULY 2011 | LAKESIDE

was the year of Marion’s death.

Mepkin Abbey, a community of Roman Catholic monks, was built in 1959 on the Cooper River, S.C. 402, north of Charleston, where historic Mepkin Plantation once stood.

The brothers at Mepkin belong to the worldwide Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, popularly known as trappist. Visitors are usually interested in the church and the Nancy Bryan Luce Gardens.

A guestmaster greets them at the Reception Center, answers any questions and directs them to the gardens. Guided tours of the church are provided at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday Saturday; and 3 p.m., Tuesday - Sunday.

The abbey is closed to visitors on Mondays.

Groups of 10 or more visitors are asked to make reservations by calling (843) 761-8509.

Monck’s Corner’s July 4th activities will begin a weekend early with the Miss and Master Fourth of July Pageant on June 25, with girls through age 19 and boys through age 4 allowed to compete. The Fourth of July Street Dance will be held 8-11:30 p.m. July 1 at the Train Depot, featuring the Custom 4 + 2 Band.

Festivities will conclude 10 a.m. July 2 with the town’s annual Fourth of July Parade on Main Street. For more information, call (843) 899-4708. For a pageant application, visit www.1.usa.gov/jPjOhI.

CALHOUN COUNTY

The Calhoun County Museum and Cultural Center, located at 303 Butler St., St. Matthews, contains an art gallery, along with agricultural galleries and a research room with archives. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. TuesdayFriday, the museum also offers research opportunities by appointment only. Right now, the museum’s prime feature is the map collection of Dr. John L. Ward, which showcases the original, complete Robert Mills Atlas of 1820. For more information, call (803) 874-3964 or visit www. calhouncountymuseumandculturalcenter. org.

The Congaree Bluffs Heritage Preserve, located on Turkey Track Lane near Fort Motte and St. Matthews, provides nature walks ranging from easy to strenuous on its 201 acres, which contain steep, undisturbed bluffs bordering the Congaree River. A preserve kept by the Department of Natural Resources, the bluffs contain American beech, oak-hickory and bottomland hardwood forestry along with more than 100 species of other trees, shrubs and woody vines. The Educational Center may be used by groups centered around natural or cultural resource goals, with an application submitted to the Calhoun County Conservation District, 904 F.R. Huff Drive, Suite 104, P.O. Box 528, St. Matthews, SC 29135, for approval 30 days prior to use of the center. For video of the bluffs, visit bit. ly/f Ve4Ds . For more information, call (803) 874-3337.

Shady Grove Methodist Church, located on State Road S-9-53 in Cameron, was built in the 1800s on land given to Conrad Holman in 1740 by King George II.

Its oldest section was built with hand-hewn log framing set by wooden pegs in the early 1800s. Its white-frame building, along with its bell tower and steeple, were recognized as a historical site in June 1970.

CLARENDON COUNTY

The Clarendon Back Porch Players will present “Arsenic and Old Lace” at 7:30 p.m. June 24-25 at Weldon Auditorium, Manning. For tickets, see weldonauditorium.org.

The Clarendon County Museum and History Center, operated at 102 S. Brooks St., Manning, by the county’s Historical Society, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday-Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, excluding holidays. The museum features permanent exhibits dedicated to war memorabilia and the county’s agricultural history as well as an early 20th century kitchen furnished with an antique wood stove, cast-iron water pots and oldfashioned china and cutlery.

Lake Marion Artisans, a group of artists from throughout Clarendon County and its surrounding areas, reopened their art gallery April 9 at 108 Main St., Summerton, after the old location closed in December.

The gallery is open select hours ThursdaySaturday each week.

The Manning Farmers Market opens 10 a.m. every Saturday through October at Manning Municipal Park, corner of Church and Boyce streets, starting June 18. For more information, call Manning City Hall at (803) 435-8477, ext.

18.

The Morgan Sauls Home, located on Old Georgetown Road four-and-a-half miles northeast of Manning, is an attractive “raised cottage” built in the mid-1800s by Minto McFaddin, Morgan Sauls’ great uncle.

Acquired by the Sauls in the 1930s, the building was renovated, and wings were added on each side for bedrooms, a dining room and a kitchen. The downstairs area, once a dining room and kitchen, has been redone, exposing the original handhewn sills now used in combination with mellow brick floors.

Pocotaligo Park, located at the intersection of U.S. highways 301 and 521, has a 1,296-foot boardwalk leading from the highway into the Pocotaligo

Swamp, where it winds through 40 acres of swamp and timberland. The park is open each day during daylight hours and is free to the public.

Santee National Wildlife Refuge, located in North Santee and Summerton, was first opened in 1941.

The refuge manages 10 conservation easements and serves as a major wintering area for ducks and geese and a stopover area for neo-tropical migratory birds, raptors, shore birds and wading birds.

Endangered and threatened species at the refuge include the American alligator and the wood stork. The Visitor’s Center is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday.

The refuge trails and grounds are open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Aug. 31. For more information, call (803) 478-2217, or email santee@fws.gov.

The 17th annual Summerton Lions Club Golf Tournament will begin 9 a.m.

June 18 at Foxboro Golf Club, Goat Island, to help the club raise money for its one goal: sight conservation. For more information, call B. Martin at (803) 478-4821.

The Swamp Fox Murals are spread throughout Clarendon County and feature depictions of Gen. Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion and his soldiers fighting the British in Clarendon and surrounding areas. The newest mural, completed in June 2010 by

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Terry Smith, is located at Geddings Do It Best Hardware, 110 N. Brooks St., Manning.

Weldon Auditorium, newly refurbished in 2010 after decades in disrepair, is located on North Brooks Street in Manning. The state-of-the-art performing arts facility was originally built in 1954, and renamed in 1967 from the Manning High School auditorium to the Weldon Auditorium after a former superintendent of Clarendon School District 2. Sold to Clarendon County in 2006 by the school district, the building began renovations in early 2008. This summer, the auditorium will host Summer Movies for Kids 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information and a schedule, visit weldonauditorium.org.

ORANGEBURG COUNTY

The Elloree Old Town District features buildings that date back to the early 20th century, antique shops, gift boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and the Elloree Heritage and Cultural Museum.

Located on Historic Cleveland Street in downtown Elloree, about seven miles from Santee off Exit 98 at Interstate 95, the museum was founded in 1998 as part of the downtown area’s revitalization efforts and boasts a rotating series of exhibits in its 10,000-square-foot facility and specifically focuses on rural

life of the past. Opened Oct. 5, 2002, the museum’s Farm Wing is its oldest, continuously run exhibit. For more information, call (803) 897-2225 or visit elloreemuseum.org.

The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Eutawville is open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk, welcoming visitors anytime. Built in 1849 by members of the Rocks Episcopal Church to accommodate residents of the village who made their summer homes in the cool pine forest of Eutaw, the church was made available to Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian circuit preachers who occasionally came through the area. For more information, or to arrange group tours, call (803) 492-7644.

The former site of Hawthorne School of Aeronautics is three miles south of Orangeburg on U.S. 21, featuring a retirement community known as The Oaks where the Air Force’s former primary flight school trained 5,924 American and French pilots from 1941 to 1945.

The school had one of the best training records, accounting for the fewest training accidents, during its operation.

The Judge Thomas Glover Home, located on Whitman Street in Orangeburg, was built in 1846 by Thomas Glover, one of the signatories of the Ordinance of Succession. The home was ultimately used as

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a headquarters by Gen. William T. Sherman during the Civil War. The Neeses Farm Museum, 6449 Savannah Highway, S.C. 4, Neeses, contains historic artifacts like clothing, butter churns, a wood-burning stove, a cotton gin, a hand-made plow, grain cradles, saws and other farm items. Displays include pottery, arrowheads, jewelry, regalia and more as part of a Native American cultural exhibit and exhibits on World War I and II. School tours are popular, giving children a glimpse of life on a farm 100 years ago. For more information, call (803) 247-5811.

The Orangeburg County portion of the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor contains 50 sites of interest, including parks and trails, railroad history, military battlegrounds, historic homes, agricultural heritage, churches/cemeteries and museums and historic schools. Beautiful gardens, rivers and lakes are prominent. The Discovery Center involves a four-county region, including Orange burg County, and opened in Blackville, U.S. 78, recently.

For a brochure with a map that pinpoints locations, call the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce at (803) 534-6821 or visit www.orangeburgchamber.com.

