There are lots of good reasons to ride a motorcycle, I guess, but one of the main reasons for this trip; was to visit family members. We went a long way before we got to the first one, but get there we did.

We left Spartanburg on an overcast morning, but with no rain. I was able to get a picture of my wife before she put on the helmet, which I think she appreciated (photo 1). We headed down I-85 south till we picked up I-26 west. That took us to Clinton, where we picked up SR 72 all the way to Greenwood. SR72 is pretty typical of South Carolina country roads. It takes you through heavily treed countryside, with stretches of broad arcs of road that connect small towns and farms. One such "hole in the road," as one of the local residents called it, had a house on the main street which is pretty typical of the architecture down here, houses with lots of porch space (photo 2). Linda has always wanted a house with a broad porch, if we move to the south, I'm sure I could find her one.

The road to Greenwood was similar to what we've experienced since yesterday, but we did notice that in South Carolina, the "kudzu" is taking over the state. As you ride down a freeway or backroad, you will see large sections where the Kudzu, which looks like Ivy to me, has grown over everything in its path, including whole trees. It caused me to have a flashback to a conversation I had with my neighbor Dave about the environment.

He had noticed that in sections of old Route 66 that is no longer being used, weeds, and small plants, are already starting to grow up in cracks in the cement or asphalt. I have noticed similar situations in fields that have been left fallow for a long period of time. Our belief is that should man finally blow himself up, nature would eventually reclaim what he had left behind. South Carolina reinforces this belief. I have no doubt that, given enough time; Kudzu would cover everything in its path, or at least a goodly portion of it.

The Goldwing quietly entered the township of Greenwood, seemingly the only motorcycle in town. We were trying to surprise my sister so we didn't call ahead to tell her we were there. Instead we stopped in the parking lot of a "Piggly Wiggly" (photo 3) and asked directions of a local fireman who was sitting in his truck. Now I had to take a picture of the Piggly Wiggly since we don't have any Piggly Wiggly's in California. The fact that a store with such an odd name could become so popular seemed odd to me then I remembered that Xerox made it big and most people couldn't even spell it when they first entered the picture. so to speak. I guess if you have a good product, you can get away with some really silly names.

As we pulled into her driveway, needless to say she was pleased to see us. For me, I couldn't believe that I was finally visiting my sister's home in South Carolina for the first time in 40 years (photo 4 & 5). We have seen each other off and on, over the years, but I have never been able to get this far east. This really is a big country and the farther away you live from a family member, the more expensive and time consuming it becomes to go see that person. And that's true, of course, for both of you. Oftentimes, we let those things get in the way for way too long and the next thing you know, you're both old. I'm glad I'm here.

My sister Verlee has a friend named Cindy, and Cindy has never been on a motorcycle in her entire life. So we corrected that shortcoming in her life's experiences, and I took her for a ride on the Goldwing (photos 6 & 7). We went and visited her two grown children who were quite surprised to see their mother on the back of a bike. It's good to change family perceptions from time to time. Needless to say Cindy enjoyed the ride, or at least the shock it caused her family. My sister, who is somewhat younger, thinks her friend is crazy (photo 8).

Tomorrow and the next day won't be any riding. I'm going to visit my nephews and their families, so you'll probably want to skip ahead to Day 38 when we leave to Florida.