BluesCat inspired me to post some pics of my 12-mile commute. Of course, I couldn't post pics of the trip in to work, since it occurs at a little past four AM and all the pics would be ... well, let's just say not very colorful. Anyway, I think I have this image-hosting thing down well enough to give y'all some idea of my daily (well, almost daily) ride.
It was a fine afternoon last Monday, partly cloudy and temps in the mid 70s. I headed out of the plant where I work (I am a maintenance mechanic at a turkey processing plant) and onto US Route 76.

On the right is the Shakespeare plant, where they make a pretty well-known fishing rod called the Ugly Stick (not being a fisherman myself, I have to take fisherfolks' word for it's being a famous rod). To the left, although you can't see it, is the Newberry County International Airport. It's called "International" because a plane from Canada landed there once; I think by mistake...


After a couple of miles of farmland, up ahead (where the road bends to the right) is the upgrade
for the Norfolk and Southern Railroad Overpass. Note the unusually heavy traffic.


The view from the top of the overpass


After coming off the overpass, I actually took a picture while riding. I don't recommend that practice.
Anyway, the large tree ahead and slightly to the right marks the one and only turn on my route.


"Taiwan Red" parked at my usual stop-for-water place, about halfway home.
Stopping halfway through "only" a 12-mile commute may seem a bit wimpy, but
South Carolina summer temperatures can get into the triple digits and stay there for weeks. I stop for water.


A little over a mile past the water stop, I enter the great Sumter National Forest...


...and shortly thereafter cross over I-26.
This overpass, (exit 66) is almost exactly halfway between Columbia and Spartanburg.


About a quarter mile after I cross over the Interstate, I greet my friends the Belgians.
They're my friends because sometimes I bring them carrots.


...and then it's back into the forest. There are not too many things more pleasant
than the fragrance of a pine forest on a warm sunny day.


Just a couple of miles from home is "Yee-Hawww Hill". If I start from a complete standstill at the top of the hill, just
push off enough to get forward momentum, and simply coast down I can hit 35 mph by the time I get to the bottom.
Hence the Yee-Hawww.


At the bottom of "Yee-Hawww Hill" is a marshy creek wherein one can often see Snowy Egrets, Great Blue Herons,
beavers and cooters. A cooter is a river turtle, some of which can grow to fifteen pounds or more, and Cooter Stew is a local delicacy.
It's still Very Early Spring - this scene will be much lusher and greener in just a couple of weeks.


Of course, after going down the hill one must go back up - the toughest 3/10 mile of the commute.


And just about a mile and a half after topping that last hill, Home Sweet Home.
Thanks for coming with me on my commute. Hope it wasn't too boring.

Nice job!

Terrific, Nightturkey!

I was hoping y'all would share the sights and describe the sounds of your commutes. I guess I'm kind of an odd ol' cat, because I love ransacking the photo collections of all of my friends and neighbors whenever they get back from their journeys.

It looks like US 76 is the busiest road on your route. I noticed, also, that there's nary a marked lane for bicycles along your entire way. Do the drivers on the 76 have enough room to give you a wide berth when they pass you? Any adventurous incidents to talk about, like people yelling stupid things at you or (God forbid) throwing objects at you?

Have you ever had a train underneath you when you've ridden on the NS Overpass? If so, what's it like? (The multi-use path underpasses and overpasses at the freeways in Phoenix are a real trip.)

Beautiful forest, and that last road to your house reminds me of some of the places around Flagstaff.

Nice!

Mark

Really nice. I enjoy these little travelogs. Wish there was some open country around here. Nothing really close to me like that.
I'm envious. That also explains your username night turkey.
rocket man

I also enjoyed your report and the pictures were good. Seems you live in a nice place and you have nice “friends”on your commute my neighbor has horses.

Peder

BluesCat, you're right about the lack of any kind of a bike lane on US 76. So far, folks have been pretty good about giving me space, although I have been nearly blown off the road a couple of times by passing semi's (they can't help it); as far as "adventurous incidents", there haven't been any; good ol' Southern courtesy has (at least up to this point) been the prevailing attitude (even the deer, of which I see multitudes on the early-morning ride) have kept their distance). Haven't hit the overpass with a train under it yet; come close a once in a while.
Ahh, Rocket Man, you have guessed the prosaic origin of my eclectic username. I acquired it some years back when I was still on Third Shift at the turkey plant. Of course, now that you know the secret you must be terminated...
In a few weeks, after the leaves have come fully out, I'll post another pic or two showing the forest in all its glory. If I may get up on a soapbox and rant for just a moment:
Boogeying down the road at 55 (plus) mph in a car, one misses so many lovely details that become apparent at 11 or 12 mph on a bike: variously-colored blurs coalesce into patches of beautiful flowers, one can hear the sounds of birds "throwing their voices at the sky", to quote an old song, and one need not actually stop to smell the roses, or pine forest, or the wisteria and honeysuckle.
One also becomes painfully aware of the hideous amount of trash strewn along the side of the road; the scenery is marred by the various paper, plastic, metal and Styrofoam detritus. I'm certain my fellow riders on this Forum can relate to what I'm saying, and join me in a hearty denunciation of the uncaring individuals who just don't seem to give a rat's patoot about making the countryside ugly. End of rant.

Wow, Turkey. I'm envious! If I ever get going on my 29 miles, they certainly won't look like your route. What a great area. Enjoy!

Nightturkey,

Nice report I like the looks of your roads and I'm glad you're given some room by the drivers. I also like the fact that you take the time to make friends with the horses, you're right, so many people have no idea what they're missing. If only more people would just chill out, they'd be amazed how their outlook on life would be altered. Once someone spends some extended time on a bicycle they're usually changed. I just wish we somehow could figure out how to get more people on bicycles.

Walt