Information on the entire heritage corridor can be found at www.sc-heritagecorridor.org.

The Santee Passage of the Palmetto Trail winds 13 miles through the predominantly agricultural lands of eastern Orangeburg County and uses many farmto-market roadways. Adjacent lands present a tapestry of color and texture with a variety of crops like cotton, wheat, soybeans and canola. Nearby produce stands offer seasonal delights, including fresh strawberries, blueberries and peaches. The passage eventually crosses under Interstate 95 on dirt roads and emerges at the tourist town

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• 47 Campsites • Full Hookups Live • Showers Crawfish • Fishing Pier • Camp Store On Site • Live Crawfish - Wholesale & Retail through June • Crawfish Boil every Saturday - starting at 12 noon - until

of Santee. Camping is provided nearby at Santee State Park, 251 Santee State Park Road, Santee. For more information, call (803) 854-2408.

Vallentines cotton gin, located in historic Cope, operates from late September through December and allows visitors to follow the progress of cotton from the field to the bale. An adjacent general store displays merchandise from the 1930s through the 1950s. For more inforormation, call (803) 534-0442.

SUMTER COUNTY

The Cultural Center on Haynsworth Street in Sumter contains both the Sumter Gallery of Art and Patriot Hall. Housed in a newly renovated facility, the gallery operates as a non-profit art institution and features rotating shows of both traditional and contemporary art by local, regional and nationally-recognized artists. Three formal exhibition galleries are offered along with free group tours by reservation, volunteer opportunities (with docents receiving free membership), catered opening receptions for all exhibitions and classroom space available for rent. Classes are offered throughout the year for kids, teens and

adults. Located at 135 Haynsworth St., Sumter, Patriot Hall combines the grandeur of the past with the superb acoustics, versatility and state-of-the-art technology of the future. Local actors and musicians have a state-of-the-art facility at which to perform, and the venue frequently hosts national and international acts, including the Moscow State Symphony of the United Soviets Socialist Republic, the Charleston Ballet, the Atlanta Symphony, the U.S. Coast Guard Band and a variety of touring plays and musical productions. For more information, call (803) 436-2260.

Fridays at the Plaza, sponsored by Central Carolina Technical College, is held 7-10 p.m. the third Friday of each month

through September at Rotary Centennial Plaza, corner of Liberty and South Main streets. Concerts for the summer include Virtually Unshockable for July 17.

The Palmetto Tennis Center, located inside Palmetto Park in Sumter, boasts 24 state-of-the-art tennis courts for day or night play. Three on-site tennis professionals offer private lessons and group clinics for beginners and advanced players 3 and older. Other amenities include two ball machines, stringing services and a pro-shop. Individual lessons are $25 per 30 minutes; $45, for an hour. Group lessons may also be purchased for $23 per person for two people; $15 per person for three; $12 per person for four; and $10 per person for five or more.

Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday-

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Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 1-9 p.m. Sunday. The center is closed during inclement weather. For more information, call (803) 774-3969 or email palmettotennis@sumter-sc.com.

The Sumter Aquatics Center, is open for the season, offering lifeguard classes in three more sessions, from June 14-24; June 28-July 8; and July 12-22. The classes are for individuals 16 and older with good swimming skills and knowledge of the front crawl and the breast stroke.

Training will provide for learning the proper techniques for making water rescues, CPR for the professional rescuer, AED training and first aid. Those who complete the course will be certified in American Red Cross lifeguarding. Classes are 4:30-6:30 p.m. on listed dates and cost $90 per person.

The center is open for all swimming noon to 5 p.m., Tuesdays-Fridays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturdays; and 1:30-6 p.m., Sundays, and family night is held 6:15-8 p.m. Sundays and Thursdays. Admission is $3 for swimmers 13 and older; $1 for non-swimmers 13 and older; $2 for swimmers 3-12; and free for swimmers 2 and younger. Passes may also be purchased. Children 12 and younger must be accompanied by adults at all times. For more information, call (803) 436-2640.

The Sumter County Genealogical Society, 219 W. Liberty St., Sumter, is housed in the historic Carnegie Library,

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which was built in 1917 and used as Sumter’s public library until 1968. Opened in 1994, the facility is open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, but is closed for all major holidays. Queries begin with a nonrefundable deposit of $20, which also covers the first hour of research. Copies and mailing charges are extra. Facility volunteers ask that requests be as specific as possible, with all relevant information provided.

For more information, call (803) 774-3901, or email Editor Jay Ingersoll at sumtergensoc@ aol.com.

The Sumter Opera House, on North Main Street in Sumter, is the downtown’s crown jewel, serving as a center for the performing arts with monthly programs and special performances throughout the year, ranging from film, dance, theater, concerts and beyond.

Sumter’s House of Classic Movies shows a classic film on the second Friday of each month, presenting the classics in a gorgeous Art Deco movie house that was the city’s first movie theater. Shows start at 7:30 p.m.

and admission is $2.50. For a schedule, visit www.bit.ly/kM8pCt. Swan Lake Iris Gardens, one of the premier swan observatories in the world, is located on West Liberty Street in Sumter.

Its renown is due in part to its status as the only public park in the United States serving as home to all eight species of swans, including black necks, royal white mutes, coscorobas, whoopers, black australians, whistlers, bewicks and trumpeters. The park began in 1927 as a private fishing lake for wealthy businessman Hamilton Carr Bland, who began landscaping his garden with Japanese Iris flowers. The park has an openair Garden Street picnic shelter, the covered Heath Pavilion that seats 200 comfortably and the enclosed Visitor’s Center with conference/reception space for 125 people.

Tables are located throughout the grounds, and a large playground features an antique fire engine perfect for climbing. The Bland Gardens feature a boardwalk, on which visitors may meander through a cypress swamp, and a gazebo popular for spring weddings. Call (803) 778-5434 for more information about reservations for any of the park’s facilities or email tourism@ sumter-sc. com.

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It won’t work if you don’t wear it

By Earle Woodward earlew@theitem.com

W

ell, it’s summertime and everyone’s feeling good. It’s a time when people from all walks of life hit the water for fun and frolic.

There’s boating and jet skiing and fishing and swimming, all kinds of activities that surround the water. It’s also a very dangerous time of the year.

Each year, there are tragedies that occur around the lakes resulting in injury and death, and unfortunately, many of them could easily have been prevented.

These days we call them PFD’s, Personal Flotation Devices, thirty years ago, we called them “life jackets.” I prefer the latter for good reason: The things will save your life!

Are they attractive? Well, to be honest with you, they are not going to be the next rage in the fashion industry; many folks still use those bright orange, horse collar-looking things that we all had back in the 70s and 80s. They work, but they are unwieldy and certainly not attractive. In the several decades since their implementation, the units have added some style, with many not looking too badly at all. The very latest are nothing more than a pair of suspender-looking things that can be inflated manually or automatically by contact with water.

They look very comfortable, but they are a bit pricey.

The modern life jacket is a lot more comfortable than the orange neon signs of the past, and they are not uncomfortable to wear, even while fishing, so why don’t people wear them?

Years ago, I was doing an article on a day in the life of a Department of Natural Resources law enforcement officer, and as we rode around the western

portion of Sumter County a radio call came in that was describing a boating accident around one of our local rivers.

It seems that a father had taken his son fishing and the boat sank; Dad was able to swim to shore, but the young son – if my memory is correct a, young man about 6 to 7 years of age – didn’t make it. It was broadcast that there were no life jackets involved.

That incident, especially since I heard it as it occurred, profoundly influenced my life. Aside from the agony of losing my own son, how could I have possibly gone home and told my wife that our child would not be coming home? From that day forward, I’ve had a pretty firm rule: If the boat’s moving, then your life jacket is on! It hasn’t hurt me one bit. I hope that individual gains some peace in the fact that it has made a difference in at least my life and those of my passengers.

You never, ever plan on an accident happening; if you did, then they wouldn’t be accidents. Do you know for sure when you are going to hit a submerged object? Are you sure no other boat is going to ram you? What if your grandchild were to fall overboard?

Okay, you’re riding through Sparkleberry Swamp and you’re probably going just a bit too fast, and you swing just a bit too wide on the curve and run into the stump field that you didn’t know was there. You hit a stump and your passenger goes over the front of the boat and strikes his head on a hard object and goes under. I seriously doubt it was planned, but it happened just a few years back and another innocent rider became a statistic. He was not wearing a life jacket. If nothing else, a life jacket would have probably kept his face out of the water and his partner could have recovered him quickly, possibly providing life-saving first aid.

