Run West Ashley, Run!

West Ashley Greenway, Charleston, SC 

The Avondale 5K was held this morning but instead of running past my house, they directed the runners to a section of the West Ashley Bikeway. I hope the stretches of uneven pavement and root systems weren't a problem because it was a lovely scene seeing them come out of the woods. Congrats to all! 

West Ashley Bikeway Dock

West Ashley Bikeway Dock, Charleston, SC  

This is the new dock at the end of the West Ashley Bike Way. Beautiful! Now that I have a step counter on my cell phone I can tell you it is 8,420 steps to and from my house. Huff, puff. I walked down the Bikeway on Sunday since the last time I was there the new dock was under construction.

It is a pleasant wooded walk, until it comes out smack dab in the middle of busy St. Andrews Blvd. not close to an intersection. On the way there I took my life in my hands dashing across the street but on the way back the traffic was too heavy. I headed along the side of the road in the direction home and got entangled in a mess trying to cross. It is not a pedestrian friendly area which kinda steals the charm from a walk in the woods.

While the route rolls along largely unobstructed, it is sparsely maintained and marred by one particularly hazardous intersection. Leaving the riverfront, pedestrians must negotiate busy, four-lane St. Andrews Boulevard without benefit of a light or crosswalk. Use extreme caution when crossing.

Gotcha Babe!

West Ashley Bikeway, Charleston, S.C.

The little used bikeway path near my house is the red headed-stepchild of the West Ashley Greenway. It meanders through some sketchy neighborhoods and I didn't pass anyone else when I followed it to the end on Sunday morning. The Rails to Trails Conservancy site has some pretty sad comments about our scrappy green space. I had heard that a dock was being constructed and thought I would check it out and report back to my audience who I am certain is waiting on pins and needles.

Apparently they don't want me snooping around the area during construction.  Hmmmph. "Gotcha Babe", "Smile, Your Picture Has Already Been Taken Twice" signs threatened me if I went further and I'm not sure my hair was styled well enough to photographed more than twice in one morning. So, hang tight. Updates to follow.

In case anyone is interested, the walk to the end of the bikeway and back to my house is 7,006 steps. I am slightly addicted to the stepcounter on my cell phone. 

Meanwhile, here are some prettier pictures. My sister Barbra in Canada sent me this link to a travel blog that friends of hers wrote after their trip down our coast. It sounds like they liked Beautiful Beaufort by the Sea.

West Ashley Produce Shed

Wappoo Rd., Charleston, S.C.

For some reason the produce shed was a landmark people, including me, had affection for. We had no investment in it, didn't know who owned it, never chipped in to deserve to have an opinion about what should be done with it but that didn't stop us. To the right of the property is a lush green bike-way trail that ends up on my street. I had fantasies that the property might make a good Farmer's Market for our area and I could skip through the woods to a weekend morning treat.

That all ended when the building was half demolished. Sadness. The more you see of it, there doesn't appear to be much historic or valuable about the building but we liked it. Darn it.

West Ashley’s Dupont produce shed ruled not historic; could be demolished

Robert Behre

The partially demolished produce shed at Savannah Highway and Wappoo Road could vanish if a deal doesn’t ripen soon.

Preservationists — many of whom hope to turn the large shed into a farmers market and community gathering spot — had blocked a demolition permit in August, shortly after a crew began knocking it down.

Their efforts delayed the permit only until Charleston County’s Board of Zoning Appeals could decide if it had enough historic significance to require a special exception. The board voted unanimously Monday that it did not.

Charleston Mayor Joe Riley said Tuesday the city still wants to find a way to preserve the shed, an open-air structure that spans more than a football field next to the city’s West Ashley Bikeway.

The Edge of Town

Ashley River at the end of the Bikeway, Charleston, S.C.

Disobedience by A.A. Milne

James James
Morrison Morrison
Weatherby George Dupree
Took great
Care of his Mother,
Though he was only three.
James James Said to his Mother,
"Mother," he said, said he;
"You must never go down
to the end of the town,
if you don't go down with me."

James James
Morrison's Mother
Put on a golden gown.
James James Morrison's Mother
Drove to the end of the town.
James James Morrison's Mother
Said to herself, said she:
"I can get right down
to the end of the town
and be back in time for tea."

I remember marching around reciting it and stomping my feet to the rhythm as a kid and it comes to mind whenever I come to a spot that seems to be the edge of town. This morning it was the end point of my walk down the West Ashley Bikeway. I was the only person on the path but I only had to make Thanksgiving feast for two so my baking didn't take much time.

I had a nice lunch with my son and have much to be thankful for including YOU, the kind folks who take the time to drop by here, pause a moment and often leave a comment and make my day.  Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Walking the West Ashley Bikeway

View from the Bikeway, Charleston, S.C.

Since the West Ashley Bikeway is near my house I decided to steer my morning walk to find out where it actually ended. The path is nice, clean and paved for bikes. It was peaceful and lovely. I only passed four other people this morning - two joggers and a father and son on bikes. The unfortunate section is where you pop out of the woods and have to cross Highway 61 at a spot where there is no light. Tricky.

The ship in the distance let me place Charlestowne Landing on my left. I thought I might see some of the paddle boaters today but I was too high up. All in all a very nice walk. Good to know that I can walk to the water from my house.

The end of the West Ashely Bikeway