Area Map
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Location:
US 301 between Sylvania, Georgia and Allendale,
South Carolina. The Savannah River runs along the state
line. As you cross the bridge heading south, look to your
right. The turnoff to the boat ramp is about 1/4 mile
south of the bridge.
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Tip:
I wouldn't recommend swimming here. The water
appeared dark and didn't smell very pleasant. As for me,
I'm not a big fan of water that's not chlorinated. |
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US 301 - Georgia/South Carolina Border
This isn't much of a destination, it's more of an interesting side
attraction I discovered back in 2003. I decided to take US 301 as
an alternate to the high speed madness of Interstate 95. For the
most part, I was all alone on this old stretch of 2-lane freeway that
used to be one of the primary routes from the northeast to Florida.
As I approached the state line (which is at
the top of a tall bridge that crosses the Savannah River) I glanced to
my right (heading north) and noticed a relic from the old highway's
history: a rusty drawbridge. This
wasn't any old drawbridge, though. Instead of raising and
lowering, as most do, this one rotated out of the way. It had been
turned to the open position and left that way for years, maybe
decades.
(see the update below)
I'm not sure why things like this are so
interesting to me, but I was intrigued enough to turn the car around,
cross back over into Georgia, then follow a side road down to a boat
ramp, which was right under the old bridge. There were a few
people in a boat, and a few more in the water. I ignored them and
went about taking pictures.
The approach to the old bridge drops off
abruptly (it's blocked so that no one will drive off the edge). I
thought it made for a good photo. It was so humid along the
riverbank, though, that my lens fogged up.
If I had brought a kayak or canoe, it would
have been fun to float over to the old bridge, then climb up it.
Not at all safe, but fun. Once you
leave the bridge and continue north, you might notice the old road
running alongside the new one for several miles. It's overgrown,
and it would be impossible to drive on it, but the raised road might
make for an interesting hike.
Send me a note if you
try it! Return
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