Folks, I know that this is some gruesome-sounding stuff, and you’d probably like to read stuff that is a lot more entertaining, but I don’t believe that there is anything more important this time of year than being aware of the need to protect yourself and your family from drowning by wearing a life jacket.

As each and every year goes by, more and more people are buying boats and jet skies, and as soon as the weather warms up, people instinctively head for the water. Water sports are a world of fun; heck, I grew up putting around White Oak Creek in an old wooden fishing boat and graduated to being pulled around the same creek on water skies by the time I reached my teen years. I loved each and every minute of it.

But my dad was insistent on the fact that I wear a life jacket. I hated it, but now, after becoming a father and hearing that one radio call, I fully understand why he did it and I’m thankful.

Friends, I hope you have a marvelous summer on the water, but from the deepest part of my heart, I also urge you to play it safe.

Like the old sticker that my Dad put on the seat of my first jon boat said, “It won’t work if you don’t wear it.”

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On the road again

I

t’s always been a dream of mine to take off in an RV with my family and travel the country experiencing America. The open road, meeting new people from across the country and seeing all the sites most people only read about in books sounds like an amazing adventure. Last year, a friend of mine, Shea Failmezger, did just that with her family. I was enthralled as I followed her footsteps on the Internet as they camped their way across the midwest and on to the canyons of Utah.

It was my idea of an idyllic family vacation.

However, that dream vacation can turn nightmarish very quickly without the proper insurance coverage. This is the season that families dust off the camper and go to state parks or the beach or destinations unknown. I thought I would suggest a few of the specialized coverages that one needs to protect both themselves and their camping vehicles.

If your RV is totaled then Replacement Cost coverage will pay for a new model of the same size and specs as your old one.

Usually, your RV needs to be less than 5 years old to qualify.

Your RV may experience a break- down on the road and you will need somewhere to stay while waiting for it to be repaired. This is where Emergency Expense will pay for lodging

while you wait.

Roadside Assistance is selfexplanatory. Just make sure your insurance company will send you a wrecker big enough to get the job done!

Personal Effects coverage is very similar to contents coverage for your home. Things like cameras, clothes and cellphones are protected. Make sure you get replacement cost coverage. If you have high value items, such as expensive flat screen televisions or jewelry, you can opt to have them listed under Scheduled Personal Property RV coverage.

Fulltimers Liability should be used if you are actually going to be living in the RV for an extended period of time.

This will cover your possessions inside and outside of your camper while on vacation.

Finally, Vacation or Campsite Liability will provide legal liability coverage for any possible negligent use of the RV around the campsite.

Make sure your agent is well versed in RV insurance. Tell him everything you’re going to be doing so he or she can recommend the protection you need. As for me? I’m already planning my route. See you on the road!

John DuRant is the owner of DuRant Insurance in Manning, S.C. He can be reached at 803435-4800 or john@durantinsurance.com.

John DuRant

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 11

Not Your Typical Drag East Coast Drag Boat Association races Lake Marion twice each year Photos and story by Robert J. Baker bbaker@theitem.com 12 JUNE •JULY 2011 | LAKESIDE

One of the six racers taking part in the Pro Gas class of the East Coast Drag Boat Association’s recent Manning Rumble takes off across a 1,320-foot course on Lake Marion at John C. Land III Landing.

A

fter winning his class in the East Coast Drag Boat Association Manning Rumble four previous times, Conway resident Rod Altman felt the sting of second place when the racing tournament was held mid-May at John C. III Landing on Lake Marion.

“Second sucks, that’s all there is to it,” Altman said. “I’d won it four times before. It’s a good time, but second sucks.”

Altman was one of about 20 racers who came out May 15 to the landing near Summerton for six different races in the rumble, which is held twice annually on the lake.

“These are winner-takes-all money races,” said ECDBA President Joe Horvath, who made the call that balmy, sunny Sunday afternoon. Spectators lined the six piers at the landing, and boaters anchored near the race area to watch the excitement.

“This is part of a season-long series,” Horvath said. “We have a high-points champion at the end of each year in each class. We handle this association, but some of our guys do race in other

associations.”

Horvath said other race locations are typically in Georgia and North Carolina, with Tabor City, N.C., being the most recent on June 12. He said no matter what the location, the group follows the same guidelines for each race: a 1,320-feet course; winners decided by double-elimination brackets; winners determined by video-tape finish; refueling allowed only if more than 11 boats are in any class; and inspection, including weighing, of the top three finishers in each category.

Altman was being weighed as he talked about the race, saying, “Like most people would tell you, it’s in my blood.”

“My momma and daddy both raced, so it’s just in my blood,” he said. “There’s the speed and the thrill, and the little bit of money that comes with it. Second might give me enough money to buy a Coke.”

Waiting behind Altman in line, third-place Pro Gas finisher Johnny Staples of Aynor was pleased with his finishing spot.

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 13

East Coast Drag Boat Association President Joe Horvath makes the calls for the group’s Manning Rumble held May 15 on Lake Marion.

Horvath said racers compete in different classes, which are decided based on boat weight, specifications and modifications.

“This is my second year here, so I’m pretty happy with it,” Staples said.

A doctor by trade, Staples said he’d always wanted to race in something.

“You know, after eight-and-a-half years of school, I finally had the opportunity,” he said. “So, I’ve been out here taking advantage of that opportunity.”

Staples said he enjoys the Lake Marion course because “everything is wide-open.”

“The spectators can see the whole course,” he said. “There aren’t really that many impediments to people being able to watch and have a good time.”

Though he came first in the race, Charleston resident Eddie McCracken was last in line to be weighed. He sat atop his boat quietly waiting for Altman and Staples to be finished.

“It feels good,” he said about winning. “I mean, anytime you win, it feels good.”

McCracken said he began racing after seeing friends doing it.

“I’ve been racing about four years now,” he said. “I just had friends that were in it, or that watched it. It just kind of caught on with me.”

14 JUNE •JULY 2011 | LAKESIDE

Having friends is a good thing, Altman said. After all, drag boat racing is expensive.

“The boats can cost upward of $50,000 and $60,000,” he said.

“I have some friends that chip in with me and help out with the expenses. It takes a lot of work to keep everything up.”

According to association rules, boats vary by specific classes, which other than Pro Gas included Drag King, Superstock, Outlaw, Modified Production and Lake Racer at the Manning Rumble.

“Most of the difference between classes are weight modifications,” Horvath said.

Specifically, boats are not allowed to weigh less than 30 pounds or more the specific classification for that heat, without risking disqualification. He said boats must also display their competition numbers 10-inches tall and 2-inches wide, and each boat, no matter what class, must have a kill switch for safety purposes.

Horvath said the association’s rules allow any die-hard racers to join, provided they take a safety run supervised by specifically trained observers, and pay the 2011 fees: $120 entry fee per class; $15 insurance fee; and a minimum purchase of five gallons of fuel and one quart of oil for spec fuel classes.

Spectators, Horvath noted, range from die-hard boat-racing

FINISHERS IN THE EAST COAST DRAG BOAT ASSOCIATION MANNING RUMBLE MAY 15 – LAKE MARION

PRO GAS 1. Eddie McCracken 2. Rod Altman 3. Johnny Staples fans to NASCAR fans to those who simply like watching a race.

He said a lot of spectators, including children, enjoy seeing the different classes of boats, many of which are decorated brightly like Conway resident Charlie Moore’s “Gone Ballistic” racer.

“Everyone comes out and has a good time,” Horvath said.

“We don’t start a race on Sunday before churches let out, and we’re a family-friendly environment.”

Several kids were swimming near the pier toward the finishline end of the course, which was toward the picnic shelter at the landing. Renee Baker said the different-colored boats were a treat.

“I’d like to see them up close,” she said.

Clearly disheartened by his second-place finish, Altman said it wouldn’t deter him from future races: He said almost immediately that he’d be back for the 8th Manning Rumble planned for September.

“I’m pretty sure I’ll be here,” he said. “About the only thing that might stop me is gas prices.”

For more information on the ECDBA, visit www.ecdbaonline.com/ecdba.

