Go Salk Blog

October Birding Report

2011-10-31T18:12:17Z

Carroll Richard: March 2011 Birding on the 301 Trail

2011-04-25T19:32:36Z

On the morning of March 13, 2011, my daughter and I spent a little over two hours walking 3.3 miles on the first section of the trail. It was very pleasant with temperatures ranging from around fifty into the seventies.

The creek was flowing, the Carolina Jessamine and Eastern Redbuds (also known as Judas-tree) were blooming and the Red Maples were displaying their winged fruits. As the morning warmed, we saw dozens of Orangetip Falcates (butterflies), which are tiny little beauties that only appear from the middle of March to the middle of May. Northern Parulas (warblers) were singing and numerous Chipping Sparrows were feeding along the trail. We heard Blue Jays, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, a Red-shouldered Hawk, and a Pileated Woodpecker. There were lingering Yellow-rumped Warblers and White-throated Sparrows. There were many Cardinals in their spring finery and we also saw Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Goldfinches, two Wood Ducks, Titmice, a Brown Thrasher and Carolina Wrens. There was a flock of thirty-four Robins at the Visitor Center.

Carroll Richard: Dec. 2010 Birding on 301 Trail

2011-02-01T20:13:09Z

Notes on 301 Walking Trail Dec. 29 Observations

On the morning of December 29, my daughter and I spent a little over two hours walking on the second section of the trail on a brisk but sunny day, with temperatures ranging from 32 to 45 degrees. Activity was slow to start, but picked up as the temperatures began to rise.

We saw lots of wintering White-throated Sparrows (thirty), two Black-and-White Warblers, two Hermit Thrushes, four Wood Ducks, and heard lots of Cardinals and Carolina Wrens, as well as Bluebirds, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Phoebes, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Titmice, Red-bellied Woodpeckers and four Purple Finches. There was an armadillo feeding on the lawn in front of the Visitors Center.

Carroll Richard

Carroll Richard: September on the 301 River Walking Trail

2010-09-16T15:38:03Z

On the morning of September 9, my daughter and I spent about two hours walking on the first section of the trail. It started out a warm and humid 77 degrees and quickly warmed up to 90 degrees. Gnats were present in several areas. This is the first time in a year and a half that we have encountered annoying insects.

Birding was on the quiet side. In a few areas, there were some warblers in the treetops, but they were much too high to identify. We did see and hear a number of Blue Jays and heard a lingering cuckoo. We also saw and/or heard a Carolina Wren, several Titmice, a White-breasted Nuthatch, several Pine Warblers, a couple of chickadees and two Pileated Woodpeckers.

We saw hog and deer tracks and fox scat. There were a few wildflowers in bloom and we saw several species of butterflies; i.e., Sleepy Orange, Sulphurs, Red-spotted Purples and Gulf Fritillary. There was a Fox Squirrel at the Visitors Center. This is always a delight to see.

Clif Webb brings good energy from Savannah River Nuclear Solutions

2010-06-14T01:56:23Z

Clif Webb of the Department of Energy's Savannah River Nuclear Solutions speaks about Salkehatchie Stew, the interest they have in their community, and how they pitch in to be a good neighbor.

2 minutes 41 seconds

Click on the audio player (above)

or click here to play using QuickTime in a browser window.

tourism today with Pat Ciez

2010-06-12T07:44:09Z

Click to hear Pat Ciez of the USC-Salkehatchie Leadership Institute:

3 minutes 37 seconds

Click on the audio player (above)

or click here to play using QuickTime in a browser window.

Pat talks about:

/ the benefit of GoSalk.com

/ the tourism market in the five county area served by the USC Leadership Institute

/ the metrics of tourism in the Salkehatchie region

/ successes with the GoSalk.com digital initiative, plus unexpected successes from outside the region

/ the end result of the GoSalk project

Red Bluff Lodge Alligator Safaris

2010-05-16T21:58:28Z

Red Bluff alligator safari Savannah Magazine.pdf

Company's Coming

2010-02-16T03:39:58Z

We are worth $40 billion:

Watch this video and you'll agree.

The South Carolina Tourism Alliance is a statewide organization of private and public entities and individuals dedicated to developing South Carolina tourism into a superior product and experience, a nationally exemplary source of jobs and revenue, and a force for growth across the entire state.

With the right leadership, investment, collaboration and vision, the Tourism industry can grow to a $40 billion industry by 2020.
That's $40 billion coming back to our businesses and our families.
Banding together with our eyes on the economic future South Carolina deserves, the leaders of the Tourism Alliance are sending out the word that Company's Coming... and we're going to be ready for them.

The Yemassee Revitalization Corp's "Railroad Dinner"

2010-02-12T01:56:36Z

From the original SCETV production:
Walter Edgar's Journal, The Yemassee Revitalization Corp's "Railroad Dinner"

Click to hear the podcast of the radio show
Walter_Edgars_Journal
(about 60 minutes)
Original Air Date: Friday - January 29, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Image by Go Salkehatchie via Flickr

The town of Yemassee, SC, like many small Southern towns, has faced steep economic challenges over the years. In order to revitalize the town they love members of the community have created the non-profit Yemassee Revitalization Corp. For the second year they are holding a special Railroad Dinner to help raise funding for their projects. (One of which includes transforming the old train station downtown.)

