Dear Governor........

.....Please pave your roads!  I knew it was going to be a trying day when I got run off the road just a few miles into the day.  No shoulder, oncoming car, transport behind me that wasn't slowing down in time.  I bailed.....  All is good.

We did have a few lovely, quiet sections - but way more cracky/crappy roads often with small ditches for rumble strips.  Ugh!

We passed over the Santee Canal on the way out of Moncks Corner.  It was built 1793 - 1800; one of the earliest canals built in the US.  

We spent pretty much the whole day on country or rural roads with the odd small town along the way.  We did finish the day, however, in the lovely historic town of Georgetown; the third oldest city in South Carolina.  Still lots of Baptist churches, although the Methodists are becoming more numerous now.  Seems at least one Baptist has/had a sense of humour.

Here's a look at an example of some of the roads we've been on the last few days.  

We encountered two road crews along the way.  They drive around with a truckload of asphalt (or something similar).  Not sure how they decide which holes to fill and which to leave for us to fall in to, but they seem to fill some at random and then pat the stuff down gently with the back of their shovel before driving off to another location.  Seems they then wait for passing cars to compact the mess.  

Enough whining.  Everyone made it in safely.  Rumour has it that the roads improve once we get north of South Carolina.  

The state tree is the palmetto, so lots of people have them in their front yards.  

We are in plantation country.  Seems that many started as indigo plantations hundreds of years ago.  Some converted to rice after they were no longer trading with England and demand for indigo went down.  We spied a few plantation homes at a distance or through trees - never a good photo opp. Below, though, is the entrance to one close to Georgetown.  

Lovely riding coming in to Georgetown.

The city traces its roots to 1526, although it was "founded" in 1729.  Throughout the 1800's the slave population was about 85% of the total population of the area.  Subsequently, lumber and pulp processing gained in importance as did steel and other industries.  They have preserved the town beautifully.  There are over 60 homes in the downtown area with longstanding historical significance.  

After biking through the historic residential areas I headed over to the Harborwalk along the Sampit River and joined some others for lunch at the River Room.  Great food and set right on the water.  

Stats for the day:  116 km from Moncks Corner SC to Georgetown SC.  Sun was shining and temps were nice - 13C to 29C.  A bit of wind, but we had lots of turns so nothing stayed a headwind too long.  Elevation gain/loss <1000 feet.  One day closer to getting out of this state and hoping the roads are better in NC.