4. Mark Hoxie 5. David Shook 6. Lee Morgan

LAKE RACER 1. Charlie Moore

2. Tommy Turner

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OUTLAW 1. Greg Scott 2. DeWayne Collins

3. Lee Morgan 4. Jeff Dunn SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 15

Livin’ Lakeside

I’ll take my outdoors indoors, please

By Yana Mathis

I

had a little head’s up that this issue of Lakeside would be focusing on camping, and it was suggested that I write something along those lines if I wished. Well, I chuckled to myself and thought, I’m such a baby when it comes to “roughing it,” I don’t know if I could do the topic any justice. Then, I thought of several things I wanted to share along those lines.

First of all, I have to be coerced to sleep anywhere other than my own bed! I can think of a time or two that someone convinced me that “camping out” on the pontoon boat would be fun. Wrong! In order for the bugs not to get us, we rolled down all the sides that covered the boat entirely like screen windows. Even a battery-operated fan couldn’t come close to my air-conditioned bedroom, and the nice long seat cushions never measured up to the plush-top latex mattress I adore.

Some people would relish the invitation to go through the Diversion Canal, across Lake Moultrie, through the locks, and back out in to the Tail Race Canal and then eventually in to the Cooper River leading in to the Charleston Marina for a night’s stay docked at City Marina. Not me. I’m one of those people that like to get to my destination versus enjoying the long ride to wherever I‘m going. I’m sure some of you have experienced using a bathroom behind a curtain on a boat full of people. Again, this is not a fun thing for me. Oh, of course, you can jump overboard and hope an alligator is not close by.

By the way, jumping off is easy, but if you don’t have a ladder to get back in with, you’d better have the arm strength of Samson!

I’m sure most camping enthusiasts would think they’d died and gone to heaven to have a bathroom with a hot shower at their convenience, but I tell you the truth: When I went to the shower at the marina and tried to get dressed, it was in that moment that I was DONE camping on the boat in the

16 JUNE •JULY 2011 | LAKESIDE

middle of the summer heat. Ever heard that expression of our summer’s heat being like a wet wool blanket wrapped around you? Well, having your clothes stick to you before you’re even finished putting them on is no thriller for me, especially sober.

The other campers were not phased.

I guess beer has a way of cooling you off that I wouldn’t know about either way.

I know of people who are real troopers when it comes to camping, whether on land or on water. They’ve got the bathroom thing down, and they have all their meals planned, etc. Some enthusiasts have camped on some of the islands around Lake Marion and their campsites would make the folks from Gilligan’s Island jealous! I saw one such site that I “visited” by boat (but slept in my own bed that night) where the people had rigged up an elaborate shower with generous curtains for privacy and I believe some hot water that was produced with some creative invention

using a little Yamaha generator.

There are several campgrounds on and around the lakes, and from what I see and hear, they do quite well. As the commercial sites get developed with SCPSA’s strategic plan in place, it will be interesting to see what campgrounds (some are currently on leased land) are sold to developers and what will become of them. Hopefully, someone will want to enhance the recreational atmosphere we are used to and will develop and promote more family-oriented, low-cost ways for everyone to enjoy the lake lifestyle.

I’m uncertain about our real estate market that we’re in right now. I was hoping things would pick up more than what I’ve seen in the last 100 days (I’m writing this near the end of May).

Sales have been slow, but mostly unpredictable. I took a look at the waterfront activity that our local MLS (multiple listing service) tracks, and found some surprising sales. Two of the most expensive private homes sold recently for $650,000 and $995,000 respectively. You think, “Wow,” but what you might not realize is that they have both been on the market for YEARS and sold substantially less than what they were originally listed for. Both were sold on the open market, in other words, no “short sale,” foreclosure or auction, etc.

In fact, 15 waterfront listings sold for a total of $5,084,000, with an average sales price of $338,933 and an average time of “days on market” being 350 days. Yep, you got it: an average of one year to sell 15 different waterfront homes that closed within the

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last 100 days. When I started in this market in 1994, the overall average time to sell a home of any kind (locally) was six months. If it was on the waterfront, the time was much, much shorter. Given that this is our “peak” season and only 15 waterfront homes have sold since the last of February, I just have one word to say and it rhymes with peak. You guessed it, “Bleak.”

I feel like an echo, but it’s true: it’s STILL a buyer’s market! If you have the money, make an offer, because most of the sellers really need to sell their property, and they are going as low as they can stand it. We’re still advising people that don’t “have to” sell to wait.

Personally, I see hope on the horizon with the water system branching out towards the lake from the city of Manning. If you see the roads looking suddenly wider, it’s because they’ve been clearing more of the right of ways, preparing to lay the water pipes.

For years I’ve heard people say we need water and sewer to expand to the lake in order for the area to attract more businesses. Hopefully, that will happen and there will be businesses that enhance the recreation activities that lake people would enjoy.

This is quite a crazy real estate market we’re in right now and with increased economic pressures we are seeing more short sales, foreclosures, auctions and vacant, unsold homes being converted to rentals. You really need the advice and experience of a seasoned agent who can give you the proper information you need to make the decision that’s best for you. See you in the summer!

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Clarendon Baptist Church Opportunities For Worship For Summer

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3838

sparkleberry sparkleberry landing landing

SUMTER SUMTER 15 15

Pack's Pack's landing landing

CALHOUN CALHOUN

3737

11

low Falls low Falls landing landing

rIMInI rIMInI

3333

66

Summerton Summerton

3636

lonestar lonestar

3535 elliott's elliott's landing landing Carolina king Carolina king retreat & Marina retreat & Marina

267 267

Cameron Cameron

3434

stump Hole stump Hole landing landing

2 2

CLARENDO CLAREND

jack's Creek jack's Creek landing landing

Elloree Elloree

john C. land III III john C. land Boating Facility Boating Facility

lakes santee lakes 3131 santee Campground Campground

3232

4 4 santee santee state Park state Park

Santee Santee ORANGEBURG ORANGEBURG 267 267 301 301

Polly's Polly's landing landing

Goat Island Goat Island resort resort

2525

2929

3030

66

176 176

Lak La Mar Mar

lake Marion lake Marion resort & Marina resort & Marina

5 5

elloree elloree 3636

eaDYtoWn eaDYtoWn

176 176

210 210

Reevesville Reevesville

lakeside Marina lakeside Marina & resort & resort

1010

7 7

66

453 453 210 210

Bowman Bowman Orangeburg Orangeburg- -2525miles miles Florence Florence- -5656miles miles Sumter Sumter- -3030miles miles 178178 Summerton Summerton- -55miles miles Manning Manning- -88miles miles

Mill Creek Mill Creek Marina Marina

6 6

Vance Vance

3636

20 JUNE •JULY 2011 | LAKESIDE

2626

taw Caw taw Caw Campground & & Campground Marina Marina

27 27

Cooper's landing Cooper's landing andand Guide service Guide service

3333

3 3

267 267

Park Park

arBUCkle's arBUCkle's lanDInG lanDInG

Poplar Creek landing Poplar Creek landing

taw Caw taw Caw Creek Creek landing landing

2828 tawtaw CawCaw

Hide-a-way Hide-a-way Campground Campground

9 9

Marker 79 79 Marker Marina Marina

Eutawville Eutawville 8 8

4545

Bell’s Marina Bell’s Marina

Bloun Blo landi lan

11

eUtaW eUta sPrIn sPrIn

176 176

Holly HollyHill Hill 453 453 176 176 311 311

Harleyville Harleyville

2727

WILLIAMSBURG WILLIAMSBURG Kingstree Kingstree

Manning Manning

521 521

377 377

n 23 23

NDON NDON

Greeleyville Greeleyville

j&j j&j Marina Marina

26

52 52

lighthouse Pointe lighthouse Pointe Family Campground Family Campground

22 22

land III III C. land Facility ng Facility

24 24

lake Vue lake Vue landing landing

21 21

scarborough scarborough Marina Marina

25

52 52

Lil N8’s

22B

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Salters Salters

Lane Lane

randolph’s randolph’s landing landing

20 20

Lake Lake arion Marion

BERKELEY BERKELEY 19 19

Wilson’s Wilson’s landing landing

0

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landing landing 17 17& Camp & Camp

Mac’s Mac’s

Blount's Blount's landing landing

11 11

Hill’s Hill’s landing landing

16 16

14 14 Big oak landing

rocks Pond rocks Pond Campground Campground

Big oak landing & Campground & Campground

1212

eUtaW eUtaW PrInGs sPrInGs

4545

13 13

spier’s spier’s landing landing

66

MM

Canal lakes Canal lakes FishFish Camp Camp

Pineville Pineville 52 52 Palmetto Palmetto Trail Trail St. St.Stephen Stephen 3535

