Greenville SC #20 - Swamp Rabbit Country

 January 12 2021

A trip to southern states in the winter months is always a good option for those of us who live in northern Indiana. Florida is particularly nice, but it was state number 6 for us. So, we opted to get that row of states north of FL that were still on the list. Those states were South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. We then we added Arkansas for good measure. Greenville in the northern part of SC would be an 11 to 12 hour drive for us, so it was going to be a multi-day drive just to get to our first play. Along the route is Smokey Mountain National Park, so that would definitely be a stop. I determined that we would end our first day of driving in Georgetown KY which was where we added state number 9. A friend had asked if we were taking our bikes. I hadn't planned on it, but the more I thought about it, the more it appealed. It was a good thing we did. There was the Legacy Trail which goes between Lexington and Georgetown. It was a fantastic trail across the rolling countryside. Our next stop would be Pigeon Forge where we would spend the night and then a quick visit to Smokey Mountain National Park the next morning. The road through the park was closed due to snow and ice and low hanging clouds denied us any vista views. Google maps then took us through some interesting back country roads on our way to Greenville. Roads that make you a little nervous if your car was to break down. We checked in to the Swamp Rabbit Inn near downtown Greenville and were delighted that it was cyclist friendly. It was located near the Swamp Rabbit Trail and we had just enough time to ride a portion of it before heading to Timmons Park for some pickleball.

The 6 lighted dedicated pickleball courts are nestled in a beautiful little park in Greenville. When we arrived, half the courts were already active. We were soon able to rotate in and play Jeff and John. They gave us a good game. Next we took on Jeff and Cory. Cory had made his own pickleball paddle out of wood and it was most unique in its shape. The paddle face was square and the handle came off a corner of the face looking more like the handle of a frying pan. When the ball came in contact with the paddle, it hardly made a sound. Most interesting indeed. Our third game was mixed doubles with Jeff and Jennifer. Another enjoyable game. Our final game was with Darby and Carlton. This was a game where we had some amazing shots. Barb at least three times landed the ball on the net so that it dribbled across to the other side. I had one of those shots that caught me at the base line with the ball close to it where my only option was to back up a bit and hit the ball from behind through my legs for the point. I couldn't do it again if I tried. The area pickleball ambassador John was super helpful and friendly in assisting me to schedule our play. It would have been great if we had been able to meet him. Perhaps another time.

The Swamp Rabbit Trail was a most delightful trail that runs through downtown Greenville along the Reedy River. The trail is 22 miles long. We only biked a portion of it and it was most enjoyable. So glad we brought our bikes with us. Thanks Gene for implanting that concept into our thinking.  We got on the trail at Westfield St and headed toward downtown. Falls Park on the Reedy is a marvelous park in the middle of downtown Greenville SC. We rode the trail all the way to the Greenville Tech area. We may have to make the trip here again in warmer weather to bike the entire trail. Greenville was a most memorable stop for us and a fantastic way to begin our 5 state pickleball tour. It will be difficult for the other 4 states to match this.