02.01.13 – Hillbilly Haven: Life in South Carolina

1st February 2013
Congaree National Park, Columbia, South Carolina, Les Etats-Uni
Sir Thomas Rhymer Oisin Leaf McGowan awoke for another day of exploring. It was Candlemas, Brigid’s Day. It was time to continue his trek. A day doing his art and illustrations for the royal armed guard in the creation of training guides for the warriors to be fit for battle. As the day marked the end of his week of servitude for the empire … he was soon off on his quest to find the bottle of miraculous cures. In addition, Lady Etain was now in her 9th cycle, soon bearing birth to their new son, Lord Cian. It was indeed time to begin wrapping up this quest as Sir Thomas Leaf would soon not be as mobile to find this cure. Another day the duo ventured into the Congaree swamp … scouring the shoreline and watery muck for this very bottle hinted at being lost in the swamps. The old map was dessicated and riddled with hints and traps, but Sir Thomas Leaf was sure the miracle was soon to be found. Onward into dusk, the delvers called it a day, and returned to the daily grind. That evening involved rest, recovery, and contemplation. Lounging around to entertaining feat of watching other mysteries and terror in quests of another kind.

From the journal of Sir Thomas Rhymour:
Friday, 1st February 2013
Congaree, National Park, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

Another day, another dollar … as the wheel turns I continued to work on clipping artwork being used in future design development in mobile apps at my workplace. An eight hour day -shorter than the usual 9-10 hour day as I had decided I would only do 8 hours or less on fridays from here-on-out as to maximize my weekends. Having been working for myself for so long and changing focus to work for the government again, is a change I’m still not used to. Independence has its own rhythm. However, I am preparing for my baby son to arrive in this world and that means “nesting” and settling down to get things in order for him. Not to mention the need for a stable paycheck which when you work for yourself may or may not ever be achieved.

After work, me and my love headed out to the Congaree National Park for a quick hike amongst the cypress swamps and river edge of the Congaree River. The trees were majestic and sheltering. My love is progressing with our son’s development, but its certainly taking alot out of her – we couldn’t hike too far, not to mention so late of a hike in the afternoon, darkness would soon be upon us. The restroom also called numerous times along the hike as pregnancy has a way with the bladder. We took the boardwalk out, and I thought I had remembered the directions to the Cypress swamp, and wrong i was. We wound up taking the boardwalk around and getting sidelooped as we tried to make it to the fishing lake. No go, too far. However we got some great photos in. Trying out new filter kits and lenses with the camera to get better with photography. Before dark, we made our way back to the parking lot and taking a drive back home. Pitstop off at Sonic for an Oreo Cookie blast, the evening involved a simple meal, a few movies, rest, and relaxation.