Quattlebaum’s Quattlebaum’s

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a a B B C C

BigBig oak landing & & oak landing Campground Campground

angel’s angel’s landing landing

l l

52 52

D D

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e e

Hill’s landing Hill’s landing Black’s Fish Camp Black’s Fish Camp

F F

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Harry’s Fish Harry’s Fish Camp Camp

n n

15 15

4545

4545

66

Cross Cross

Lake Lake Moultrie Moultrie

4141 Bonneau Beach Bonneau Beach resort resort

j j

Bonneau Bonneau

311 311

17 17 52 52

G G

66

17 17

riverside Marina riverside Marina and restaurant and restaurant

atkins atkins landing landing

the Dock the Dock restaurant restaurant

H H

Moncks Moncks Corner Corner

I I

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 21

Lake Marion Map Information

33 8 14 11 15 35 32 7 36 29 18 10 16 34 23 25 5 9 21

Arbuckle’s Landing..................................... 803-478-5260 Bell’s Marina.............................................. 803-492-7924 Big Oak Landing & Campground................ 843-753-2285 Blount’s Landing........................................ 803-492-7773 Canal Lakes Fish Camp.............................. 843-753-2271 Carolina King Retreat & Marina................. 803-478-2800 Cooper’s Landing and Guide Service.......... 803-478-2549 Cypress Shores Marina............................... 843-351-4561 Elliott’s Landing......................................... 803-452-5336 Goat Island Resort...................................... 803-478-8165 Harry’s Fish Camp...................................... 843-351-4561 Hide-a-way Campground........................... 803-492-9695 Hill’s Landing............................................. 843-753-2731 Jack’s Creek Landing.................................. 803-478-2793 J&J Marina.................................................. 803-478-2490 John c. Land III Boating Facility.................. 803-854-2131 Lake Marion Resort & Marina..................... 803-854-2136 Lakeside Marina & Resort.......................... 803-492-7226 Lake Vue Landing....................................... 803-478-2133.

22 1 17 6 37 30 3 20 12 31 4 24 38 13 2 26 27 28

Lighthouse Pointe Family Campground...... 803-478-2138 Low Falls Landing...................................... 803-826-6050 Mac’s Landing & Camp.............................. 843-871-1224 Mill Creek Marina....................................... 803-492-7746 Pack’s Landing........................................... 803-452-5514 Polly’s Landing........................................... 803-478-2351 Poplar Creek Landing................................. 803-897-2811 Randolph’s Landing....................................800-BIG-CATS Rocks Pond Campground........................... 803-492-7711 Santee Lakes Campground......................... 803-478-2262 Santee State Park....................................... 803-854-2408 Scarborough Marina................................... 803-478-2184 Sparkleberry Landing................................. 843-761-4068 Spier’s Landing.............................................................NA Stump Hole Landing................................... 803-826-6111 Taw Caw Campground & Marina................ 803-478-2171 Taw Caw Creek Landing................................................NA Taw Caw Park................................................................NA

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Bass are biting on South Carolina lakes

By Ray Winans

H

ello again Santee Country.

Are you feeling the urge to just get out and leave the rat race behind? I know I am. Working every day of the week sure makes the weekend an anticipated blessing, right? I’ve been on the water at least one day every weekend since early March, and my goal is not to waste that precious time off.

Almost all of the trips have been spent bass fishing, either on our lake or lakes within our state. I’ve had some good times and some frustrating times, but at least I wasn’t at work!

First, let me tell you about the fishing.

Our lake is producing some really great stringers of bass this spring. The early warmth, which started in late February, seemed to keep our spawners spread out on their spring ritual even into late May. This weather contributed to the bass staying shallow longer than what is normal.

Usually, when the weather and temperature

meet the fish’s desires, they all seem to come up shallow at once and leave quickly without a trace. This is contributing to those good stringers of fish. The other thing that contributes to fishing success is that the better weather seems to be falling on the weekends, which is allowing more fishermen to wet their lines. All in all, if you missed the spring action, don’t fret: I think the fall fishing is going to be fantastic.

Now, let’s get caught up on some tournament action. As I had mentioned in an earlier column, there are several local anglers in a race to make it back to Santee in November for the Bassmaster Weekend Series National Championship. Some of those anglers include Nelson Walker, Wayne Frierson and yours truly, all of whom are from Manning and are in the top 15 anglers in points. We are shooting for the regional tournament in Mobile, Ala. in October in hopes to qualify for the big dance back here. We have one more qualifying tournament on Clarks Hill in August

and it looks like we are in pretty good shape to move on. If you see any of our local anglers, wish them luck and give them your support; we need a local to represent us on the big stage.

On a lighter note, the Saturday night tournaments on the Cooper River have started and if you enjoy some friendly competition, show up at 5 p.m. on Saturdays at the Cypress Gardens launch ramp just south of Monks Corner; they’ll be glad to let you enter for a small fee. I am also writing this column prior to my annual river trip with all my buddies (set for Memorial Day weekend). This year is going to be down the Congaree River again but with a couple of new faces. I promise to have pictures and some good stories to pass on in my next column. My buddies can’t resist the opportunity to get their names and faces printed, willing or not! Until then, God bless and be safe.

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 23

The 24 JUNE •JULY 2011 | LAKESIDE

Wi

ild Life

Television show covers the extreme outdoors

By Robert J. Baker bbaker@theitem.com SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 25

W

hile most professional photographers might be wary in giving their time-tested methods, Manning resident Doug Gardner is not one of them.

Giving advice on how to shoot wildlife in even wilder locations is, in fact, the point of his show, “Wild Photo Adventures,” which began airing a third season June 5, and continues 7 p.m. each Sunday on SCETV. When Gardner began production on the show in 2007 – the first episode aired April 5, 2008 – his toughest job was getting sponsorship for the start-up production, which aimed at filming beautiful wildlife scenes and showing the audience how to accomplish the same.

“I talked with program directors, technicians, other show hosts and I watched other shows,” Gardner said. “The hardest part was trying to get sponsors interested in something they couldn’t see yet.”

Three years later, Gardner said the toughest part of his job is sifting between audience requests, many of which fueled topics covered in the upcoming season.

“This season has no particular focus overall,” Gardner said.

“We’re always interested in wildlife in nature, and this year’s goal was to step it up, and it was also about responding to viewer requests, what they want to see.”

Requests took Gardner from wildlife in peaceful spring and summer sessions to chasing supercell tornadoes in the midwest’s

Tornado Alley.

“It was the first time storm-chasing,” Gardner said. “Other shows, I guess because of editing, make it seem like there are 15 storms a day. We chased for 12 days and saw maybe two or three supercells every day. The most striking thing for me were the unbelievable colors and structures.”

Though a 39-year-old professional photographer with more than 20 years of experience, Gardner said he had little experience with shooting storms.

“It’s not a thing I was used to by any means,” Gardner said.

“You’re shooting in extremely low light, with a really slow shutter speed, and a high ISO (essentially the sensitivity at which a camera reacts to light). Of course, in most situations, I’m accustomed to full sunlight.”

Still, the adventure of storm-chasing was a highlight, Gardner admitted.

“When you’re storm-chasing, things move so quickly,” he said.

“It’s a very exciting adventure.”

Gardner said another highlight of the upcoming season is the long-awaited behind-the-scenes episode.

“Probably more than any other request, we have fans who want to see how we produce the show, how we work behind-the-scenes,” Gardner said.

Newer features to the show include: each episode being filmed in full high-definition; more exciting locations and subjects; larger crew with more camera angles; worldwide broadcast; and a new editor from San Francisco, Anton Lorimar.

“My only regret is that I didn’t find (Lorimar) earlier,” Gardner said.

As season three hits televisions this summer, Gardner is already mapping out season four.

“I have a good feeling for some things in season four,” he said.

“Like this season, we’ll step it up a lot more. We’ll have more locations. My goal is to get better each year and grow each year. We’ve been able to do that so far, and that’s what we will continue doing.”

Seasons one and two of the show, along with all episodes of the new season, can be viewed at www.wildphotoadventures.com.

