ANOTHER WEEK AROUND LAKE MURRAY AND COLUMBIA SC

After the trip to Iva last Monday, we spent the rest of the week doing laundry, shopping another day at Walmart and then spending Friday in Columbia trying to find a Joann Fabric.  We never did find Joann's but saw plenty of other things on our excursion.
We started with the side roads before leaving State Park Road.  We knew that there were homes along the lake shore, but could not see them from the Park Road.  We were in awe of this new home under construction.  I would bet that it is at least 500K though you can't see much.   We could not get in any closer without trespassing. 

Next door was this home with the lake behind it.  I would be these people drive clear in to Columbia to work!!  That would be at least 45 minutes away.  These are probably about five minutes from us.  We always wondered what was down some of these side roads.  Now we know!!  But in SC you see so many areas that have this extreme almost next door to the opposite.  We wonder if they have zoning??

We went across the Saluda Dam at the east end of the lake, nearest Columbia.  I have been wanting to get some pictures of it, but we were driving too fast to get much.  I hope to get back for more pictures.  The original earthen dam was built in the early 30's or a little before.  It was the largest earthen dam in the world at that time.  Since, there have been three more larger ones built in the world,  but this one still remains the largest in the United States.  However, recently the government decided that it should have a back-up.  So a new dam was built beside it in case the original would ever weaken or leak.  You can see that structure across the other side of the highway and it is also backed by earth. 
Awesome!!  The next time I hope to stop to take more pictures.

This past Sunday was a Homecoming service and dinner at the church we attend.  It was a very inspirational service, with some testimonies and much music sung by Chesnee.  She and her family came from North Carolina specifically to lead this worship.  She was a wonderful soloist!!  I would love to hear her again.  After dinner was over and clean-up begun Chesnee's father was to sing a song for our friend Sandy.  I did not think of the camera until he was about finished, so missed that one!!  But her sons were showing their expertise afterward.  

Jared on the drums had played during the service. He has been playing drums in church since he was four!! He began to show his interest on pots and pans in the kitchen when very small. He had to rotate the pans to get the sounds that he wanted!!  Adam is the one on the piano.

They sure looked very talented to us.  We wouldn't be surprised to see them perform as a family group later as well.

Leaving the church we followed Sandy to her home for the afternoon.  It was our second time to scrapbook together.  So Gary had his time for a nap since Sandy's husband, Mike, was out on a truck run to Texas.  We might not have gotten too much accomplished in the scrapbooks, but we sure had a good time visiting!!  We are hoping to do it again before our time runs out here in SC.  I need to get a few more pictures printed first though.

Stay tuned and we will take you on our trip to Redcliffe Plantation and Augusta GA.  Hope that you are all well and having good weather.  Happy Thanksgiving to you all if I don't get back with you before then.