Wild Kingdom of Harleyville, SC

Bear carving, Harleyville, SC

I always look for the bear carving when driving through Harleyville, SC. I almost missed him this time but sure enough, he is still there! There must have been a wood carver living in the town at some point because the eagle a little further up the road appears to be done by the same artist. Familiar roadside art work that I always look for.

The driveway gorilla was a new surprise and required squealing brakes and backing up for a shot. Thanks Harleyville!

Harleyville Wildlife Center

Harleyville's carved bear, Harleyville, S.C.

I can't resist checking on the local wildlife anytime I drive through Harleyville, S.C. The bear and eagle are holding up. There used to be a giant eagle on the other side of the road but I think he had his beak clipped last time I was there and this time I didn't see him at all. There must have been a local chainsaw artist who left his mark.

As you can imagine, Harleyville had some trouble with people stealing their signs and finally decided to try to make a profit on it. They sell the signs for $20 a piece. I am not sure if this information is still current but it sure is fun and they would be a good gift idea for a Harley rider. 

Boo!

Boo! Francis Beidler Forest, Harleyville, S.C

This good lookin' fella was posing in the park ranger office window at the Francis Beidler Forest.

In other news, the Post & Courier invited readers to submit their favorite cemetery photos to this album.

Charleston Area Convention And Visitors Bureau invited a group of blogging women to experience Charleston. Photos from their visit to Charleston here.

This sign near Francis Beidler Forest could drive a person around the bend!

St. Paul Camp Ground

St. Paul Campground, Harleyville, S.C.

I recently posted a photo from Indian Fields Methodist Campground on Facebook that sparked a discussion bringing to my attention that there were other camp meeting grounds that I was unaware of. Just when I think I've almost explored it all, bingo! I tracked down two more. This evening's feature is the St. Paul Campground not far from Harleyville.  

St. Paul Camp Ground is an excellent example of a Methodist camp meeting ground. It contains the buildings common to such properties in South Carolina: a tabernacle, tents, stores, and privies. However, this campground, believed to have been established ca. 1880, was organized by African-Americans belonging to St. Paul A.M.E. Church. The buildings and grounds are used for one week each year (at St. Paul, the week ending the third Sunday in October). The tabernacle is a one-story building clad in rough-sawn weatherboard, with a gable-on-hip roof of V-crimped metal. There are no windows; two entryways, without doors, are evenly spaced at each side. There are 54 tents, two stores, and a storage house on the numbered sites at St. Paul Camp Ground.

Wild Kingdom of Harleyville

Carved bear in a tree, Harleyville, S.C.

My back yard is green and natural with no flower beds or formal plantings and I am tempted to leave it like that. I mentioned to a friend that the only thing I would kinda like would be a full size carved bear coming out of the trees. I may need to buy a chainsaw and learn how to make one. The conversation reminded me of the carved bear in a tree in Harleyville, S.C. Check out the eagle perched on top.

Further on the same drive through this little town is a giant carved eagle. Sadly on this trip it looks like part of his beak is missing. Too much time in the sun without sunblock? It happens to us all.