Gardner’s supercell episode airs June 19. Check your local listings for SCETV. Photos provided LEFT: A flock of geese provide an interesting challenge for “Wild Photo Adventures” host and executive producer Doug Gardner and his team of skilled photographers in one of the upcoming episodes of the show’s third season, which started June 5.

BELOW: “Wild Photo Adventures” host and executive producer Doug Gardner, right, and field producer and co-host Jared Lloyd film wild horses while standing in a shallow tide. Gardner said showing photography enthusiasts how to realistically capture images of wildlife in unique and even extreme settings is an exciting part of his SCETV show, which began in 2008.

26 JUNE •JULY 2011 | LAKESIDE

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Bring home the bass with this easy recipe

By Evan Hallinan

Photos by Robert J. Baker

“G

aminess,” literally having the taste of game, can be a concern for cooks and diners when dealing with some of the wilder species. A few simple tricks can cut through some of that wild flavor, like marinating meats for three to four hours, which can add new flavors while tempering natural ones. Also, pairing game with strongly flavored ingredients like onion, garlic and vinegar can mask gaminess as well. And soaking organs and red meats in milk for an hour can be effective as well. If one of your guests still can’t get past the

28 JUNE •JULY 2011 | LAKESIDE

taste of wild meats, farm-raised animals can be the perfect solution as they tend to be lighter and milder in flavor.

We recently held the Striped Bass Festival in Clarendon County, and during the summer, many of those fishing on the lake – many of whom will be camping – will be catching and stringing stripers of all sizes. If you want to save some of these for your home, here is a recipe prepared with Clarendon’s most famous fish, although favorable substitutions include a tilapia filet, an orange roughy or some grouper.

Potato-crusted Striped Bass with lemon vinaigrette NEEDED

2-4 six-ounce filets, skinless/boneless bass (or tilapia or grouper) 1 cup shredded potatoes 1 bunch fresh basil 1/8 cup white vinegar ¼ cup olive oil 2 lemons 1 tbsp diced fresh parsley 1 tbsp finely diced red bell pepper 1 tsp lemon extract 2 tbsp vegetable or corn oil Peel one large russet or Yukon gold potato and shred on a box grater using the coarsest cut. Set potatoes aside. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Heat a sauté non-stick pan over medium-high heat, but remember not to use metal utensils with such a pan. Season the fish filets on both sides with salt and pepper. Place two to three whole basil leaves on top of each filet, and cover filets with shredded potato

and press gently to form a one-sided crust.

Add one tablespoon to the sauté pan. Place filets potato-side down in the pan, leaving at least one inch between pieces. Be careful when adding these filets to the pan as the oil will splatter.

Some of the potato may fall off, and this is OK. Push any excess toward the edges of the filets and allow them to sear. After three to four minutes, the potatoes will begin to brown on the bottom.

Flip them with a silicone or rubber spatula and place in the oven for three to four minutes. Set filets aside.

Dice the zest of the lemon, and remove the remaining peel and pith. Remove the lemon segments with a paring knife and place in a mixing bowl. To the bowl, add lemon zest, lemon extract, diced pepper and diced parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Pour vinegar in the bowl and, finally, add the olive oil. Do not stir.

Pair this with your favorite vegetable. I paired the fish and vinaigrette with a garlicky sautéd green bean. Roasted beets, baby carrots or sautéd spinach or greens would pair nicely here.

Place vegetable onto the center of your plate. Top with a filet of fish, potato-side up. Spoon the vinaigrette around the plate. You will notice that not stirring the vinaigrette produces a very colorful and contrasting sauce for the dish.

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 29

On the Lake...

Photo Provided Piper Gordy shows her first catch-of-the-day at Shaw Air Force Base’s annual Spring Kids Fishing Tournament held April 30 at Lake Wateree in Sumter County.

Robert J. Baker Conway resident Mark Curry holds up a 7-pound 15-ounce striped bass caught during the Walmart FLW Bass Tournament held at John C. Land III Landing in Summerton in April.

Photo provided m Hope Witt shows crappie and brea fishing catches made during a recent excursion in Clarendon County.

Robert J. Baker A controlled burn started in ent Summerton by the state Departm n of Natural Resources can be see r all the way from third water nea n 20 Randolph’s Landing, more tha miles away by land.

30 JUNE •JULY 2011 | LAKESIDE

ABOVE: Photos provided by Chris Richburg Raynor Goldston, 12, pulls back on the leash of a gator hunted with a bow and arrow by him, Chris Richburg and Tom Hodges last season at Pack’s Landing in Clarendon County. Richburg said the team shot the gator three times with the bow, but still had to fight him for an hour-and-a-half before they could get the beast to surface for a finishing shot. The state Department of Natural Resources takes applications for the annual gator hunt selection, a lottery where only 1,200 applicants are chosen at random out of many more to hunt in one of the state’s four units. While the deadline for applying for the 2011 season has passed, DNR will begin notifying hunters in July of selection status, after which successful applicants will be required to pay the $100 permit fee by Sept. 10, which is opening day of the hunting season. The closing day is Oct. 8. For more information, visit www.dnr.sc.gov.

TOP RIGHT: Photo provided Manning resident Chris Mathis is happy with his catch from a backyard pond in Clarendon County.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Robert J. Baker A young boy cools his heels in the waters of Lake Marion recently during the East Coast Drag Boat Association Manning Rumble held in mid-May at John Land III Landing near Summerton.

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 31

Ashboro, N.C., resident Don King rides south on Brewington Road near Foreston during the South Carolina Donkey and Mule Association’s 2nd annual ride through Sumter and Clarendon counties. King said he enjoys riding in South Carolina due to the flat land and good trails.

A wagon train made from mules Group rides equines, camps throughout South Carolina

E

Photos and story by Robert J. Baker bbaker@theitem.com

arly one morning in mid-May, Greeleyville resident Mattie Porter was on her way home from work when she just had to stop her car on Brewington Road near Foreston. Close to the Greeleyville Highway junction with Brewington Road that would ultimately take her home, Porter was stunned by something, in her own words, that she’d never seen before: Before her, traveling down the road was a line of eight wagons, each pulled by horses and mules.

32 JUNE •JULY 2011 | LAKESIDE

“I’ve just never seen something like that before,” Porter said. “I just had to stop. I think it’s beautiful.”

Sumter resident Kirby Ingram said that’s the reaction riders with the South Carolina Donkey and Mule Association typically encounter on their frequent rides, the most recent of which took them from Ingram’s home on Nazarene Church Road in Sumter through the back areas of Clarendon County, back through Pinewood and right back to Ingram’s own yard.

“This is the second time that we’ve done this particular trip,” said Ingram on May 17, the second day of the six-day journey.

“We don’t really have any major rules. We just like to get together and ride like in the old days. We’re just people that have a love and enthusiasm for it.”

That second day, the 12 men accompanying Ingram on the trek began their morning at the Fox Pens in Foreston, having camped there the previous night.

“What we do is make a great big circle, feed the horses, fellowship and get ready for the next day’s ride,” Ashboro, N.C, resident Ronald Hudson said that Monday afternoon shortly after arriving to the pens, which sit on about 2,000 acres owned by Richard Evans.

“It’s just a typical trip for us, no big thing, really.”

The trip may have been no big deal to the riders, but only minutes after leaving the pens and heading south on Brewington Road toward Bloomville, passing motorists either slowed down to gape in awe, stopped their cars entirely to snap pictures with cell phones – like Porter – or waved or honked approvingly at the riders.

“We get a lot of that reaction,” Ingram said. “You see a lot of the cell phones come out. It’s the same wherever we ride.”

And wherever they ride is wherever they can, according to Lugoff resident Olin Jackson.

“It’s simple: We get together every now and then and just go riding and enjoy the scenery and the ride,” said Jackson, who rode the same trail with the association in 2010. “We have other rides in the Lowcountry, or up in the upstate near Chesterfield County.”

Founded in 1981 by several donkey and mule owners living in the Lowcountry, the association began as an attempt “to bring donkey and mule lovers together and show the rest of South Carolina exactly how wonderful these patient, talented and friendly animals are,” according to association materials. Interest peaked as members began joining from Georgia and North Carolina, and

the club began exhibiting animals at the Sumter County Fair and the South Carolina State Fair in Columbia in 1983.

Ingram said the main question the group gets – and which is addressed on the first page of the group’s website – is simply, “What do you do with donkeys and mules?”

“You can do anything you can do with a horse,” he said. “There’s a difference in temperament.

