South Carolina

Last Sunday (3/29) I flew to Atlanta, then drove for three hours to Aiken, South Carolina for my current contract. The work is easy - same thing I did in Washington State a few years back, even working for many of the same people. The area is really different though - the deep south is alive and well here.

Aiken was a resort town back in the 1800s for horse people. They have a huge open space in the middle of town that is run by a private foundation, just for horseback riding and hiking. Downtown has been restored pretty nicely into small shops, restaurants, and a few pubs/breweries. Prices are fairly low, and the food is good - but a bit blah on the spiciness scale. Around downtown is a ring of big mansions and walled yards, many of them brick walls over six feet high covered with vines and moss. Luckily it happens to be the best time of year here, fairly dry (only 10" of rain so far since I arrived) and all the flowers are blooming. The locals are warning me about drippy wet and bugs in a couple of weeks.

Speaking of nice time of year, I was forced to move to Barnwell, 35 miles to the southeast today. The Master's golf tournament is in Augusta, just across the GA state line from Aiken. All the motels/hotels were booked full at much higher rates for the coming week so I escaped to the poor rural side of the work site. Nice and friendly people, but very rural and backwards. I've seen half a dozen old houses that are occupied, but that have never even been painted. Everything that isn't moving is either rotting or rusting.

Overall, I've worked in worse places. But this one doesn't look like it will be high on my favorite list. I guess that could change in the coming weeks - but after all the traveling I've done I guess I'm a bit jaded.

Hope all is well with everyone. Dani you need to fill us in on what is going on - what is the latest on the OR move? And don't forget to include pictures, etc.

I'll be in AZ from April 24 to the 28th or so. Then back for the entire week of Jose's graduation on May 19. Cell number, email, and text work fine at the hotel(s) and office if you need to reach me - but please remember we're 3 hours ahead of you.

Take care.