The idea of a railroad dinner came about out of a conversation a group of friends, including Mark Gray and Travis Folk, were having about the history of the White Hall Railroad depot. A mutual friend had passed through the depot in the early 1930s. The group decided to get together to celebrate the railroad history and to invite others to attend their dinner in order to hear personal stories of traveling the area via rail. And now their yearly dinner has been transformed into an opportunity to help reinvigorate Yemassee.

Mark Gray is a talented chef. Dr. Travis Folks is a biologist who runs his own business. These two share a love of good food and--above all--a fascination with railroads. They join Dr. Edgar to talk about food, the aims of the YRC, and Southern railroads.

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letter from a GoSalk roadtripper

2010-02-10T01:51:42Z

There was one phrase that kept replaying in my mind on my recent Salkehatchie excursion: BACK TO NATURE. As a child of New York City, it was if my soul had been screaming for this experience. Except, for me, it wasn't going back to nature on this trip - it was the act of finding it for the very first time.

Image by Go Salkehatchie via Flickr

After returning home, I could not stop thinking about this special place. Dare I say that this region is un-ventured? A seasoned traveler may refer to the Salkehatchie Region as a diamond in the rough. At the risk of sounding off to deep-pocketed developers, I am about to blow the cover on a breathtakingly stunning and affordable outing.

Did I mention that it's just a short drive from the majestic city of Charleston, SC?

The Salkehatchie Region is best defined as being a rural area, rich in history, nature, and natural resources. Here, the air is fresh and nature is at its best. There are more trees than people and life is back to its wildly simple and natural form.

Here, you can visit as a day trip or stay for as long as you like. After three full days of hiking, horseback riding, sightseeing, antique shopping and eating, I couldn't wait to tell the world about my Salkehatchie adventure.

If you have a desire to step back to the past and experience life at a laid back pace, I found your next vacation! Y'all have to come see for yourself now, you hear?

Storytelling event by masters of the art

2009-06-09T12:34:31Z

World class storytelling in the Lowcountry makes for a nice June 2009 day trip from Savannah, Charleston, Atlanta or Charlotte.
Salkehatchie Stew, an economic and community development project created and guided by the USC Salkehatchie Leadership Institute, presents Barnwell County's Boil in Barnwell County South Carolina Friday and Saturday June 12-13 2009.

Click to hear more about the Salkehatchie Stew storytelling events:

about 5 minutes

Click on the audio player (above)

or click here to play using QuickTime in a browser window.

Events begin Friday, June 12, 2009, at the Circle Theater near downtown Barnwell, SC with a sampling of the "Boil's" ingredients. The evening begins at 7 pm with the Sleytown Folk Oldtime Radio Show, followed by a storytelling treat by award winning featured North Carolina storyteller Sheila Kay Adams.

The evening's performance will be capped by vignettes and music from Salkehatchie Stew's new play "Dig Deeper" with scenes featuring Barnwell County stories.

Saturday June 13, 2009 events take place at the Clemson University Edisto Research and Education Center on US Highway 78 between Blackville and Elko, featuring regional and local tellers, music mixed with stories, quilters and their quilts and stories, children's activities, trains, oral history, Agricultural Heritage Museum tours, and shopping at the Region 3 Discovery Center.

Saturday events culminate with a storytelling performance by Sheila Kay Adams, blending stories from her small mountain community upbringing with beautiful Appalachian ballads, sure to touch your heart and laugh till your sides ache.

Local ticket outlets include Evelyn's(Barnwell), Willie's Hardware (Blackville), Meeting on Main (Williston), and Salkehatchie Arts Center (Allendale).

Information:
Region 3 Discovery Center (803) 284-2976

An economic and community development project created and guided by the USC
Salkehatchie Leadership Institute in partnership with the Barnwell County Museum.

Salkehatchie storytelling

2009-04-27T12:52:46Z

Image by Go Salkehatchie via Flickr

Authentic stories from the Salkehatchie Region of the South Carolina Lowcountry, just 45 minutes from Savannah or Charleston.
Salkehatchie Stew presents "Dig Deeper," a theatrical production based on the stories collected from Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Hampton and Colleton counties of the Lowcountry of South Carolina.

A professionally written and directed community performance, the performances combine drama, humor and music, "Dig Deeper" runs at the Palmetto Theatre 108 Lee Avenue Hampton, SC 29924
- click for Google Map -

April 23 - 25, April 30 - May 2 2009
Performances nightly at 7:30p.m. Matinee times begin at 2:30p.m.

click to hear more about the Salkehatchie Stew production of "Dig Deeper":

7 minutes

Click on the audio player (above)

or click here to play using QuickTime in a browser window.

A fine work of authentic storytelling art, "Dig Deeper" will charm you with how people deal with hard times, setbacks, and "interesting" relatives and friends.

Please join us in celebrating this culturally rich story.
Your patronage is the key ingredient to our longevity and success.

Performances nightly at 7:30p.m. Matinee times begin at 2:30p.m.