But on this ride, we have horses and mules. But you can take any of these animals on trail rides, parades, to demonstrations and wherever else you take horses.”

Aside from the trail, riders have participated in the Rose Bowl Parade in California and President Bill Clinton’s Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C. The club also hosted the 1992 National Donkey and Mule Show during that year’s South Carolina State Fair, welcoming enthusiasts and their animals from 18 states and judges from Australia.

“But we really love the ride,” Ingram said. “We get up to about 20 miles a day, but we might stop earlier than that if we find a place we particularly like and want to set up camp.”

Camping is one of the highlights for Hudson and his wagonmate Billy Stevenson, a High Falls, N.C., resident.

“It’s a good time to just get out here and take care of the animals and talk with the other riders,” Stevenson said. “I really enjoy it.”

Those riders who also took last year’s inaugural ride through Sumter and Clarendon counties agreed one thing made this year’s ride particularly enjoyable: the weather.

“We’ve had good weather,” said Ashboro, N.C., rider Don King of unseasonably mild May temperatures. That Tuesday morning as riders left the Fox Pens, a cloudy sky produced temperatures in the low 60s even by lunchtime.

“I come down two to three times each year to ride these flat lands in South Carolina,” Kina said. “For this ride, the weather has been particularly cool.”

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 33

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Home Sweet Motorhome For some campers, on-the-road is a way of life

By Robert J. Baker bbaker@theitem.com

I

n the past four years, Janet Meleney and her husband, Bruce Kriebel, have visited the Badlands of South Dakota and Wyoming, the Appalachian Mountains and the Gulf Coast region in Louisiana and Texas.

The Manning couple didn’t board planes for these long journeys; rather, they completed their journeys in motorhomes, living at RV campsites as they trekked across the United States.

“It was just something we wanted to do,” Meleney said of the couple’s decision in 2007 to rent their home and take off on a planned year-long journey in a 23-foot-long camper. Meleney had recently retired from her director’s position with the Clarendon County Archives and wanted to act on her long-standing desire to see the country.

“We had done a lot of traveling when I was working, but you’re restricted to when you can get vacation time,” she said. “The time was finally right, and our health was good. The economy was okay and we had the free time all of a sudden.”

The couple’s first journey, which took them more than 2,000 miles west, was initially planned for a year.

36 JUNE •JULY 2011 | LAKESIDE

“We got out there and sort of wandered our way back, visiting different places,” Meleney said. “We only stayed out about nine months overall.”

Meleney said that she and Kriebel took the initial journey to see if they wanted to live the full-time camper life.

“That’s one of the reasons we rented out our home,” Meleney said. “We wanted to be sure this was what we wanted to do. Something happened with the renters relocating for another job, and that’s why we came home early.”

Ultimately, the pair decided they liked having a “home base” to come back to after their travels.

“For us, not going full-time was more of a lifestyle choice,” Meleney said. “We liked having a home base and a place where we could come back and spread out. We like going off in the RV, even with just an idea of where we want to go and how long we want to stay out. But we like to know when we’re tired of that, we can come back.”

Meleney said the couple has encountered various types of likeminded campers on their cross-country journeys.

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“You have those who have young families, or are still working, so they go off for a weekend or during vacation,” she said. “They keep the camper in the yard when they’re at home.”

The other group, like Meleney and Kriebel, have retired and want to spend their new free time traveling.

“They travel all the time, like we do,” Meleney said. “They may stay some place for a week or a month. They may commute between a summer place and a winter place. Or they might visit their children if they’re spread out.”

Some of their fellow travelers live the “park model,” where they own a camper similar to a singlewide mobile home that can be easily moved.

“It’s smaller than a singlewide, but similar enough, and you can really take it some place else if you want, as opposed to a mobile home parked there and put on a foundation,” Meleney said.

“There are all types of different people and reasons why you go, and we’ve enjoyed meeting those people along the way.”

But there is a dark side to the journey: Meleney said she’s met retirees similar to herself who have “cut their bridges and decided this is what they want to do, and they’re out on the road and this is there life now.”

“And they’re miserable,” she said. “They’d always wanted to buy an RV and travel the country. They’ve sold their house and left their friends and communities behind. Just like we meet others like us on the road who have a place to go back to, we meet those people who don’t. They didn’t start small and didn’t do it in small doses. They just did it. For some people, that just doesn’t work.”

Meleney said she’s unsure when she and her husband will be on the road again, and that she typically plans trips about one week in advance.

“In the summer, especially, you have to do some amount of planning, because we might get somewhere and find that they’re full and we can’t park our RV there,” she said. “Other than that, we just go when the mood strikes us. We’ll probably go when the summer gets too much here (in Clarendon County).”

Meleney said little has changed in the couple’s overall camping strategy, other than the purchase of a new, longer motorhome.

“We now have one that’s a 36-footer, and it has a tow-car, so the main difference with the previous home other than the length is that we now tow a car that we can take day trips with,” she said. “We now will park the home for however long we stay, one week, two weeks up to a month, and we take the car around.”

RV TIPS

While Jack Kerouac wrote about and Willie Nelson sang about being “on the road” and the transient lifestyle that comes with such travels, the RVing lifestyle attracts thousands of new campers each year with the promise of new and exciting sites and the comfort of taking their homes along for the ride. Seasoned campers say novice RV enthusiasts should research the lifestyle before jumping in, however, to make sure life on the road is for them. *Read a few books about RVing written by full-time RVers.

As there is with almost every subject, there’s a “Complete Idiot’s Guide to RVing” out there. *RVer Janet Meleney recommends RV newbies “start small,” noting that if one tries out camping and doesn’t like it, or the experience is not what one was expecting, that person can return to his original lifestyle without much harm done or money spent.

RVs can be rented for weekends or longer, giving novices the chance to envision how life on the road will be. *Just as you would with a family vehicle, spend time attending RV shows and dealers before inking a deal for a model your family may not need or ultimately want. Not only will you find the RV that’s perfect for your family, you’ll be able to network with other RV enthusiasts. *When you’ve made a decision to buy, look at an RV’s storage space, along with its towing limits and carrying capacity; make sure these specifications meet your needs. Become familiar with the vehicle’s plumbing, cooling/heating and electrical systems. *Prepare a travel budget, detailing recreation, insurance, emergency and maintenance costs. *Research connectivity beforehand: If you’re going to be on the road for an extended period of time, you want to make sure you can reach family and friends in case of an emergency. Consider cell phone connectivity in remote geographic locations. Many campgrounds offer free wireless Internet access, but some may only provide access inside the campground’s visitor’s center. *Ask questions of other RVers. Ask them what they wish they knew when they started out. Meleney said she and her husband were surprised to find recently that South Carolina has a special license requirement.

“There’s no place anywhere that anyone told us we needed a special driver’s license,” she said. “Not insurance, not the dealer selling the camper, and we weren’t ever stopped and asked for a license. We found out purely by accident when we saw an article.”

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Roughing it?

Camping off-the-grid more than enough for some outdoor enthusiasts

N

By R. Darren Price dprice@theitem.com

o RV. No electricity. No problem.

Kathy Vanderpool likes to keep her outdoor excursions as low-tech as possible, starting first with camping in a traditional tent.

“It’s like keeping old school around,” she

said.

Vanderpool, the troop leader of Sumter’s Girl Scout Troop 5111 has been taking her girls out for camping in tents for a long time. She said that there are a lot of benefits of getting out in the wild.

38 JUNE •JULY 2011 | LAKESIDE

“The biggest thing is trying to connect with nature,” she said. “Inside, there’s electronics and cell phones and laptops.”

UNPLUGGING To get away from technology, Vanderpool and her troop usually opt for tent camping. She said she doesn’t bring their group out to remote areas to do it – trips to Poinsett State Park outside of Sumter usually suffice, although Vanderpool’s scouts enjoy getting away.

“The girls might not like sleeping in a tent at first,” she said.

“But then they get out and get to see the stars.”

Vanderpool said camping in a tent affords people a lot of things they just wouldn’t get by looking at a screen. She said her girls will talk about things they’ve read on the internet or learned in class – her 12-year-old daughter just learned the different parts of a flowering plant – but in the wild, they can actually see it. She said even a small state park like Poinsett provides much to do for her young troops.

Santee State Park Assistant Park Manager Brad Lane agrees.

He said camping at the park in Orangeburg County, whether enthusiasts choose an RV or tent, gives park guests a great way to enjoy all the amenities at his and other parks in the area.

