Mark's Photo Travels

A return trip to Rocky Bottom has been on my radar since last year when I explored Rocky Bottom Creek. This time I wanted to explore Eastatoe Creek down to The Narrows on Eastatoe Creek. Fortunately, my vacation time coincided with good weather for a change and I made the hour or so trip to Rocky Bottom. I parked in the Foothills Trail access parking area. I had to place to myself. From previous trips, I knew there was could have been an old logging road leading out the back of the parking area. The old road leads downhill toward Eastatoe Creek. Good road! Except the road was taking a slight left curve toward private property. Bad road! Continuing straight away from private property wasn't really an option since that was heading sharply downhill into a gorge and would require a way too steep uphill climb. I went to plan B and headed back to my car and went down Horse Pasture Road to the small parking area for the Eastatoe Creek Heritage Preserve. I parked off to the si

The first Wednesday of every month, the meetup group Tri-County Adventure Group (Hike, Paddle & More!) meets at a restaurant in the Oconee, Pickens, and Anderson County area to meet and discuss upcoming adventure meetups. This month's meetup took place at the Islander Pub and Grille on Exchange Street in Pendleton. Since I had to take the whole day off to attend this meetup, I traveled down to Pendleton a few hours early to walk around to see a few historic points of interest in this small town. Pendleton District was created in 1789 and covered the present day counties of Oconee, Pickens, and Anderson. Pendleton was established in 1790 as the seat of Pendleton District and a courthouse built. Both Pendleton District and the town of Pendleton were named after Henry Pendleton , a circuit court judge originally from Virginia. In 1826 while a second courthouse was being built, Pendleton District was abolished and replaced by Pickens District and Anderson District. Pickens Di