Day 124-125, Nov. 26-27 Charleston,SC to Yemassee and Savannah GA

For two days this was pretty much the view in my rear view mirror. 

Going from Charleston, SC to Savannah, GA is roughly 120 miles. We decided to knock it out in two days. Day one we rode 68 miles to Yemassee, SC, day two we finished the trip by riding 49 miles to Savannah, GA. Basically, we got on to US-17 and pedaled south-west.  The route can be summed up with the interjection, Arghhhhhhhhhh! US-17 is a heavily used road that runs all the way to Florida. Most of the route was a four lane divided highway with cars whizzing by at 60mph. Since US-17 has no shoulder, riding on it was stressful and more than a little dangerous in spots. Added to that, is the reality that South Carolina drivers have been, by far, the least tolerant of cyclists we have encountered.

We are frequently asked about cars on the road. Aren't we afraid of being run over? or attacked by a road raged driver? Our answer up to now has been that we have little to no problems with motorists. In fact, for every angry honk or shouted comment we have gotten at least a hundred friendly toots, thumbs up and shouts of encouragement. 

Something changed when we got into The Carolinas. I noticed it in North Carolina. People were polite and friendly but not curious about our trip. We were rarely asked what we were doing and drivers went by without comment. No big deal. It just felt odd after being so warmly greeted by motorists in other states, but I never sensed hostility. Drivers still gave us a lot of room and the condition of the roads made riding in NC a true pleasure. Oddly, that changed once we entered SC. Drivers laid on their horns and yelled out their windows even on empty roads where we presented no delay. On the busier roads, we had to "take the lane", riding in the middle of the right lane, or motorists would pass us without slowing and leaving only inches to spare. It was truly scary. I lost count of the number of angry honks and shouts to get off of the road, and we cycled through New York City and Newark NJ where a driver's horn is used as a favorite communication device. 

Salt Marshes are important for their bio-diversity as well as a buffer during
storm surges.

Part of the problem is that South Carolina does not have many roads. Much of the coastal areas are covered with marshes and swamps so it is hard to find a tertiary road that is paved and does not dead end in the middle of nowhere. Basically there is US-17 and the interstate. 

The reality of riding a bike is not will you 

fall; it's when will you fall. In our case it 

was 11/26/16 on a sand road. 

With all that said, the folks we met along the way were friendly and the state is truly beautiful. Both John and I were sad to leave Charleston. It is a must-stop if you are in the region. We had a great time and plan to return... in a car next time.