Lane said that though each of the 150 camp sites at Santee State Park includes power hook-ups, the park’s limestone sinkholes or sizeable osprey population are also pulls for even the most squeamish of outdoorsmen.

“You’ll find all sorts of neat things out here,” he said.

GEARING UP As someone who teaches children how to get by away from home, Vanderpool knows all the ins and outs of tent camping.

She said a lot of times, first time campers will bring too much or far too little. So, she said, planning ahead is important.

Campers don’t need to bring all their home comforts on a South Carolina boasts nearly 50 public parks with a variety of amenities offered for outdoor enthusiasts, whether you’re looking for an unforgettable camping experience or simply a day of outdoor fun. These are the parks near lakes Marion and Moultrie that offer overnight stays.

Givhans Ferry State Park

Located at 746 Givhans Ferry Road, Ridgeville, this state park is the perfect place to take a float down the serene Edisto River, the longest free-flowing blackwater stream in North America. On the dry side, Givhans Ferry boasts a well-regarded mountain bike trail, shady campgrounds and well-kept, rustic cabins that offer a peaceful stay in the rural Lowcountry and an easy drive to historic Charleston. While pets are allowed in most outdoor areas, they are not allowed in the cabins or cabin areas. Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily through September; office hours are 11 a.m. to noon and 4-5 p.m. Admission: $2, adults; $1.25, seniors; free, 15 and younger.

FYI: (843) 873-0692; givhansferry@scprt.com.

Poinsett State Park

Located at 6660 Poinsett Park Road, Wedgefield, this park is more than just a place in the woods. Its unique combination of history and mixed ecosystems in Sumter County’s High Hills area gives rise to such unusual sighs as mountain laurel festooned with Spanish moss. The serene setting offers camping, a fishing pond with coquina bathhouse built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and clean, rustic cabins high atop a hill where often the only sound is the breeze through the trees. The mix of steep hills and bluffs, pine and hardwood forests and Lowcountry swamp is home to a wide range of plant and animal life. Hiking is a favorite activity at Poinsett, where its own extensive trail system connects to the Palmetto Trail in adjacent

camping trip, she said: Indeed, getting away from home is the first point of camping.

“You don’t need a lot of fancy equipment or anything,” she said. “You’re going to be close to nature.”

Vanderpool said a campsite should first be cleaned, with campers clearing the area where a tent will be raised. A pine cone or large rock underneath a sleeping bag can ruin a good trip, she warned. Beyond that initial clearing, campers can relax, Vanderpool said.

“I love hearing the wind and the trees,” she said. “It sounds crazy but you can really hear nature.”

Lane said first-time campers particularly should rely on friends and fellow campers to guide them through the experience.

“I always love seeing first-time campers,” he said. “A lot of times, other campers will help them set up their tent on RV.” He noted the best thing a new camper can do is try those things which might otherwise make him or her uncomfortable, saying the unfamiliar can be fun and surprising for someone not used to staying outdoors. He added that hiking, starting a camp fire, birding or fishing can be useful skills gained while camping that will be useful on future trips.

“Don’t be afraid to try something new,” Lane said.

Manchester State Forest. Free wi-fi is available at the park visitor’s center for park guests. Pets are not allowed in the cabins or cabin areas, although they are allowed in most other outdoor areas under physical restraint or leash not longer than six feet. Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; office hours are 11 a.m. to noon and 4-5 p.m. Admission: Free. FYI: (803) 494-8177; poinsett@scprt.com.

Santee State Park

Located at 251 State Park Road, Santee, this park offers cabins, camping, biking, hiking, boating and fishing opportunities in the heart Santee-Cooper Country, of one of the nation’s best-known outdoors destinations. The park sits along Lake Marion, the larger of the Santee Cooper lakes that gave birth to America’s inland striped bass fishery.

Together, lakes Marion and Moultrie cover more than 170,000 acres and now are known for their abundant population of huge catfish alongside their more popular striped bass populations. The park has 10 rondette cabins resting on piers over the lake and a community building with a large, screened-in grilling facility. The park also features the lake’s flooded cypress forest, and pontoon boat tours into the lake’s swampy headwaters are based out of the park’s marina and store.

Free wi-fi is available for park guests at the park visitor’s center. Pets are not allowed in the cabins or cabin areas, although they are allowed in most other outdoor areas under physical restraint or leash not longer than six feet. Tour information: A nature-based boat tour of Lake Marion by Fish Eagle tours departs from the boat dock adjacent to the boat ramp nearest the park center at varying times on Wednesdays and Fridays-Sundays. Admission: $2 adults; $1.25, seniors; free, 15 and younger. Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily; office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

FYI: (803) 854-4834; santeesp@scprt.com.

TOURS: (803) 854-4005.

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 39

CAMPING TIPS Planning a tent camping trip can be a little bit daunting, especially if you’ve never done it before. Here’s a few tips to keep getting your trip together as low-stress and low-cost as possible • Make a camping checklist, and don’t leave until you’ve checked off every item.

• Make sure to check the weather for your trip, and pack accordingly. Nothing is worse than bringing warm-weather clothes on a cold weekend.

• Don’t worry about having the latest and greatest. People were camping in tents long before there were GPS-enabled LED flashlights.

• Check ahead to see if your site has water. If not, bring more water than you think you’ll need. You’ll be surprised how thirst you get.

• Set up your tent at home, just to make sure you have all the parts. You don’t want to be missing the one piece that makes sure your temporary outdoor home doesn’t collapse on you in the middle of the night.

• Make sure to get there early. Trying to set up a tent and gather fire kindling after the sun sets can be near impossible.

• Clear your camp site of any rocks or debris. Sleeping on a pine cone isn’t comfortable.

• Make sure you keep your fire contained. You don’t want the whole forest to go up in smoke.

• Make sure to keep your food out of the open once you go to sleep. You don’t want to deal with raccoons who decide they like S’mores in the middle of the night.

• It seems trivial, but let fun be your guide.

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Getting ready to rent your home?

Things for Prospective Landlords to Consider Before Renting

W

hile the economic downturn hit many people rather hard over the last year, some people have been able to weather the storm and actually thrive in the current economic climate. Real estate investors who managed to keep their holdings under control, for instance, have experienced somewhat of a financial windfall as the economy regressed. This may be due to victims of foreclosure seeking rental properties or more and more people steering clear of committing to a home of their own and choosing instead to rent.

But renting out a property isn’t as easy as 1-2-3, even in a market where more people are looking to rent than buy. In fact, vacancies in larger cities such as New York and Los Angeles are so commonplace that rents and stipulations such as realtor fees have begun to drop, albeit slightly. Still, the current climate could benefit those with a spare property ready to rent. There are just a few things to consider before advertising.

Is It Allowed?

It’s not uncommon for young people to purchase an apartment before purchasing a home but keep the apartment once they do, in fact, buy their first home. That’s often done with the intention of renting out the property once a home is purchased.

While that’s a sound financial plan, it’s not necessarily allowed.

Before deciding to rent out a property, be it a condominium or apartment, be sure the condo association allows it. Discuss the situation with an association representative to see just what is and isn’t allowed. In some instances, a contract will stipulate that a property can be rented, but only through the association’s own management

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Will You Do It Yourself ?

While some condo associations insist their management team handle things, others don’t. Still, that doesn’t mean doing it yourself is easy or even desirable. Owners can hire a real estate management group independently that will handle things related to renting, such as finding tenants, running credit checks, even maintenance and handling complaints. Of course, this will cost owners money.

But for those who simply have busy schedules and an extra property they’re not yet ready to sell, hiring a management group can save you the headaches of being a landlord while still affording you to earn extra money on the property.

Furnished or Unfurnished?

Another thing to consider is whether or not to rent the property furnished or unfurnished. Chances are, if you’ve been living in the property recently, there’s plenty of furniture available to rent it furnished. Of course, this means you’ll have to purchase furniture for your new place.

Oftentimes, the financial benefits of furnished versus unfurnished is a toss-up. Some renters prefer an unfurnished place, while others would pay more per month if the place is furnished. One option is to lease the apartment as “Furnished or Unfurnished.” This keeps the apartment on all potential renters’ radar, and if you settle on a tenant who prefers it unfurnished, you can always rent a storage unit for a small monthly fee to store any leftover furniture you might want to keep. ©MetroCreativeConnection

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